The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1896-12-11
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
SGgSestfons Touching the Present Law
snd It's Operations.

Suggestions Touching the Present Law
snd It's Operations.
desire to recur 10 the statements elsewhere
made concerning the governments receipts
and expenditures for the purpo>e Of venturing
upon some suggestions touching our present
tariff law ana Its operation.
THIS statute took effect on the 18th day Of
August, 1894. Whatever may be its Shortcofn-
ings as o completes measure Of tariff reform, it
must be conceded that IS has opened the way
to freer and greater exchange of commodi-
ties between the United States and other
countries, and thus furnished a wider market
for Our products and manufacturers. The only
entirs fiscal year during which this law mas
been 6nf6rcsd ended on the 30th day of june
1893 In that year our imports increased over
thbse 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 $70,QC0O00 tnofs than during the pre-
Those who insist that the cost to our people
of articles coming to them from dproad Tor
their needful use should only be Increased
through tariff charges to an extent 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 government revenue and with the
additional purpose Of so increasing their price
In our markets as to give American manufac-
turerS and producers better ana more profta-
BILE 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. Con~
sidered as to Its suHiciency in this aspect, the
condemnation. Ddrihs the only complste
fiscal year of It's operation IL hos yielded near
ly 100000 more revenue than was received
from tariff duties In the preceding year. There
was, nevertheless, O deficit between our re-
ceipts and expenditures of little more than
SIS, 100000. 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 def
cheney Of $17, 100000.
Need Not Excite or Disturb Us.
In the meantime no deficit that has occurred
or may occur need excite or disturb US To
meet any such deficit in the treasury, in addf-
tion to gold reserve of $1;0,OOO.OUO, surplus
of more than S12S, 600 900 applicable to the pay
ment of the expenses of the government, and
which must unless expended for thai purpose,
remain useless hoard; or. If not extraVagant~
ly wasted, must in any event be perverted rom
the purpose of its sxaetion from our peopIo,
The payment, therefore, Of any deficiency In
the revenue from this fund tk nothing more
than It's proper and legitimate use.
Matter of Supreme Importance.
l suppose it Will not be denied that under
the present law our people obtain the neces-
sGries of q comfortable existence at cheaper
rate than formerly. This is matter of supreme
Importance, since it is the Ialpable duty or
every just government to make the burdens of
taxation light as possible The people
should not be required to reltnquish this
privilege of cheaper living except under the
stress of their governments necessity made
DlainlV manifest.