Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-08

through their suffrages the political be-
liefs they honestly profess, the noisy,
pestilent employe, who loves pQlltseal tur-
moil and contention or who renders lax
and grudging service to an aamlnlstra-
ttion not representing his political views
should be promptly and fearlessly dealt
with in such a way as to furnish warn
ing to others who may be likewise dis
posed.
The annual report of the commission
ers will be duly transmitted, and 1 COM
mend the important matter they have in
charge to the careful consideration of the
congress.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The interstate commerce commission
has, during the last year, supplied abund-
ant evidence of it's usefulness and the
Importance of the work committed to its
charge. Public transportation is a uni
versal necessity, and the question of just
and reasonable charges, therefore, has
become of vital Importance not only to
shippers and carriers, but also to the
vast multitude of producers and consum-
ers. The justice and equity of the princ1--
Piles embodied in the existing law passed
for the purpose OF regulating these
charges, are everywhere conceded, and
there appears to be no question that the
policy thus entered upon has a perma-
nent place in our legislation.
AS the present statute when enacted
was, in the nature of the case, more or
less tentative and experimental, 1t was
hardly expected to supply complete ana
adequate system, while it's effects are
manifest and have amply justified Its en-
actment. 1t is evident that all the de-
sired reforms in transportation methods
have not been fully accomplished. In
view of the judicial Interpretation which
some provisions of this statute have re-
ceived and the defects disclosed by the
efforts made for it's enforcement, its re-
1,.,,o n &C.
sential to the end that it may more ef-
fectually reach the evils designed to be
corrected.
hope the recommendations of the COM
mission upon this subject will be prompt
ly and favorably considered by the con-
gress.
TARIFF AND REVENUE.
desire to recur to the statements else
where made concerning the government
receipts and expenditures for the purpose
of venturing upon some Suggestions
touching our present tariff law ana itS
operation. This statute took effect on the
2Sth day of August, 1894. Whatever may
be its shortcomings as a complete meas
ure of tariff reform, it must be conceded
that it has opened the way to a freer ana
greater exchange of commodities pc
tween us and other countries, and thus
furnished a wider market for our prod
ucts and manufacturers.
The only entire fiscal year during which
this law has been in force ended on the
Goth day of June 1896. In that year our
imports increased over those of the pre-
yious year more than $65,000,000, while
the value of the domestic products which
were exported and which found markets
abroad was nearly $70,00oOO0 more than
during the preceding year
CAUSE OF THE DEFICIT.
Those who insist that the cost to our
people of articles coming to them from
for their Opp6ful use SnOulQ De
only increased through tariff charges TO
an extent necessary to meet the expenses
of the government, as we'll as those VINO
claim that tariff charges may be laid up
on such articles beyond the necessarles
of government revenue and with the ad-
ditional purpose of so increasing their
price in our markets as to give American
manufacturers and producers better ana
more profitable opportunities must agree
that our tariff laws are only primarily
justified as sources of revenue to enable
the government to meet the necessary
expenses of it's maintnance.
Considered as to it's sufficiency of this
aspect. the present law can by no means
fail under lust condemnation. During
the only complete fiscal year OF It's op-
Grafton it has yielded nearly $S,000,O00
more revenue than was received from
tariff dutiestn the preceding year There
was. nevertheless, a deficit between re-
ceipts and expenditures of little more
than $25, 900, 900. This, however, was not
unexpected. The situation was such IN
December last, seven months before the
close of the fiscal year, that the secre-
tary of the treasury fCretold dehciency
of $4,000, 600. The great and increasing
apprehension and timidity in business
circles and the depression in all acuvl-
ties intervening since that time, result
ing from causes perfectly we'll under
stood and entirely disconnected with our
tariff law or its operation, seriously
checked the imports we would nave
otherwise received, and readily account
fer the difference between this estlmau9
of the secretary and the actual deficiency,
as we'll as for a continued deficit. IN
d:ed it must be confessed that we couid
hardly have had a more unfavoraple
period than the last two years for the
collection of tariff revenue.
We cannot reasonably hope that our
remuneration from this business depres-
sion will be sudden, but 1t has already
set in with promise of acceleration ana
continuance.
PRESENT TARIFF SUFFICIENT.
I believe our present tariff law, If al
lowed fair opportunity, Will in tire near
future Yield a revenue which, with rea-
sonably economical expenditures, will
overcome all deficiency. In the mean
time no deficit that has occurred or may
occur need excite or disturb the country,
as there is ample means to meet any such
deficit We have in the treasury, IN au-
diton to a gold reserve of 500 ,000,000,
surplus of more than $128,0oos0oO appllca--
BILE to the payment of the expenses or
the government and which must, unless
expended for that purpose,1 remain a
useless hoard, or, if not aextravagantly
wasted, must in any eyentDbe perverted
from the purpose of it's eKaction from
our people. The payment, therefore, OF
any deficiency in the revenue from TINS
fund is nothing more than It's proper and
legitimate use. The government thus
applying a surplus fortunately in its
treasury to the payment of expenses not
met by its current revenues Is not at all
to be iikened to a man living beyond his
income, and thus mourning debt of en-
croaching on his principal. 1t is not one
of the functions of our government to
accumulate and make additions to
fund not needed for immediate expen-
dIture with individuals. The application
of an accumulated fund by the govern
ment to the payment of It's running ex-
penses. is a duty. An individual living
beyond his income and embarrassing
himself with debt drawing upon MS &C
cumulated fund of principal, is either I'M
fortunate or improvident.