The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-08-13
GOVERNMENT FINANCES.
silverites TO Distort Patent
Facts.

There is some disposition TO judge
the new war revenue law before there
has been time TO measure it's results,
The same disposition was shown for
some months after the present tariff
was enacted, until the attempt to dis
tort facts became SO glaring that even
the most extreme free traders per-
ceived that they were only bringing
into disrepute the cause they were
striving to defend. Fair-minded per-
sons will agree that the tariff can be
honestly judged only in the light OF
the conditions arising while 1t was
passing through congress and with
regard to the amount of revenue re-
quired for state of peace. Its opera
tion was for some months in part UNI
avoidably postponed by anticipatory
imports. Before 1t had become fully
operative through exhaustion Of sup
plies thus brought in, the destruction
of the Maine led to quick increase OF
expenditures in preparation for the
war which, 1t was seen, could not long
be averted. Yet the fair-minded have
observed the fact that the law had be-
gun in February to yield the fun
amount of revenue Overwhelmingly,
the $l,O00,000 day which had for
years sufiiced for the ordinary expen-
ditures of government in time of peace
and that it has continued. notwith-
standing some interruption of foreign
business through the war, to yield sub
stantially that amount of revenue.
The new war revenue law was in
tended, according to Mr.. Dingley's
statement when ii passed, to add $685.
4S1, 306 to the receipts, but it was frank
~ recognized by those who framed the
law that it would not be possible to
judge with great accuracy the fruit
fulness of internal taxes which had
never been tried in this country, or of
others which had not been tried for
30 years or more. The newt law has not
been in operation month. and part Of
its provisions can become fully opera
tive only after a quarter or half year
has elapsed; while others can he en-
forced only when cases pending in the
courts have been decided. Yet per-
sons are found who make haste TO
conclude that the new law will fall
short of its purpose.
In % daysNpf July the law has yielded
revenue~of 49,, 526,57o, or about ST.
$4,000 daily. Some of its provisions
were capable of anticipation, and con-
siderable revenue at the outset was
- ~ 81 r T.,
provisions will not appear for some
time to come. But the receipts thus
far have been at the rate of over $780,
100000 a year. Strictly speaking, IL
the law were to be judged at all In
the light of present insufficient expert
ence, it would have to be held rather
more productive than it was originally
intended to be. Allowance must be
made, however. for the fact that pur-
chases of stamps at the outset are
usually for considerable time to come.
an that other payments are to cover
periods not yet expired. The same
law might not yield as large n revenue
in succeeding months, because the first
month of a fiscal year usually brings
considerable settlements of various
kinds. When these things are taken
into account, with the obvious fact
that full payment has not been real
lied on all provisions of the law, IL
seems within the truth to say that IL
has worked thus far quite as well and
has yielded quite as much as was ex-
pected
a time of war Is one in which ex-
cannot be closely scrutiD-
lied. No citizen and no official can
Judge what unexpected outlay pa"
triotic duty may require in any given
week or month. The necessities have
to be met as they arise, by instant pro-
vision for the success Of army and
navy, the supplies of men in the service
half around the world, and the Erepar-
alton for other and possibly large re-
1urements in the near future. In tho
one matter of smokelcss powder, for
instance, not many realized at the out
set how clearly necessary 1t would be-
come for the government to provide a
full supply for its troops without de-
lay and without regard to expenditure.
But the magnificent success of the loan
which the government has proposed,
showing that sums practically unlim-
tied are at the command of the govern
ment at any time, and on terms more
favorable than were thought possible
n year ago in days of peace, relieves
the government and people Of present
anxiety. The thing to do is 70 push
the war so that it may be finished as
soon as possible.-N. Y. Tribune.
OThe attempt of few democratic
organs to make the senatorial cleo
ton last winter an issue in this fall