The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-12-09

complete msasus< Of tariff reform Il
must be conceded that II has opened the
way to a freer and greater exchange
Of commodities between Us and other
countries, and thus furnished wider
market for our products and manu-
features. The only entire fiscal year
during which this law has been In force
ended on the 30th day OF June. 1896. In
that year our imports increased over
those OF the previous year more than
Sc. SOC. 900, while the value OF the do
nestle products we exported and which
found markets abroad was nearly $780,
100000 more than during the preceding
year.
Those who insist that the cost to our
people OF articles coming 10 them from
abroad for their needful use should only
lie increased through tariff charges TO
an extent necessary TO meet the ex-
penses 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 in
creasing their price in our markets as
TO give American manufacturers and
producers better and more profitable
opportunities. must agree that our tar
In laws are only primarily justified as
sources of revenue To enable the gov
eminent to meet the necessary expenses
it's sufIiciency in this respect the pres
ent law can by no means fall under just
condemnation. During the only COM
plete fiscal year of it's operation IL has
yielded nearly sS.000,000 more revenue
than was received from tariff duties in
the preceding year.
There was, nevertheless a deficit be-
tween our receipts and expenditures
of little more than s25,000,000. This.
however, was not III - octcd The sit
uation was such i y -cember. seven
months before the se of the fiscal
year, that the secretary Of the treasury
foretold deficiency of 81 000. 600. The
great and increasing apprehension and
timidity in business circles and the de-
preston in all activities intervening
since that time. resulting from causes
perfectly we'll understood and entirely
disconnected with our tariff law or it's
operation, seriously checked the inn
ports we would have otherwise re-
ceived, and readily account for the diff
ference between this estimate of the
secretary and the actual deficiency. as
well as for a continued deficit. Indeed.
1t must be confessed that we could
hardly have had a more unfavorable
period than the last two years for the
collection of tariff revenue. We can
not reasonably hope that our recupera-
ton from this business depression will
be sudden, but il has already set in
with promise of acceleration and con-
tinuance.
/ believe our present tariff law, IL al
lowed a fair opportunity, will In the
near future yield revenue which, with
reasonable economical expenditures,
will overcome all deficiencies. 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 a gold
reserve of 500, 000. 900, surplus of more
than $12S,000,000 applicable to the pay
ment of the expenses of the govern
ment. and which must, unless expend-
ed for that purpose, remain useless
hoard. or IL not extravagantly wasted
must in any event be perverted from
the purpose of it's 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 a sur
plus fortunately in its treasury TO the
payment of expenses not met by its
current revenues is not at all to be
likened to a man living beyond his in
come and thus mourning debt or en-
croaching on its principal. III is not
one of the functions of our government
to accumulate and make additions to a
fund not needed for immediate expen-
diture. With individuals ii is the chief
object of struggle and effort. The ap-
plication OF an accumulated fund by
the government to the payment of its
running expenses is duty. An indi-
vidual living beyond his income and
embarrassing himself with debt, or
dra wing upon his accumulated fund of
principal is either unfortunate or inn
provident The distinction is between
government charged with the duty
OF expanding for the benefit of the peo-
pie and for proper purposes all the
money IL receives from any source, and
the individual who is expected to mani
fest a natural desire to aviod debt or
to Accumulate as much as possible, and
to live within the income derived from
such accumulations. to the end that
they may be increased or at least re-
main unimpaired for the future use
and enjoyment of himself and the OBJ
jects of his love and affection who may
survive him.
1t is immeasurably better to appro-
pirate our surplus to the payment of
justifiable expenses than TO allow it to
become an invitation to reckless appro-
priations and extravagant expendi-
lures. I suppose IL will not be denied
that under the present law our people
obtain the necessaries of a comfortable
existence at a cheaper rate than for
merly This is a matter Of supreme i'm
portance, since IL is the palpable duty
of every just government to make the
burdens OF taxation as light as posi-
BILE. The people should not be required
to relinquish this privilege of cheap
living except under the stress of their
governments necessity made plainly
manifest.