The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-18
in revenue are due to the substitution OF

Al revenue are due to the substitution of
the existing tariff for the Mckinley bill
Nothlng is more certain than that if the
OH mad been in force during the last
three years the annual deficit would havs
oeen immensely swollen, while the people
IN season of depression and hard times
would nave staggered under much heavier
burdens of taxation. Even in this disas-
trous period customs duties under the ex.
lstlng law have increased from less than
SlS2,OOOWO, in 1894, the last year of the Nc
hlnley bill, to even $152 100000 in 1895 and
TO over $l6OOOO,0OO in 1896. In the sugar
schedule alone the balance in favor of the
existing law is about $55OO0,0OO. The Gus
toms revenue reached nearly S4O0OO0OO
scarcely any of which would have been
receivable under the Mckinley bill, and
under that bill we would have been paving
100000 in bonds
With the accumulated moneys in the
treasury we really need no new imposi-
ton OF taxes on the people to conduct
us TO SUFFICIENT revenue or even a comfort
able surplus If we will only invite back
prosperity by giving stability to business
ana reduce expenditures by few obvious
reforms. In the postoff1ce department
alone saving of from ten to twenty mill
ions annually can be made by a few sim
pie improvements in the business organ
ization of the department and a with
drawal of facilities which the postal SER
vice was never intended to provide and
which force 1t to do two-thirds of its
work for less than one-thirtieth of its
income.
But if it be declared necessary to increase
the customs income of the government by
new sources of revenue, a small duty on
tea, coffee, spice and crude opium will
| accomplish that result easily and surely,
with no upsetting of business, no lessen
ing of our growing and most promising
export of manufactures. and with no add
ed burdens in production, which always
fell with enhanced weight on the GUS
toner, with no ranking sense of in
justice among the people from the feeling
that the larger part of the taxes they pay
are for the benefit, not of their govern
mont, but of the corporate and CONSOLIDATE
ed wealth that invariably writes the
schedules of a protective tariff.
That the Dingley bill, present condition
considered, is the most ultra protective
tariff. ever proposed to be enacted in this
country plainly appears from Chairman
Dingley's statement that If levied on the
importations of the last fiscal year 1t would
have increased the revenue $112 600 900; that
is to say, 1t would have gathered from
an importation Of $775, 724,264 of imported
merchandise the enormous sum of $2T2, 600, =
600, which is nearly $5O,OOOOOO more than
any customs revenue ever collected in
one year in this country in the past. And
TO say that its rates will probably check
dutiable imports to the extent of reduc-
ing the estimate of 100000 Is only an
other way of saying that to the extent
that such rates are prohibitory
American consumers are shut in the
home market to be preyed upon by COM
binatious and trusts, without possibility
of relief from outside competition. Such
combinations, by Joining to keep up prices
and to curtail production, wage more
merciless war against the employment, the
opportunities and the compensation of
American labor than any possible CONNIE
tition from abroad could do
The falling off Of importations under the
present law dspels the allusion that the
American laborer Is anywhere deprived OF
employment by the importation of foreign
products. The gratifying increase In our
exports of manufactures is equally strong
proof that those laws are helping us 10
enter and command new markets. which
means not only larger employment for
our artisans, but more home consumers
for our farmers. William L. Wilson
Rank Injustice.-The editor of the
Jazetown Banner picked up one of his
metropolitan exchanges and read.
THE charming little soubrette Eva Hol-
lis-Whopper, has just purchased a new
bulldog"
1T is durn funny" said he TO himself
and the cat. that these here city papers
publish that sort Of stuff, and then make
fun of me for mentioning that Squire Tim