The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-02
U TREATIES WITH CHINA.
ALSO THE QUESTION OF REVENUE
AND THE PENSION ABUSES.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-There is increased
searching OF. heart over tho Treasury deficit.
At present II is running at the rate Of S50,000,-
600 for tho current fiscal year. Strong conf
denco Is felt by the leading supporters OF the
Dingley bill that before tho year ends 1t will
vindicatc itself by overcoming this deficit. But,
in the meantime, the inconvenience Of the pres.
emit situation, and the prospective injury to
pressing national interests. through tho diff
cultlcs which the Committees on Appropriations
meet in their earnest efforts to provide literally
for whatever is necessary to prevent crirpling
the Government service. are forcing themselves
upon all minds.
There are ways enough, and they are short
ways, out OF the difficulty. For instance. adding
q dollar a barrel to tho tax on beer, and restor-
ing moderate duties on tea and coffee, would
yield $4,000 900 without adding apprcciably
to the cost to consumers.
The only trouble about the beer tax is that the
reat brewers contribute to national and Con-
eressional election funds. The difficulty about
tea and coffee is that votes may be controlled by
the utterly fallacious cry about taxing the poor
mans breakfast table. Adding a dollar q bar
rel to tho tax ON beer would yield, in round num-
bers. $35, 00o. 900. The importations OF coffee
exceed 900, 200, 600 pounds. A duty of 2 cents
would produce 81. 900. 900. The importations
OF tea reach nearly 100000 900 pounds. A
duty OF 8 cents would yield 50, 100000. With
these slight increases In taxation, none of which
would DO felt by the consumer, the present
serious annoyances of a large deficit would
disappear. and the Government would have
funds in hand for many most important
works. That tho addition of 81 a bar
rel to the tax ON beer would not justify
an increase Of the cost by the glass needs no
calculation. In the case OF the tax on coffee and
tea, Secretary of the Treasury Bristow, in his
annual reports for 1874 and 1875. gave the re-
suits OF two years experience after the repeal
of these duties. He showed by tables of prices
Of each Of the articles at the place of shipment,
that, as soon as we repealed the duties, the
prices In tho countries of production were adj
vanced by a similar rate. This, practically. re-
suited in the sum we had formerly collected be-
ing pnid to foreign producers, without any APP
p%reciablo relief to our own consumers. After
presenting these tables, Secretary Brlstow said
in his report for 1874:
This record OF foreign prices for coffee tends
strongly to the conclusion. making due allowance for
the effect Of short crops on prices, that the duty re-
pealcd by the act OF 1879 was added to the selling
price abroad, with no advantage to consumers here.
while the country as q whole has paid more than be-
fore for tho entire stock. The repeal of the duty on
tea caused little or no reduction Of prices to con.
sumers hero. but an increase Of prices abroad.
80 80 bSBoAb " 1ofop ~ biO CADCl L.
ence of the years results. the Secretary said:
Referring to tho estimates OF receipts and e1-
pendituresf for the next fiscal year. and to the neces-
sity now existing for the accumulation Of gold in the
Treasury, the Secretary again calls the attention of
Congress to the effect OF the act OF 1879, repeating
the duty nnnafae end tea. In his Last annual report
the Secretary expressed the opinion that the act al.
uniting these articles to free entry had been without
advantage to consumers in this country. but that the
duty repealed had been added to the cost abroad.
The repeal of duty has been followed by increase of
export duty in the countries Of production. and this
increase is paid by consumers. Subsequent con.
slderatlon OF the subject has confirmed the views
heretofore expressed, and the Secretary
restoration OF thu duty on the articles in question.
Being imported in large bulk. tho duty is easily col.
lected. and tho opportunities for fraudulent intro
duction are comparatively slight.
The need of an ample surplus has never before,
In times Of peace, been 80 strongly forced as now
upon those in the management of executive
affairs or those in Congress who share the full
condolences of an Administration. Every one
who knows anything of the inside knows that
ever SINCE Gen. Woodford's first note was pre-
scented. While the present situation Is one OF
auieseence. it is only that. 1t is very far from
view is that, autonomy is succeeding. The In
side knowledge is that 1t will not be accepted.
There are many matters of expenditure
by way Of prudent preparation attend
quire a comfortable surplus revenue. The har-
Dor ,defentes OF our greater Eastern cities
important portions of them in scrviceable con-
dition. But these modern guns of ours, the best
yet constructed by any nation. will not only not
lire themselves, but they cannot be operated by
men picked up on the wharves at q days notice.
Both guns and mortar batteries are splendid
and most effective creations OF war machinery,
but where are tho skilled artillerists who alone
GAN direct their intelli gent usei 1t would also
OF hostilitiess at any timc while we sent our
ships to Halifax to make use of the docking IA
As another instance of q situation which may
speedily develop serious proportions, it IL per-
iectly understood among the leading diploma;
lists here that the great powers have decided
daily seizures along the Chinese coast would
sufficiently proclaim the ultimate purpose. Tho
question for the Administration TO meet is what
VII be the fate Of our commercial treaties with
China in such u acknowledgment as is in process
In plain Wow of the world. 1t Is q situation
which seems to- place the United States in the
ties that Japan maintains regarding her trea-
ties with Hawaii.
These are only two Illustrations which the
wisest men, both in executive and legislative
circles, are citing, to show tho necessity for i'm
RRSsaiHteiy providing for the deficit. which TIC
opinion Of its author and Its firmest supporters,
for a considerable time to come. II Is perfectly
understood, and admitted by every one here,
that some such short way 20 providing q liberal
surplus is fully open, and that the only obstacles
"hiti "phiu ~ th'bNllctCu ~ tlO ulpLb lk v
entering upon 1t would be past and prospective
contributions to national campaign funds and
past and prospective payments and votes in
Congressional districts. Concerning the great
Importance Of a full treasury at the present
time. indeed the grave necessity for 1t. there il
scarcely any difference Of opinion.
One ofthe immediate effects OF the unexpected
Chinese situation is TO strengthen the sentiment
In favor of the annexation of Hawaii. For some
time the chances for, the success of the treaty
have not seemed bright; 1t is now believed by us
friends that the startling demonstration OF tho
European powers In ASiatic waters will prove
tho needed force to carry it through. The con-
yenioncc OF a coaling station for our navy in tho
Pacific suddenly begins TO appear as a vital
necessity in the minds of men who have been
lukewarm, on the subject. Unless the United
States decides to retreat from the Eastern field,
IL seen that we must, ut least, make some OF
tho most ordinary provisions for keeping u navy
effectively atOat, and without which our ships
would better stay at home.
The bearing OF this movement OF the powers
IL China upon our interests in the Pacific will
form one OF the strongest features OF tho argu-
Dlent In the Senate in favor OF the annexation
treaty. The situation has also doubly empha-
sized the necessity of the United States being
represented in China, by a strong apd we'll
equipped man. II is clear TO all that the strong
est intellect, with both diplomatic experience