New-York tribune., 1896-12-08

citizenship and to support through tneir ioss su
frages the political beliefs they honestly Pro.I,
tho nosy pestilcnt and partisan employe. WIN wiz
loves potica turmoil and contention, OF VIZ
renders lax and grudging service TO an Aai.,, .
istraion not representing ms politicaai .,,,n in
should be promptly and fearlessly dealt WIN Az
such a way az to furnish a warning 10 OUTFITS
who may be likewise disposed , nil,
The annual report Of the Commissioners VIII
no duly transmitted and commend the iHPooi,
tant matter they have In charge TO the careiu'
consideration Of the Congress
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION.
Tho Interstate Commerce Commission has
during the last year supplied abundant evidence
Of it's usefulness and the Importance OF the WORK
committed to its charge.
Public transportation IL a universal necessity
and the question of just and reasonable cnarses
therefor has become Of vital Importance not oniy
IN shippers and carriers but also to the vast null
fuude of producers and consumers. The Justice
and equity Of the principles embodied IN tne eA-
listing law passed for the purpose OF reguia.ins
these charges are everywhere conceded, ana
there appears to he no question that the pohcy
thus entered upon has permanent place III
legislation. - t.,
As the present statute when enacted was IN
the nature Of the case. or less tentative anu
governmental. it was hardly expected 10 supply
complete and adequate system h.'u nr,ni, ,iS
wholesome effects are manifest ana nave amply
justified its enactment 1t Is evident that al de-
sired reforms in transportation methous nay
not been fully accomplished In view oi tne
tudiciaI Interpretation which some PROVISIONS
NJ this statute have received and the deIectS
disclosed by the efforts made for It's enforcement
its revision and amendment appear 10 De ess.n- ,,
tial TO the end that II may more citectuaily
reach the evils designed to he corrected nope
the recommendations Of the Commission upon
this subject will be promptly ana ia'orapi' co"-
sidercd by the Congress-
SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE TARIFF.
desire to recur to the statements elsewhere
made concerning the Governments receipts and
expenditures for the purpose OF venturing upon
some suggestions touching our present tarin
law and its operation. - 1000
This statute took effect on August ~. lSti
Whatever may ne It's shortcomings as n COM
pletc measure Of tariff REFORM II must be con-
coded that IL has opened the way to freer and
greater exchange OF commodities between us
and other countries. and thus furnished wider
market for our products and manufactures.
The only entire fiscal year during which this
law has been in force ended on June 30. 1896.
In that year our imports increased over those or
the previous year more than S6.fbooo. while
the value OF the domestic products we exported.
and which found markets abroad was nearly
$1,000 600 more than during the preceding year.
Those who insist that the cost To our people or
articles coming to them from abroad for their
needful use should only be increased through
tariff changes to an extent necessary 10 meet inc
expenses of the Government. as well as 'hosc
who claim that tariff charges may he laid upon
such articles beyond the necessities OF Govern
!ncnt revenue. and with the additional purpose
To- give American manufacturers ana producers
better and more profitable opportunities. must
agree that our tariff laws are only primarily
justified sources OF revenue 10 ehaol' 'he
Government to meet the necessary expenses or
it's maintenance. Considered as to It's su!iiciency
in this aspect the present law can by no means
fall under lust condemnation. During the only
complete fiscal of It's operation it has yielded
nearly SSWNHW more revenue than was re-
coivcd from tariff duties in the preceding year
There vas nevertheless n deficit between our
receipts and expenditures OF little more than
So JOOOOOO This. however, was not unexpected
THE DEFICIT.
The situation was such in December last. seven
months before the close OF the fiscal year, that
the Secretary of the Treasury foretold den-
cheney Of Sl1.NOO0O0 The great and increasing
apprehension and timidity in business circles ana
the depression in all activities intervening since
that time. resulting from causes perfectly weii
understood and entirely disconnected win our
tariff law or its operation. seriously checked the
imports we would have otherwise received, ana
readily account for tho difference between this
estimate OF the Secretary and the actuai de-
hciency. as well as for continued deficit In
deed IL must bc confessed that We could hardly
have had n more unfavorable period man the
last two years for the collection Of tariff revenue
We cannot reasonably hope that our recupera-
ton from this business depression VIII be sud
den. but II has already set In with promise OF
accclcraton and continuance
I believe our present tarin law. " allowed
fair opportunity. will In the near future yield
revenue which, with reasonably economical ck-
penditurcs. Will overcome all deficiencies In
the mean time no deficit that has occurred or
may occur need excite or disturb us To meet
any such deficit we have In the Treasury, III
addition to a gold reserve OF SlnWOVO" a
surplus of more than Sl2S.OO0OW applicable
to the payment OF the expenses of the Govern
ment, and which must. unless expended Tor that
purpose remain useless hoard or. II not ex-
travagantly wasted. must i'm any event he per-
verted 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 it's proper and legitimate use. The Gov
crnment thus applying surplus fortunately In
its Treasury tn the payment OF expenses NOT met
by It's current revenues is not at all To bc lkened
to a man living beyond his income and thus In
curing debt or cncroaching on his principal
II is not one OF the functions OF ous GOVERN
mtnt to accumulate and make additions To
fund not needed for immediate expenditure
With individuals II is the chief object of strug-
gle and effort The application Of an accuml-
lated fund by the Government to the payment
of its running expenses Is duty an lnd'viu-
ual living beyond his income and embarrassing
himself with debt. or drawing upon his accumu-
lated fund Of prn ,ipal. is either unfortunate or
improvident. The distinction Is between
government charged with the duty OF expending
for the benefit Of the people and for proper pur-
poses all the money II receives from any source
and the Individual who Is expected to manifest
n natural desire To avoid debt or to accumulate
az much as possible and to live within the in
come derived from such accumulations. to the
end that they may be increased or at least re-
main unimpaired for the future use and enjoy
mcnt of himself or the objects Of his love and
affection who may survive him.
II Is immeasurably better To appropriate our
surplus to the payment Of justihable expenses
than 10 allow Il to become an invitation to recls-
less appropriations and extravagant expend.-
lures.
! suppose II will not be denied that under the
present law our people obtain the necessarles
Of a comfortable existence at Il cheaper rate
than formerly This is matter Of supreme inn
porance since 1t Is the palpable duty Of every
Just government to make the burdens OF taxa
ton as light as possible. The people should not
be required to rclinquisk this privilege Of cheap
cr living except under the stress OF their Gov
crnnents necessity made plainly manifest
FINANCIAL DANGERS POINTED OUT.