The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-07
THE PRESENT TARIFF.
The President Ventures Some sugges-
lions Growing Out of It's Operation.


tons Growing Out of It's Operation.
] desire to recur to the statements
elsewhere made concerning the govern
ments receipts and expenditures for the
purpose pr Nentuiing upon some sug-
gestiOns touching our present tariff law
and its operation.
This statute took effect upon the 2Sth
day of August 1894. Whatever NAV
be its shortcomings as acomplete meas
ure of tariff reform it must be cOnced-
ed that it has opened the way to a
freer and greater exchange of commod-
tiles between us and other countries
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 day of June, 1896. In that year
our imports Increased over those of the
previous year more than SIS 500 GOO while
the value of the domestic products
which were exported and which found
markets abroad was nearly SO 0O0. O00
more than during the preceding year
Those who insist that the cost to our
people of articles coming to them from
abroad for their needful 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 government revenue.
and with the additional purpose of so
increasing the price in olT markets as
10 give American man lIelS ana
producers better ana more profitable
opportunities must agree that our
tariff laws are only primarily justified
as sources of revenue to enable the
government to meet the necessary eX-
penses of its maintenance.
PRESENT LAW DEFENDED.
Considered as to its suficiency in
this aspect the present law can by no
means fall under just condemnation.
During the only complete fiscal year of
its operation it has yielded nearly SIS
600. 600 more revenue than was received
from tariff duties in the preceding year
There was nevertheless a deficit be
tween our receipts and expenditures Of
a little more than $4,000 600. 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 a deficiency of
s17 coo 900. The great and increasing
apprehension and timidity in business
circles and the depression in all actlNl-
ties intervening since that time, result
ing from causes perfectly wen under
stood and entirely disconnected with
our tariff law or Interpretations, seri-
ously checked the imports we would
have otherwise receiver and readily ac-
count for the difference between this
estimate of the secretary and the act
ual deficiency, as well as for con-
tinued deficit
Indeed. it must be confessed that we
could hardly have had more unfaVOr-
able period than the last two years for
the collection of tariff revenue. We
cannot reasonably hope that our recup-
Grafton from the business depression
viii be sudden, but it has already set
i'm with a promise of acceleratiOn and
continuance. I believe our present tar
if law if allowed a fair opportunity
will in the near future yield a revenue,
which with reasonable economical eX-
penditures viii overcome deficiencies.
In the meantime no deficit that has oc-
CURED or may occur need excite or
disturb
SURPLUS TO EXPEND,
To meet any such deficit we have in
the treasury in addition to a gold re-
serve of one hundred millions a surplus
of more than one hundred and twenty
eight millions of dollars applicab Bile to
payment of the expenses of the govern
ment and which must. unless expended
for that purpose, remain a useless
hoard or if not eXtravagantly wasted
must in any event be perverted from
the purpose intended by our people.
The payment therefore of any deficien-
cy in the revenue from this fund is
nothing more than its proper and legi-
innate use
The government thus applying a sur
plus fortunately in its treasury to the
payment Of expenses not met by it's
4 current revenues, is not at all to be
/ iikened to a man living beyond his in
/ come. and thus mourning debt or in
f crease in his principal 1t is not one Of
/ the functions of our government to &C