The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-19
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Suggestions Touching the Present Law
aud ItR Operations.


Idesire to recur to the statements elsewhere
MAIDS concerning the governments receipts
and expenditures Tor the purpose OF ycnturing
upon some suggestions touching our present
tariff law and its operation.
This statute took effect on the 18th day Of
August, le9i, Whatever may be its shortcom-
!Dgs as 4 complete measure OF tariff reform, IL
must be conceded that 1t has opened the way
to Il freer and greater exchange OF
ties between the United States and other
countries, and thus furnished o wider market
for our products and manufacturers. The only
entire fiscal year during which this law has
been enforced ended on the 30th day OF June,
1894 In that year our imports increased over
those OF the previous year more than S6,5Oo,OOO,
while the value of domestic products We ex-
ported, and which found markets abroad, was
nearly sI0,eO0,OUO more than during the pre-
ceding 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 a. extent necessary
10 Eeet the expenses of the government, az
well as those who claim that tariff charges
may be laid upon such articles beyond the
necessities Of government revenue. and with the
additional purpose Of SO increasing their price
in our markets as to give American manufac-
turerS and producers better ami more prOita-
Die opportunities, must agree that our tar1n
laws are only primarily justified as sources OF
revenue TO enable the government to meet the
necessary expenses of its maintenance. Con-
Sldered rs 10 Its Sutlclency in this aspect, the
present law can by no means fail under Just
condemnation During the only complete
fiscal year OF its operation it has yielded near
ly sS,OOO.00O more revenue than was received
from tariff duties in the preceding year. There
was, nevertheless, q deficit between our re-
ceiptS and expenditures Of q little more than
S20,0O0.0J0. This, however, was not unexpected.
The situation was such in December last. seven
months before the close OF the fiscal year. that
the secretary OF the treasury foretold a def
cheney of Sl7, O00.O
Need Nor Excite or Disturb Us.
IN tie meantime no deficit that has occurred
or may occur need excite or disturb us. To
meet any such deficit In the treasury, in addi-
tion to u gold reserve Of Sle0,000,0O a surplus
of more than si-S. coz. COO applicable to the pay
ment Of the expenses OF the government, and
which must, unless expended for that purpose,
renain useless hoard; or. IL not extrayagant-
ly wasted, must il any event be perverted from
the purpose of its exaction from our people.
The payment, therefore,, Of any deficiency In
the revenue from this fund Is nothing more
than its proper and legitimate use
i Matter OF Supreme Importance.
/ suppose It Will not be denied that under
the present law our people OBTAIN the neces-
Saries OF Il comfortable existence at 4 cheaper
rate than formerly. This is a matter OF supreme
importance, since It is the palpable duty OF
every Just government to make the burdens Of
taxation as light rs possible. The people
should not be required TO relinquish this
privilege OF cheaper living except under tae
stress Of their governments necessity made
plainly manifest.