New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-10
TIE PENDING TAXES.

10 sopo critics who are little more eager
70 mt Renubljcans In the wrong than TO pro
xde necessary means for the Government 1t
s.ers that anv measure OF yielding about coin
,,c rho segniorage. SO called would open the
door 10 unlimited imitation: that the tariH on
ten Is inexcusable, and that any tax Whatever
on accumulated property, its inheritance Vi
transfer or on production or sale or proprieHi!
or otherwise monopozed articles, IS crlmlhai'
II may as we'll be said AT the outset tha' iheh
who wish to support the Government ana not
10 leave its armies and navies without 1uhus'
will for that reason In any actual ehersenc!
consent to various forms OF taxation winch the!
consider unwse. This seems to them para
mount duty. The form OF taxation can ne iii
proved at any time when the people eject
Senate less Populistc in temper, and the sweep
Ing Republican victory IN Oregon goes rar 10
show that it Is the pubc purpose TO elect such
a Senate quickly.
The Senate which is now at Washington
happens TO be the one to fix taxation TOT sup
port OF the Government this year, ana ~ IS not
an altogether lovely body. But the CONCESSIONS
reported as likely to be made to It's demands are
not quite so important as some profess TO Dc
Ueye. The so-called seigniorage clause. even al
,ts worst, would have meant at bottom nothing
but the issue OF 100000 per month more Sill
vor certificates. but with the modification In
conference there Is to be coined no more than
81 800 900 per month. with notes to be Issued
only as the act Of 1890 provides. This is a
small Increase OF the silver notes. but the Secre-
tary has power to curtail silver notes OF other
forms quite ms much 80 that no real expansion
Of currency would result without his assent. III
there should really come a demand for moro
notes IN circulation he would be under obliga-
ton TO permit expansion. but that would De
without danger. The theory on which this pro-
vision rests is foolish beyond measure. But II
Is as empty of practical importance as possible
or the Populistc taxes on which Democrats
insisted, some have been abandoned IN confer
cnce and others as modified VIII not yield
enough revenue to excuse their enactment eS-
cept in the eyes Of those who care more for
making a reputation as enemies OF wealth IMAM
for supporting the Government But 80 long as
such taxes are merely foolish, and not In
radical sense destructive of public prosperity
men of both houses have fair ground for just
ficatlon In conserving TO the acceptance OF them,
If necessary 10 avoid the defeat Of the tax Dill
as whole Considerable notifications al
ready made, according TO reports. give ground
for belief that the bill may be accepted without
delay by the Senate. as It was last night by the
House If not, there is every probability that
second conference would result in a stronger
disposition to eliminate the Objectionable feat
ures.
The tax on tea, to which the Japanese Gov
eminent objects In n somewhat reasonable pro-
test unavoidably suggests the consideration
Of American interests IN the Far East While
this duty Is not necessarily unfriendly to any
nation, we have entered upon responsible
ties regarding the Philippine Islands which Will
make 1t desirable for the United States, al
least for years to come, TO stand on fairly good
terms with Japan. Between that country and
this exceedingly friendly relations have thus
far existed. With some pretext for objection to
the annexation OF Hawaii, Japan has so modi-
fed its position TO relieve the United States
entirely from difficulty in that respect. II
would seem to be a matter Of sound policy ut
this time TO avoid with great care any form OF
taxation which would give unnecessary offence
to the people or TIE Government Of Japan, and
1t might be cheaper for the United States TO
raise a few millions by taxation In some other
way than to be obliged for years 10 come to
reckon with possible antagonism on the part OF
the most powerful Of the Eastern nations