The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-31
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mckinley Urges Congress to Pass a
Tariff Bill Without Delay.
MORE REVENUE IS NEEDED.

He Says q Deficit Has Existed Now for
Three Years-.-Borrowlng for Ordinary
Cuban or Other Foreign Ouestions---
Tariff the Only Question Discussed.
WASHINGTON, D. O. (speciaD. President
Mckinley has sent his first message to Con.
gress. He gays:
"To the Congress of the United States:
"Regretting the necessity which has re-
quired me to call you together I feel that
your assembling In extraordinary session Is
indispensable because OF the condition In
which we find the revenues of the Govern.
ment.
"It Is conceded that Its current expendi-
lures are greater than Its receipts, and that
such condition has existed for now more
than three years. With unlimited means at
our command, we are presenting the remark.
able spectacle Of increasing our public debt
by borrowing money to meet the ordinary
outlays incident upon even an economical
and prudent administration Of the Govern.
ment. An examination Of the subject dis.
closes this fact In every detail and leads In.
evitably to the conclusion that the condition
Of the revenue which allows 1t Is unjustifa.
BILE and should be corrected.
The message then gives figures to show
that during the past three years the Govern.
ments expenditures have exceeded its rev.
enues, and that in consequence several bond
issues have been necessary. Continuing,
the President says
"It may be urged that even 1.-THE revenues
% kLo od 0ianf
meet all its ordinary expenses during the
past three years, the gold reserve would still
have been insufficient 10 meet the demands
upon II, and that bonds would necessarily
have been issued for its repletion. Be this as
II may, 1t Is clearly manifest, without deny
Ing or affirming the correctness Of such
conclusion, that the debt would have been
decreased In at least the amount OF the de-
flclency, and business confidence immeasur-
ably strengthened throughout the country;
"Congress should promptly correct the
existing condition. Ample revenues must be
supplied not only for the ordinary expenses
Of the Government, but for the prompt pay
ment Of liberal pensions and the liquidation
of the principal and interest OF the public
debt. In raising revenue, duties should be
so levied upon foreign products as to pre-
serve the home market. so far as pos
sible, to our own producers; to revive
and encourage agriculture; to increase
our domestic and foreign commerce
to aid and develop mining and building,
and to render to labor In every field OF
useful occupation the liberal wages and ade-
auate rewards to which skill and industry
are Justly entitled. The necessity OF the
passage OF tariff law which shall provide
ample revenue need not be further urged.
The imperative demand Of the hour is the
prompt enactment Of such measure, and to
this object earnestly recommend that Con.
gress shall make every endeavor. Before
other business Is transacted let US first pro.
vide sufficient revenue to faithfully admins
ter the Government without the contracting
OF further debt or the continued disturbance
of our finances. WILLIAM MCKINLEY"