People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-12-10

tionl IF the case Of the Union Pacific he
points ont that proceedings TO fOreclOSe a
flrst mortgage upon added parts Of the
main line to which the government lien is
subordinate, and the defaults occurring
on January l. 1891, must emphasize the
mandate of the act of 1887 to fOreclOSe.
Therefore, unless congress shall otherwise
direct, or shall have previously deter
mined upon a different solution OF the
problem, there will hardly appear to exist
any reason for delaying beyond the date
of the default above mentioned such ez-
ecutive action as will promise to substryo
the public interest and save the govern
ment from the loss threatened by further
inactiOn.
The v1Ork done by the agricultural de-
partment is especially commended, but
the discontinuance of the gratuitous dis
tributiOn of seeds is urged. The progress
of civil service for the year is reviewed as
the cause for cOngratulatiOn. The amend
ment of the interstate commerce act is
recommended.
Tariff Suggestions.
Recurring again to the statistics of the
treasury department, the president offers
some suggestions regarding the present
law and its operation. Hesays: This stat
ute took effect on the 2Sth day of August,
1894. Whatever may be its shortcomings
as a complete measure of tariff reform. it
must be conceded that it has opened the
way to a freer and greater exchange of
commodities between us and other cOun-
tries, and thus furnished a wider market
for our products and manufactures. The
only entire fiscal year during which this
law has been in force ended on the Both d..y
of June, 1895. In that year our Imports
increased over those of the previous year
more than S6,5OO,OOO, while the value Of
the domestic products we exported and
(which found markets abroad was nearly
k670, 400, 900 more than during the preceding
Those who insist that the cost to our
people of articles coming to them from
abroad for their necdful use should only
be increased through tariff charges TO an
extent 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 gov
eminent revenue, and with the additional
purpose Of so increasing their price in our
markets as to give American manufac-
turers and producers better and more
profitable opportunities, must agree that
our tariff laws are only primarily justified
as sources of revenue to enable the govern
ment to meet the necessary expenses OF its
maintenance. Considered as to its Suffi-
cheney in this aspect, the present law can
by no means fall under just COndemna-
ton. During the only complete fiscal
year of its operation it has yielded nearly
100000 more revenue than was received
from tariff duties III the preceding year.
There was, nevertheless, deficit between
our receipts and expenditures Of a little
more than S25,OOO,0OO. This however was
not unexpected.
The situation was such in December,
seven months before the close Of the fiscal
year, that the secretary Of the treasury
fOretOld a deficiency of S17,0OO,00O. The
great and increasing apprehension and
timidity in business circles and the depres-
sion in all activities intervening since that
time, resulting from causes perfectly well
understood and entirely disconnected with
our tariff law or its operation, seriously
checked the imports we would have other
wise received and readily account for the
difference between this estimate of the
secretary and the actual deficiency, as well
as for a continued deficit. Indeed. it
must be confessed that we could hardly
have had more unfavorable period than
the last two years for the collection of
tariff revenue We cannot reasonably
hope that our recuperatiOn from this bust
ness depression will be sudden, but it has
already set in, with promise of accelera-
ton and continuance. l believe our pres
ent tariff law, if allowed a fair oppOr-
tF9ity, will, in the near future, yield a
rdYenue which, with reasonable econOm-
ical expenditures, will overcome all de-
ticiencies. 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 gold reserve,
$l00,0O00OO, a surplus of more than SIPS.
100000 applicable TO the payment of the ex.
penses Of the government, and which
must, unless expended for that purpose
remain useless hoard, or, if not extrava,
gantly wasted, must in any event be per
verified 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.
The government thus applying surplus
fortunately in its treasury to the payment
OF expenses not met in its current revenues.
is not at all ikened to man living beyond
his income and thus mourning debt or en-
croaching on his principal. 1t is not one
of the functions of our government to &C
cumulate and make additions to fund
not needed for immediate expenditure.
With individuals it is the chief object Of
struggle and effort The application OF
an accumulated fund by the gov.
eminent to the payment of its
running expenses is a duty
An individual living beyond his income
and embarrassing himself with debt OF
drawing upon his accumulated fund Of
principal is either unfortunate or improv.
ident. The distinction is between gov.
eminent charged with the duty of expend
ing for the benefit of the people and fol-
proper purposes all the money it receives
from any source and the individual who Il
expected TO manifest natural desire tC
avoid debt or to accumulate as much as
possible and to live within the income de.
rived from such accumulations to the end
that they may be increased, or at least re
niehAh uhAll pdIOui tut JI6 luluTb use dIlO
a enjoyment Of himself and the object of his
Y love and affection who may survive him
Ut is UNNECESSARILY better to appropriate
our surplus to the payment of UNSUITABLE
expenses than to allow it to become an
invitation to reckless appropriations and
extravaganza expenditures. I suppose il
will not be denied that under the present
law our people obtain the necesSaries of d
comfortable existence at a cheaper rate
than formerly. This is a matter of SUI
preme Importance since it is the palpable
duty Of every just government to make
the burden of taxation as light as possible
The people should not be required to relin
quish this privilege of cheap living except
under the stress of their governments nee
esSarily made plainly manifest.
Currency Reform Urged.
This reference to the condition and pros
poets of our revenues naturally suggests
an allusion TO the weakness and vices OF
our financial methods. They have been
frequently pressed upon the attention Of
r,roxvintrc