The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-12-10
Thursday, Dec. 10, 1896.
Revenue Legislation.


nues says the National Tribune
Everybody admits that something
must be done. for it will never do 20
have tho Government running deep.
er in debt. by several million dollars
month, as it has done ever since
Mr.. Cleveland entered Office. No
one can deny that, in addition to be-
ing severe blow to our home in
dustries. the Wilson Iniquity has
beeen failure as revenue getter.
The best demonstration of this is
the astounding increase in the Ma.
tional Indebtedness, in IL time Of pro
found peace, and under an Admins.
tration pledged to the most rigid
economy. When Mr. Cleveland en-
tered Office, March 4. 1893, the
bonded debt Of the United States
had been reduced 10 SjSj, ,034, 100 1t
is now, less than four years later,
Ssi7, ,2Gi, 800 an increase of S2G2,-
33O, ,2o9. This is an average deficit of
of more than SG2, 100000 year.
This does not tell the whole story,
by any means. There are large de
iicits which have been concealed un-
der the iugglery of Treasury book
keeping, and carried along until
they can be unloaded on the next
Administration. All that we have
to show for this is few millions ex.
pended On our Navy, and for some
large guns. It's part of this en-.
ormous penalty we have had to pay
for surrendering the control of the
country to the same old gang"
In the last session the Republicans
made an honest aud praiseworthy
effort to change this discreditable
condition, and arrest the progress of
the Government toward bankruptcy,
by passing in the House what is
known as tho Dingley Bill. For the
sake Of the country they temporarily
abandoned their ideas of correct
tariff legislation, and accepted the
Wilson Iniquity, ip so far as to try
to amend it till it would give suf-
ficicncy Of revenue. II was distinct
ly an emergency measure and its
operation was limited to two year. ,
one of which is now gone.
1t restored wool, lumber, and
some other things to the dutiable
list, at about six tenths OF the Nc
Kinlcy duty and made a general al
vance of - per cent. on the rest of
the list This was very reasonable
step. For example, wool would re-
ceiyc a protection OF between & and
7cents pound. Hay, which had
been protected by Il duty of 81 IL
bale under the Mckinley Law. and
Cut down TO - "A bale by Wilson,
would get S23), and so on. This. it
was calculated, would Increase the
revenues about $4,000. coo year.
1t vas reasonably expected that the
Democrats would vote for this be-
cause it was merely an amendment
to the Wilson Bill on the lines that
they themselves laid, and the Re
publicans would support it on pa.
triotc grounds. The Republicans
passed it III the House by n large
majority, the Democrats generally
voting against it.
1t could only pass the Senate by a
concurrence in its favor of all those
who We're genuinely desirous of lift.
ing the Treasury out of its predica-
ment. Unfortunately it did not find
enough of these to succeed. Re.
crcaut Republicans under the lead
of Senator Teller, were much more
anxious to foist Free Silver on the
country than do something sensible
and ueedful The bill went to the
Finance Committee, and was report
ed back with all but the enacting
clause stricken out-eyery word
about revenues and duties-and n
Free Coinage Bill substituted. IL
was as gross m insult, to the com.
mon sense of the country a. the
Senate ever offered Senator Nor.
rill made two earnest efforts to get
the original bill before the Senate.
The first was made Feb. IL, and de -
feated by vote of % TO 81. The
second was defeated by 33 to %.
That is the legislative status of the
bill to-day, 1t can be taken from
the calendar and passed whenever a
majority of the Senate desires TO do
so. If the election has taught Teller.
Cannon, Dubois, Mantle, etc. any
thing they may consent to allow the
bill TO come up, and vote for it, and