Smyrna times., 1897-03-31
The Message and Tariff Bill.

The President in his message to the
extra session of Congress shows that
the Nation, with unlimited resources
at command, yet presents the remark
able spectacle of borrowing money to
meet ordinary outlays. He cites the
records: 1892, surplus $9,914, ,454, and
$40, $40, 46S debt paid; 1893, surplus
50, 341, GA; 1894, deficit 500, ,8O3, 261;
1895, deficit $42, ,8O5, 223; 1896, deficit
$25, ,2O3, 246; 1897, eight months deficit
$48, 249, $50; in three years and s months
deficit $186, ,O61, ,586; money borrowed.
$293, 454, 285, by issue of bonds for
$62, ,315, 400, increasing the annual in
terest charge S1l, ,493, Ala, or more than
one-half since 1892. Then he saws:
Ample means must be supplied" not
only for the ordinary expenses of
the Government, but for the PROMPT
payment of ''hberal pensions and the
liquidation of the principal and interest
of the public debt" and he closes:
before other business is transacted.
let Gus first provide sufficient revenue
to faithfully administer the Govern
ment without the contract of further
debt or the continued disturbance of
our finances"
Chairman Dingley's report on the
tariff bill in the house, is worth read
ing, not only by those who have al
ways been protectionists but by those
who, believe in practical free trade in
theory, at least. Mr. Dingley first
points out how the revenues have de-
creased under the law of 1894, and then
shows how the committee has arranged
the new schedule to increase revenues
and bring protection to our farmers
and manufacturers, as well as employ
ment to our mechanics and artisans
and laborers.
1t is, question beyond dispute, that
under the so-called Mckinley tariff of
1890, the United States were never SO
prosperous. Since the election of Mr..
Cleveland in 1892 the business of the
country has been prostrated, our work
lngmen have been idle, our revenues
have decreased, our national debt has
been growing larger every year, and
we had begun to travel the road which
every individual travels who spends
more than he earns.
The new tariff is framed to remedy
these evils. 1t is, as Mr.. Dingley says
in effect, intended to make times bet
ter. 1t is proposed to raise revenue
enough to pay our way and to bring
work to the idle men and women by in
ducing capitalists to start up the mills
and factories, and the farmers to raise
sheep and sugar. Under the Wilson
bill of 1894, wool was brought into this
country i'll three times the quantities
that were brought in 1898, under the
Mckinley bill, and wooden goods came
IN to the amount of more than twice as
much, yet the revenue decreased S21,-
600, 900. Besides this, our farmers lost
their market for 30, 100000 pounds of
wool, involving loss of the same num-
Der OF dollars, i'll addition to which our
manufacturers and wOrkingmen have
been doing nothing except studing the
beauties of free trade and contemplate
ing the pleasurable sight of their fell
lows on the other side of the ocean
working night and day, reaping the
profits of the theoretical angels who
dominated the government in 1894.
1t seems probable that the new bill,
with perhaps some notifications, will
pass. If it does a revival of our in
dustries is promised.