The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-12-19
THE TARIFF.
He Believe. That the Wilson Bill

Should BE Given Better Trial.
l desire to rccur to the statements else.
where made concerning the governments
receipts and expenditures for the purpose
of venturng upon some suggestions touching
our present tariff law and its operation.
This statute took effect on the 18th day of
August. 1894. Whatever may be its short.
comings as complete measure OF tariff
reform, it must be conceded that it has
opened the way to a freer and greater en-
change of commodities between us and
other countries and thus furnished wide
market for our products and manufacture.
ing.
Those who insist that the cost to our
people OF articles coming to them from
abroad for their needful use should only be
increased through tariff charges to an cx-
tent necessary to meet the expenses Of the
government, as we'll as those who claim
that tariff charges may be laid upon such
articles beyond the necessities Of govern
ment revenue, and with the additional pur-
pose of so increasing their price in our
markets as to give American manufacture
crs and producers better and 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 its maintenance.
Considered as to it's sufficiency in this
aspect, the present law can by no means
only complete fiscal year of its operation It
has yielded nearly $S.OOO.OOO more revenue
than was received from tariff duties in the
preceding year. There was, nevertheless,
IL deficit between our receipts and expen-
ditures Of n little more than S25.OOO,OO0.
This however. was not unexpected.
The situation was such in December. sew.
ell months before the close of the fiscal
year. that the secretary of the treasury
foretold deficiency of S17.0OO,NN. The
great and increasing apprehension and tim
i.lity in business circles and the depression
in all activities intervening since that time.
resulting from causes perfectly we'll under
stood and entirely disconnected with our
tariff law or its operation. seriously checked
the imports we would have otherwise re-
ceived and readily accounted for the diff
ference between the estimate of the secre
tary and the actual deficiency. as well as for
a continued deficit. Indeed. it must be con
fessed that we could hardly have had Il
more unfavorable period than the last two
years for the collection of tariff revenue.
We cannot reasonably hope that our recu-
peration from this business depression will
be sudden: but it has already set in. with a
promise of acceleratiOn and continuance. 1
believe our present tariff law. If allowed Il
fair opportunity, will, in the near future.
yield Il revenue which. with reasonable
economical expenditures. will overcome all
tleticiencins. In the meantime, no deficit
that has occurred or may occur need excite
or disturb us.
To meet any such deficit we have in the
treasury. in addition to a gold reserve Of
S1O0.WD.OOO. surplus of more than S12S,-
OO0.HU applicable to the payment of the eX-
penscs of the government, and which must.
unless expended for that purpose. remain
useless hoard. or. If not eXtravagantlt
wasted. must in any event be perverted
from tho purpose of it's exaction from our
people. The payment, therefore; of any
deficiency of revenue from this fund. is
nothing but its proper and legitimate use.
The government thus applying surplus.
fortunately in its treasury. to the payment
of expenses not met by its current revenues,
is not at all to be likened to Il man living
beyond his income. and thus incu:ring debt
or encr0achinS on his principal. 1t is ncs
one Of the functions OF our government to
accumulate and make additions to q fund
not needed for immediate expenditure.
With individuals. it is the chief object Of
struggle and effort. The application Of an
accumulated fund by the government to the
Payment OF its running expenses Is a duty.
An individual living beyond his income aud
embarrassing himself with debt. or dlra wing
upon his accumulated fund of principal, is
either unfortunate or improvident. The dis
tinction is between government charged
with the duty of rXpending, for the benefit
of the people, and for proper purposes, all
the money 1t receives from any source. and
the individual who is expected to manifest
a natural desire to avoid debt or to accu:
mulate as much as possible and to live with
in the income derived from such accumula-
lions, to the end that they may be in
creased or at least remain unimpaired for
the future use and enjoyment of himself
and the objects of his love and affection
who may survive him.
1t is UNNECESSARILY better to appropriate
our surplus to the payment of justihable
expenses than to allow 1t to become an in
vitation to reckless appropriations and
.extravagant expenditures. suppose that
1t will not be denied that under the present
law our people obtain the necessaries of q
comfortable existence at a cheaper rate
than formerly. This is matter Of SUI
preme Importance, since 1t Is the palpable
duty Of every just government to make the
burdens Of taxation as light as possible.
The people should not lie required to relin-
quish their privilege of cheap living except
under the stress Of their governments ne
cessity made plainly manifest
FINANCIAL REFORM.
Congress. IL Again Urgently Reques.
ted to Take Action.
This reference to the condition and pros
poets of our revenues naturally suggests an
allusion to the weakness and vices of our
financial n,eth..s They have been fire.
queEll5 prcases. upon the attention Of con-
gress IN Lrevio,n executive Communications,
anC .he Inevitable, danger Of, their contin-