Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-12-27
REVISION OF TARIFF.
LITTLE PROBABILITY OF RECIPROC'
ITY TREATIES GOING 1.:h0uGH.
War lakes Are to BE Lowered Suhi-
cientIy TO Reduce the Reyenue-Trust
Barons Have Too strong Hold of
Congress to $50 Shaken OG.

|
that the net treasury surplus for the
present fiscal year may reach $500 OO,-
600. and that as a consequence, Re-
publican leaders in congress, with the
presidents sanction have adopted a
plan to cut off all the war taxes, re-
duoing the internal revenue to figures
as low, if not lower. than those which
prevailed before the Spanish-Ameiican
war
According to the Worlds dispatch,
the abolition of these special taxes
will reduce the revenue to about $780,.
! 100000. The tax on beer will be re-
duced from SLIGO to 81 per barrel, thus
taking off about S25.000,00o. The tax
on tobacco will be reduced from nine
to six cents per pound, and the cigar
schedule will be rearranged so as to
effect, together with the general To-
bacco reduction, an additional reduc-
ton of $25,000,000. In this way it Is
| estimated that the entire war tax will
be wiped out and the surplus reduced
by about 500 100000.
The Worlds correspondent says that
| it is also suggested that the tax on
whisky may be reduced to eighty
cents a gallon, the present tax being
| S1.20 per gallon. The Worlds CORE
spoEdent says:
The president and the Republican
| members of the ways and means COM
mittee, with two possible exceptions,
are unaterably opposed to any revis-
ion of the tariff. All agree that re-
duction on one article could not be
effected without going through the en-
tire list, and such revision is not
contemplated All agree also that
business would be unsettled and the
, present prosperity materially checked.
The president and these members
! think it wise to leave well enough
alone"
1t is also stated that 1t is now be-
leved that any one of the pending
reciprocity treaties can obtain ratifica-
| ton in the senate. and that there
seems no prospect along the line of
reciprocity"
The Worlds correspondent is
authority for the statement that when
I certain members of the ways and
means committee suggested to the
| president that possibly the treasury
surplus could be lowered by revision
of the tariff schedule in which the
greatest degree of protection is allow
ed. the president declared his close
adherence to the doctrine of high pro-
! lection and expressed his opinion that
the present prosperity should be al
lowed to continue, and that there
should be no tinkering with the tariff
to unsettie business and cause appre
hension in commercial circles.
Chairman Payne of the ways and
means committee, said: THE country
is doing better than ever before, and
there is an old adage to let well
enough alone"
Representative Russell of Connec-
ticut, said: Revision of the tariff
along special lines is practical i'm
possibility at present. Conditions are
good, and they should be permitted to
remain So"
More and more every day it appears
that Representative Babcocks fight
for tariff revision will be hopeless
one in the Republican party. Repub-
ican leaders. who. like Babcock. have
changed their opinion as to the influ-
ence of high protective tariff on the
general welfare, would have very
strong following in the Republican
party, and perhaps the recognition Of
this fact has something to do. aside
from the desire to reduce the surplus,
with the concessions which the admin
istration leaders seem disposed to
make in the matter of the war taxes.
Doubtless these leaders believe that by
a material reduction of the war taxes,
thus affording relief in some quarters,
they can postpone the demand for tar
iff revision.
Certainly the Republicans have the
power to defeat tariff revision, and
probably they have the ability to close
for time the public eye to one great
evil, while affording degree OF relief
from war taxes.
1t is interesting also to note that the
same authority that assures us there
will be no tariff revision also conveys
the information there seems no pros
pect along the line of reciprocity
Republican newspapers had much to
say by way of commentator of Presi-
dent McKinley's last speech. and yet.
if the New York Worlds Washington
correspondent is to be relied upon,
already there are indications that the
policy announced by the lamented
president, in his last speech, has al
ready been abandoned by the Repubii-
can party.-The Commoner.
LET OUR IDEAS CONQUER.