The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-03
REVENUE LEGISLATION.


REVENUE LEGISLATION.
The greatest interest eenters in what
the coming session will do with regard
to the National revenues. Everybody
admits that something must be done, for
it will never do to have the Government
running deeper in debt, by several mil
lion dollars month, as it has done ever
since Mr.. Cleveland entered Office. No
one can deny that, in addition to being
severe blow to our home industries, the
Wilson Iniquity has been failure as a
revenue-getter. The best demonstration
of this is the astounding increase in the
National Indebtedness, in time of pro-
found peace, and under an Administra-
ton pledged to the most rigid economy.
When Mr.. Cleveland entered office,
March 4, 1893, the bonded debt of the
United States had been reduced to $685.
034, 260. 1t is now, less than four years
later, $S47 1854 ,46O, an increase of $685.
$4,000. This is an average deficit OF
more than s65, 100000 a year. This
does not tell the whole story, by any
means. There are large deficits which
have been concealed under the jugglery
of Treasury bookkeeping, and carried
along until they can be unloaded on
the next Administration All that we
have to show for this is few millions
expended on our Navy, and for some
large guns It is part of the enormous
penalty we have had to pay for sur
rendering the control of the country to
the same old gang"
In the last session the Republicans
made an honest and praiseworthy effort
to change this discreditable condition,
and arrest the progress of the Govern
ment toward bankruptcy, by passing in
the House what is known as the Dlngley
Bill. For the sake of the country they
porarily abandoned their ideas Of
correct tariff legislation, and accepted
the Wilson Iniquity, in SO far as to try
to amend it till it would give suffici
ency of revenue. 1t was distinctly an
e mergency measure and its operation
was limited to two years, one of which
is now gone.
It restored wool, lumber, and some
other things to the dutiable list, at about
six tenths of the Mckinley duty ano
made general advance of ID per cent
on the rest of the list. This was very
reasonable step. For example, WOO
would receive protection of between
and cents a pound. Hay, which
had been protected by duty of 81 ;
bale under the Mckinley Law, and GU
down to 50 a bale by Wilson, woult
get $3.50, and so on. This it was cal
culated, would increase the revenue
about s50.000,000 year. 1t was rea
sonably expected that the Democrat
would vote for this because il was merel
an amendment to the Wilson Bill d
, the lines that they had themselves LAID
, and the Republicans would support
on patriotic grounds. The Republican
4 passed it in the House by a larg
majority, the Democrats generally vo
: ing against it.
r 1t could only pass the Senate by
. concurrence in its favor Of all those VIII
we're genuinely DESTROYS Of lifting tn
Y Treasury out Of its predicament. Ul
+ fortunately it did not find enough {
/. these to succeed. Recreant Republican
; under the lead of Senator Teller, wei
e much more anxious to foist Free Silv,
o on the country than do something sens
bic and needful. The bill went to IL
n Finance Committee, and was reporte
!. back with all but the enacting clau
n stricken out-every word about revenu
d and duties-and a Free Coinage b
substituted. 1t was as gross an insu
n to the common sense of the country
IN the Senate ever offered. Senator No
/. rill made two earnest efforts to get G
A. original bill before the Senate. L
d first was made Feb. II, and defeated
Id a vote of % to 81. The second "
of defeated by 33 to %. That is the leg
ce lative status Of the bill to-day. 1t c
n. be taken from the calendar and pass
- & .-Lo,,~o- n o;o,.;ty, &c tho Sonofo doo,,