The Dickinson press., 1896-12-12
THE TARIFF.
He Believes That the Wilson BILL
should lie Given u Detter Trial.


l desire to recur to the statements else.
where nAlde concerning the governments
receipts and expenditures for the purpose
Of ventnring upon some suggestions touching
our present tariff law and Its operation.
This statue took effect OH the 18th day of
August, 1894. Whatever may be Its short.
cOlnings as complete measure Of tariff
reform, 1t must be conceded that it has
opened the way to n freer and greater ex-
change Of commodities between us and
other countries and thus furnished wider
market for our products and manufacture
ing.
The only entire fiscal year during which
this law has been in force ended on tine
3Oth day of June, 1896. In that year our
imports Increased over those of the previous
yeiir more than $6,5OO O0O, willie tile value
Of the domestic products we exported and
which found markets abroad was nearly
SO, 900 more than during the preceding
year.
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 ex-
tent necessary to meet the expenses Of the
government, as well 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
ers 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. us to Its sufficiency In this
aspect, the present law can by no means
fall under just condemnation. During the
only complete fiscal year Of Its operation It
has yielded nearly $8.OOO.OO0 more revenue
than was received from tariff duties In the
preceding year. There was. nevertheless.
a deficit between our receipts and expen-
dHureS Of a little more than $25.OOO,OOO
This, however. was not unexpected.
The situation was such in December, sew
en- months before the close Of the fiscal
year, that the secretary of the treasury
foretold deficiency of $17,O0O,OOO. The
great and increasing apprehension and tim
idity 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 we'll as for
continued deficit. Indeed, 1t must be con
fessed that we could hardly have had a
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 1t has already set In. with q
promise Of acceleration and continuance. l
believe our present tariff law, IL allowed a
fair opportunity, will, in the near future,
yield q revenue which, with reasonable
economical expenditures, will overcome all
deficiencins. 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
500. 100000, surplus Of more than $685.
100000 applicable to the payment Of the ex-
pcnses Of the government, and which must.
unless expended for that purpose, remain a
useless hoard, or. II not extravayaMtly
wasted, must In any event be perverted
from the purpose of Its 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- llkened to a man living
beyond his income, and thus incurring debt
or encrOaching ON his principal. 1t Is not
one Of the functions Of our government to
accumulate and make additions to a fund
not needed for immediate expenditure
With individuals, 1t Ia the chief object OF
struggle and effort. The application OF an
accumulated fund by the government to the
pr! ment OF its running expenses Is a duty
An individual living beyond his income aud
embarrassing himself with debt. or drawing
upon his accumulated fund of principal, Is
either unfortunate or imp:ovident. The dis
tinctiOn Is between Il government charged
with the duty Of expending, 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
natural desire to avoid debt or to accu-
nluate as much as possible and to live with
in the income derived from such accumula-
tions, 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 immeasurably better to appropriate
our surplus to the payment Of justitable
| expenses than 10 allow 1t to become an In
vitation to reckless appropriations and
| extravagant expenditures. ! suppose that
| 1t vii: not be denied that under the present
| law Our people obtain the necessaries OF Il
| comfortable existence at Il cheaper rate
than formerly. This Is a matter of SUI
preme Importance, since 1t Is the palpab!c
| duty Of every just government to make the
| burdens OF taxation rs light as possible.
The people should not be required TO rciin-
! quish their privilege of cheap living except
under the stress Of their government nc-
| cessity made plainly manifest.