The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-05

Kept constantly at parity with gOlu
by every resource at our command.
The credit of our government, the
integrity of its currency and the in
be preserved. Vhis was the COM
manding verdict Nof the people. and
1t Will not be unheeded.
ECONOMY DEMANDED.
Economy is demanded in every
branch of the government at all
Tunes, but especially in periods like
the present of depression in busi-
ness and distress among the people.
The SevereSt economy must De OBJ
served in all public expenditures
and extravaganza stopped wher-
ever it is found and prevented
wherever in the future it may be
developed. If the revenues are to
remain as now the only relief that
can come must be from decreased
expenditures. But the present must
not become the permanent condi-
ton of the government. 1t has
been our uniform practice to retire.
not increase, our outstanding obli-
cations, and this policy must be re-
sumed and vigorously enforced.
Our revenues should always be
large enough to meet with ease and
promptness not only our current
needs and the principal and inter-
est of the public debt, but to make
proper and liberal provision for
that most deserving body of public
creditors, the soldiers and sailors
and the widows and orphans who
are the pensioners of the United
States.
INCREASED REVENUE.
The government should not. be
permitted to run behind, or increase
its debts in times like the present.
Surely to provide against this is
the mandate of duty; the certain
and easy remedy for most of our
financial difficulties. A deficiency
is Inevitable so long as the eXpend-
itures of the government exceed its
receipts. 1t can only be met by
loans or an increased revenue.
While a large annual surplus of
revenue may invite waste and ex-
trayagance, Inadequate revenue cre>
ates distrust and undermines pub
lie icredit. Neither should be en-
couraged. Between more loans and
more revenue there ought to be but
one opinion-we should have more
revenue, and that without delay,
hindrance or postpOnement. A sur
pllS III liiC Il ny
loans is not a permanent or safe
reliance. 1t will suffice while it
lasts, but it cannot last long while
the outlayS of the government are
greater than its receipts, as has been
the case during the past two years.
Nor must it be forgotten, however
much as such loans may tempo
rarily relieve the situation, the gov
ernment is still indebted for the
amount of the surplus thus accrued,
which it must ultimately pay, while
its ability to pay is not strength
ened, but weakened by a continued
deficit Loans are imperative in
great emergencies to preserve the
government or its credit, but a fail
ure to supply needed revenue in
time of peace for the maintenance
of either has no justification.
PEOPLE WANT PROTECTION.
The best way for the government
to maintain it's credit is to pay as
Ii goes-not by resorting to loans,
but by keeping out of debt-through
an adequate income secured by u
systeln of taxation, external or in
tkrnaf. or both. 1t IS the settled
policy of the government, pursued
from the beginning and practiced
to raise the bulk of our revenue
from taxes upon foreign produc-
tionS entering the United States
for sale or consumption, and avoid
ing for the most part every form
of direct taxation, except in time
of war The country is clearly op-
posed to any needless addition to
the subjects of internal taxation,
and is committed by its latest popu-
lar utterances to the system OF
tariff taxation. There can be no
misunderstanding, either, about the
principle upon which this tariff tax
alton shall be levied. Nothing has
ever been made palmer at generai
election than that the controlling
principle in the raising of revenue
from duties on imports. is jealous
care of the American interests and
American labor. The people have
declared that such legislation
should be had as will give ample
protection and encourag cement to
the industries and the development
of our country. 1t is, therefore,
earnestly hoped and expected that
congress will, at the earliest prac-
tical moment, enact revenue legisla-
ton that shall be fair, reasonable,
conservative and just, and which,
while supplying sufficient revenue
for public purposes. will still be sig
nally beneficial and helpful to every
section and every enterprise of the
people. To this policy we are all, of
whatever party. firmly bound by
the voice of the people-a power
vastly more potential than the ex-
preston of any political platform.
The paramount duty of congress is
to stop deficiencies by the restora-
ton of that protective legislation
which has always been the firmest
prop of the treasury. The passage
of such a law or laws would
strengthen the credit of the gov
ernment both at home and abroad
and go far towards stopping the
drain upon the gold reserve held
for the redemption of our currency,
which has been heavy and well
nigh constant for several years.
RECIPROCITY FAVORED.
In the revision of the tariff, es-
pecial attention should be given
to the re-enactment and extension
of reciprocity, the principle of the
law of 1890, under which so great
a stimulus was given to our for
eign trade in new and advan-
tageous markets. for our surplus
agricultural and manufactured
products. The brief trial given this
legislation amply justifies further
experiment and additional discre-
tionary power in the making of
commercial treaties, the end in view
always to be the opening up of new
markets for the products of our
country by granting concessions to
the products of other lands that we
need and cannot produce ourselves,
and which do not involve any loss
of labor to our own people, but
tend TO increase their employment.
The depression of the past four
years has fallen with especial Sc
verify upon the great body of toll
orc of tho country and 1Inon mona