Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-12-19

us Otnef Dement'S nave Deeen Dcttef hp-
preciated. The advantages Of civil SER
vice methods in their business aspects
are too well understood to require ar
gument. Their application has become
a necessity 10 the executive work OF the
government. But those who gain posi-
tons through the operation Of these
methods should be made to understand
that the non-partisan scheme through
which they receive their appointments
demands from them, by way OF reel
procity, ~non-partisan and faithful per-
Torrance Of duty under every admin
istration and cheerful fidelity TO every
chief. While they should be encour-
| aged TO decently exercise their rights Of
citizenship M to support through their
suffrages the political beliefs they hon.
estly profess, the noisy, pestilent and
partisan emplOye, who loves political
turmoil and contention, or who rem
ders lax and srudging service to an adj
ministratlOn not representing his polit-
ical Views, should be promptly and
fearlessly dealt with in such "A way as
to furnish a warning 10 others who may
be likewise disposed.
Inc annual IeDDIL VI the tOillfnlsSlOil-
ers will be duly transmitted, and COM
mend the important matter they have
In charge 10 h careful consideration
of the congress.
Interstate Commerce Commission
The interstate commerce commission
has during the last year supplied
abundant evidence Of It's usefulness and
the Importance of the work committed
to it's charge.
Public transportation is a universal
necessity and the question Of just and
reasonable charges therefor has be-
come a thing of vital Importance, not
only to shippers and carriers, but also
TO the vast multitude Of producers and
consumers. The justice and equity OF
the principles embodied in the existing
law, passed for the purpose Of regulat-
ing these charges, are everywhere con-
coded, and there appears to be no ques-
ton hat the policy thus entered upon
has a permanent place in our legisla-
ture. as the present statute when en-
acted was, in the nature Of the case,
more or less tentative and experimental
1t was hardly expected TO supply a
complete and adequate system. While
its wholesome efforts are manifest and
have amply justified its enactment, /;
is evident that all desired reforms In
transportation methods have not been
fully accomplished.
In view Of the judicial Interpretation
which some provisions OF this statute
have been received and the defects dis
closed by the efforts made for It's en-
forcement, it's revision and amendment
appear to be essential to the end that
It may more effectually reach the evils
designed to be corrected. hope the
recommendations Of the commission
upon this subject will be promptly and
favorably considered by the congress.
The Tariff Law.
! desire to recur to statements
made concerning the governments re-
ceipt and expenditures for the purpose OF
venturing upon some suggestions touch'
ing our present tariff law and It's operation
This statute took effect on the 2Sth day
of August, 1894. Whatever may be its
shortcomings as a complete measure oil
tariff reform, it must be conceded that II
mas opened the way to a freer and greater
exchange Of commodities between us anc
other countries and thus furnished q
wider markets for our products and man
ufacturing. The only entire fiscal yeai
during which this law has been In force
ended on the Both day of June, 1896. In
that year our imports increased over those
Of the previous year more tina 81, 10000
while the value Of the domestic products
we exported and which found markets
abroad was nearly s10,0OO,0O more thar
during the preceding year.
Those who insist that the cost to oul
people Of articles coming to them from
abroad for their needful use should only
be increased through tariff charges to al
extent necessary to meet the expenses Of
the government as well as those who
claim that tariff charges may be laid upor
such articles beyond the necessities OF
government revenue and with the addi
tional purpose Of so increasing their price
in our markets as to give American manu-
facturers and producers better and more
profitable opportunities. must agree tina
our tariff law are only primarily JUSTIFIED
as sources OF revenue TO enable the gov
ernmen to meet the necessary expense
OF its maintenance. Considered as TO Is
suflciency in this aspect, the present Law
can by no means fall under just condem
~ ''AAAC - N''F $500
year of its operation it has yielded nearly
$S,OOO,0 900 more revenue than was received
from tariff duties in the preceding year
There was never the less a deficit betweer
our receipts and expenditures of a It'll,
more han s25, 600, 900.
The situation was such in December
seven months before the close of the fisca
year, that the secretary of the treasury
foreto.d a deficiency of 81, 900, 900. TIL
great and increasing apprehension In bust
ness circles and the depression In all ac
tivities Intervening sine that time result
ing from causes perfectly well understood
and entirely disconnected with our tariff
law or its operation, seriously checked tn,
imports we would otherwise have received
and readily account for the difference be
tween this estimate of the secretary anC
the actual deficiency as wei as for "A con
tinued deficit. Indeed, il must be confessed
that We could hardly nave had a more un
favorable period han the last two year.
for the collection of a tariff revenue. w,
cannot reasonably hope that our recuper
ton from this business depression will bt
sudden, but it has already set in with {
promise OF acceleration and continuance
| believe our present tariff law, II allowed
a fair opportunity, will in the near futur,
ylelu Il revenue winch, with reaSOnaDl,
economical expenditures, will overcome al
deficiencies. In the meantime no de
ficiency that has occurred or may occur
need excite or disturb u.s.. To meet an,
such deficit we have in the treasury. II
addition to "a gold reserve, 300. COO coo, Z
surplus of more than Sl2S, 900, 900 applicabl,
to the payment of tho expenses of tn,
government and which must. unless ex
pended for that purpose, remain a uscles,
hoard, or, if not C~Xtravagantiy wasted
must in any event be perverted from TN,
purpose of its exaCtion from our people
The payment, therefore, of any delcienc,
In the revenue from this fund is nothin.
more than its roper and legitimate use.
The government thus applying a sur
plus fortunately in les treasury to III.
payment OF expenses not met by its cur
ent revenues, is not at all to be likene,
to a man living beyond his income. an,
thus mourning deb or e%ncroaching OF
his principal. With individuals |
Is the chief object of struggle and effort
The application of an accumulated fun
by the government to the O
its running expenses is a duty.
An individual living beyond his in
come and embarrassing himself will
debt or drawing upon his accumulate,
fund Of principal is either unfortunat,
or im~provident. The distinction is be
tween a government charged with tn,
duty of expanding for the people an,
/ For rAnnr pl,rnncA- oil Nh, ,1.- 1. -.