Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-28

S4O2. 10

Totals ...... 9S7 573 $4O3. 538. I52
These constitute about 81 per cent, Of ,ae
4,712,6 22 persons engaged in all orr Elanufact,r
ing and mechanical industries, an5 adding 10
them the 100000 employed in agriculture mir,
ing and fishing, q total of LAST ,573 is obtained
which is about 615 per cont of the total poputa-
ton engaged in al gainful occupat ions ...cord no
to the returns OF 1880.
III view of the comparatively small. constantly
decreasing part of our laboring population th.r
could be affected even by repeal OF al! duties
a movement for the imposition of hiG;,.; duties
upon imported goods cannot be regardei as ius.
tifable upon any Of the grounds usually urged il
support OF such measures by the advocates Of the
protective theory.
Nor do l believe that under existing Industrial
ana trade conditions here and abroad-an ID
the exception, Of Il few which are not produced
at all in this country and others which not
produced in sufficient quantities to supply the
demands of our people, would yield the govern
ment much, if any additional revenue.
While a revival of business and to
more prosperous conditions would Increase the
income. OF the government from customs under
tho existing rate of duty ON manufactured ar
ticles, it is reasonably certain that the Guanti-
TIES and values Of such articles hereafter i'm
ported will be less than they We're before the de-
preston began, and that they will not in the
future, under any rate that may be established,
reach the proportions of ten fifteen years ago.
al, III this view of the subject is correct it is evil
oeht that new objects Of taXatt:.n must be in
tduoeu IN our tariff schedules, or the attempt
10 secure the usual proportion of revenue from
customs must be abandoned-and other
Ihetiou Oh raising means to support the govern
meIt must be adopted, but, whether revenue
Small oe raised by duties on imported goods or
by the imposition of taxes in some other FORM
mere are certain fundamental rules and prin-
ciples applicable to the subject-which cannot be
aiSSregarded without injustice to the people from
Wn0m the eXactions to be made
Inc nrst and most important one is that no tax
should be laid except for public purposes and
that an sums paid by the people should be re-
celVed by the government. Any tax, whether
lmpost or excise, which increases the cost OF
commodities to the consumer, beyond the amount
coaected by the government, is unjust and in
uelenSlDle on any correct economic DrinciDIes
Wheh the true principles of taxation are recog-
nlzed and applied in our fiscal legislation there
VIII be no difficulty in securing ample revenue
Tor the support of the government in the excr-
else OF al its proper functions without subject
ing our Industries to injurious and unnecessary
restrictions e'''0i'
Although the number of purely revenue articles
mas been much diminished by the economic
changes that have taken place during the last
rev years such articles are still insufficient in
nunner and they are and must continue to he
imported in such quantities as to afford, unler
moderate rates of duty, all additions to the in
come OF the government that future exigencjes
may prove to be necessary, and no matter what
may De the preferences of any part of our neo-
P fen upon the subject the necessities of the sua-
ZION demand the adoption of a system of toxa
ZION Which will utilize these resources