The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-16
THE EXTRA SESSIONITHE PRES
IDENTS MESSAGE.

and Means committee has already draht-
cd a new tariff act which, in the most
material particulars, does not differ from
the Mckinley tariff. The papers say
that the President has been giving much
Thought and attention to the new bill,
and has stood out consistently for the re-
ma ctment of the Mckinley schedules.
He believes that such a tariff would I'LL
the treasury, though the act IN practice
depleted an OVERLOOKING treasury.
The Presidents message sent to Con-
gress yesterday deals with the necessity
of having an income equal to the outgo.
In the enforcement of this simple old
precept the President us wise. No man,
State or country should spend more than
it's income The result of the extrava-
CANT appropriations, inaugurated by the
Reed Congress, have resulted in a large
annual deficit in the treasury. Mr.. Cleve-
land made the mistake of thinking the
remedy was in an issue of bonds, though
he did insist upon reduction in the pub
lie expenses. Mr.. Mckinley makes the
mistake of thinking the remedy lies In in
creasing the burdens of public taxation.
His opening words show a radical mis-
conception of the situation; as well as of
the remedy. We quote:
''With unlimited means at our COM
mand, we are presented the remark
able spectacle of increasing our pub
lie debt by borrowing money to meet
the ordinary OUTLAWS incident upon
even an economical and prudent ad-
mnistration of the government
We have not had in a long time any
thing like san economical and prudent
administration of the government" and
therefore the statement is incorrect. The
first and highest duty of Congress Is to
reduce the expenses of government so that
they shall not exceed the income. When
fhis is done, there is no need for further
burdening the people with hig CHER taxes.
1t is greater economy, and the appGca-
ton of the ordinary principles that gov
ern prudent business men IN their phi
vate affairs, that are needed to stop the
deficit in the treasury. 1t is not more
taxes, Of which $1.0O will go to the gov
eminent and $500 to the owners of great
industries that during the campaign
bought and paid for the bonus now de-
manded, that will bring relief.
If election contributions must be COM
pensated, it is better for the taxpayers,
il not more decent, for the President to
give useless and snowy jobs to the Van
Aliens than to impose millions of dollars
in taxes to enrich the sugar trust, the
steel trust, and all the other illegal COM
binations that contributed to the election
of Mckinley Both are scandalous, but
the first does not rob the masses to en-
rich the classes.
Mr.. Mckinley calls attention to one
startling fact In 1892, the interest
charge on the public debt was 500, $685.
$500 In 1896 it increased to 34.387,
297 go, or an increase of S11 ,493, 414.4O.
There is no excuse for this increase. 1t
has benefited nobody except the bond
holder and gold Spectator. 1t ought
to be stopped. There are but three ways
to do it: /. To pay out silver for obliga-
tons payable in silver; .. To reduce the
expenses of government to the level of the
income; 3. To increase the taxes ON the
people The first two afford the only just
and permanent method. Mr.. Mckinley
ignores these, and confines himself to adj
vocating higher taxes.
In 1892, Mckinley tariff taxes were
repudiated by the people. The President
mistakes the true public sentiment if he
thinks that he was elected to reimpose
high tariff taxation. If it is done, there
will be another tidal wave against it as
in 1890 and 1892.
Mr.. Mckinley was elected Tor rather
the seat was purchased for him) to es-
tablish "sound currency" If he obeyed
the mandate of those who put him in of
fee, he would urge Congress to legislate
on the money question, and not enact
tariff law at the behest of the tariff ba
rons. And yet in the entire message,
there is not one syllable even of reference
even to the international remedy" pro-
posed so confidently in the Republican
platform. This amounts to nothing less
than bad faith or an open ignoring of the
people or both. 1t will provoke bitter
discussion even from the Presidents ad-
herents.
Mr.. Cleveland was elected to reduce the
tariff. Instead of obeying this mandate
of the people, he called Congress in ex-
ira session to legislate as the bond-hold-
ers desired.
Mr.. Cleveland's mistake Ito call it by
no worse nance Is known of all men,
Mr.. Mckinley is following his bad ex-