The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-09
css~sv $50 coy oEssss Pepper.


The probabilities are that President
elect Mckinley will decide upon calling
m extra session Of congress within very
brief period after his inauguration. IL Is
customary for the senate. which Is a con-
tinuous body. TO remain In session for
short time after March 4, in the years when
. new president takes ONCE. for the prr-
rose OF confirming the important nominn-
lions made by the president at that time:
consequently congress could be convened
in extra session AZ that time with far less
Inconvenience than usually attends.
Under ordinary circumstances the next
congress would not meet until a year from
emergencies which would render 1t hazard
GUS To defer needed legislation until that
time. The present revenue law has proved
inadequate to meet the necessary ex-
penses of government: there has been from
the start continuous monthly deficit, and
had 1t not been for the heavy bond issues
the government would have been unable
20 meet Its current obligations. While the
bond issues were theoretically designed to
preserve intact the gold reserve. In fact
they were necessary TO furnish the means
by which the government could pay Its
expenses.
The sooner the finances OF the govern
mcnt are put on sound footing the bet
ter Il Will be for everybody. A continuing
deficit II q menace TO business. Additional
bond Issues are not to be thought OF. An
Immediate necessity exists for a modifca-
ton Of the revenue laws to provide a
larger income. The proper manner of
bringing about that result Is by the addi-
ton OF tariff duties on such imports as
are now on the free list. or on which the
present duties are fixed at very low
figure. The proper articles on which to
aiiix higher import duties are such as can
be readily produced at home. for by i'm
posing duties upon them the government
not only n enabled to receive a revenue,
but the home producer receives a degree
of Protection against his foreign COM
pe,itors.
There Is little likelihood of any attempt
being made In the coming session of the
present congress to modify the revenue
laws of the country. The time In which
congress II TO be In session Is too short to
permit OF thu framing and passage OF any
such important legislation As this. More
over. there 10 fair prospect that for the
next few months the revenues of tho
country will receive a substantial but tenn
pcrary Increase. through rush of inn
ports In anticipation of higher duties here
after.
There ought TO be no serious difficulty
In passing the necessary revenue laws
through the next congress. uotwithstand-
ing the fact that the Republican party
will not have majority In the upper
house. That house. however. contains
many Democratic members who are heart
fiy In accord with Presiaent-elect Mckin-
ley In his financial views. and most of
them have aided I'm securing his election.
A common patriotic impulse. arising above
rartisanship. has brought the leaders of
The older parties together very closely In
the last few months. The same patriotic
impulse Will prevent the best of the Dem
suing any obstructive tactics 10 prevent
the passage of legislation irnpefativeiy
necessary 10 provide an adequate revenue
fer the government They might feel
called upon 10 resist any scheme for a
general and elaborate revision OF the tartT
laws. but they wilI doubtless be in hearty
accord with any Republican programme
for Increasing the public revenue up to
the governmental requirements by riears
az a few changes In the schedules OF the
existing law. Tats Is all that il needed at
present. ana doubtless this ia all tha, will
he asked.
When this - once accomplished. the
country Will probably b. given a rest for
time from all sari1 or currency tinker
ing. and Disturbing factors in business viii
disappear.