New-York tribune., 1905-04-26
TARIFF MAY BE CHANGED.
INCREASING DEFICIT
Some Action Needed to SsccH
Federal Reuenues.
TTRoAI THE TRI8uNE BuREAv.l

NAoA TRIBUNE BUREAU
washington. April 25.--Yhe considerable and
asadiy increasing deficit IN the federal treas
~ seems destined 20 force serious consideration
4 the problem OF increasing revenues on the
Administration at an early day. and It is pre-
acted by members OF the Cabinet that the Pres
,seni VIII take the matter Up as soon as he re-
,urns from the West. It is also intimated that
-hsn Senator Aldrich returns from Europe IN
yaaehe VIII be as..ed TO come TO Washington 10
sscuss the situation. and that later he may call
,oreher the Senate Committee on Finance Of
which he is chairman Such meeting would
probably be held at the Senator's summer home
:; warwick. which is within easy water ride Of
oyster Boy.
That the deficit for the current fiscal year will
considerably exceed Secretary Shaw's estimate
q SSOoo0oo is now assured, although by what
amount opinions differ At present the defcit
amounts 10 S3OO00.O0O. but Joseph s. Mccoy.
the actuary OF the Treasury Department, with
whom Secretary Shaw has had number Of con-
ssrenoes during the last few days, estimates the
annual deicit al S230O0O00
Speaking Of tho deficit to-day. Secretary shaw
said:
There IS nothing alarming in the deficit figures
We may le q little worse OF at the close Of the
fiscal year than ! thought would be twenty
months ago when 1 made my estimate of SIS
100000. but, considering The prosperity Of the
country. Il is of small moment Five or six
million dollars seems like tremendous amount
of money 10 the individual. hut TO a great and
PROSPEROUS government il is not nearly so awe
Inspiring. Il is no more, relatively. than dol
Jar is 10 the ordinary citizen. Congress can turn
The dehct lnlo surplus whenever u pleases
and VIII. undoubtedly, 90 50 al The proper time
PRESIDENT FOR READJUsTMENT.
There IS little question that the growing
Treasury deacit win give increased impetus to
the demand for read5ustment Of the tariff sched-
ules The President and most OF the leaders of
the Senate are convinced that the time has come
when the Dingley law should be readjusted TO
changed conditions. and the President has de-
clared his intention Of impressing this view on
Congress in his next message to that body.
Those who maintain that the time for re-
adjustment has arrived point 10 the fact that
when the Dingiev act was enacted II carefully
adjusted every schedule so as TO afford ample
protection 10 American manufacturers and pro-
ducers eliminating the difference between the
cheap labor used in the production Of foreign
goods and the more expensive labor which is a
factor in American products and at the same
tine afforded ample revenue 10 the govern
Taent Now. it Is maintained The progress Of
the protected industries, the cheapening Of
methods of production and manufacture and the
development Of the several lines Of industry
have combined 10 lessen the cost of produc-
fion in certain instances. and the existing tariff
-ste Is therefore rrohibitive with the result
that the government is deprived Of possible
revenue. while in some instances perhaps, the
manufacturer IS enabled to charge a price for
IFS goods aut oR proportion 10 the greater wages
he Is compelled TO pay as compared with his
foreign competitor. i is not maintained that
there are many instances Of this kind or that
there are numerous schedules which require
readjusrment, but that there are enough, If
properly adjusted. 10 overcome the current
dedcit
Secretary Shaw. who is an ardent stand
patter' is now deyoting his time and attention
20 this subject with the hope Of devising some
practicable method OF increasing revenues with
out readjustiug the tariff schedules. Although
the Secretary has not indicated the lines along
which he proposes that increased revenues shall
be secured. il Is believed az the Treasury De-
parrnelt that ne IaFors an increased TAX on
beer that he would advocate the extension Of
the internal revenue law 10 include alcohol used
N the manufacture OF certain American wines
Whicl IS now obtained by wine makers free of
duty. etc. II the Spanish war tax on beer were
restored, that alone. Il is claimed, would bring
in about S30OObODO year. and about SG.OO0oD0
more could be expected from the tax on spirits.
Secretary shaw is also believed TO favor a
tariff on coffee except thar brought from Porto
Rico and the Philippines and possibly duty on
tea. Al Of these taxes have been advocated 10y
the extreme school OF "stand-patters,' although
certain iutimati0ns that such policy would be
pursued were met with prompt expressions OF
cisapproval from consumers when they were put
out in The public prints short time ago
HOW FINANCE COMMITTEE STANDS.
Should the Senate Committee on Finance meet
70 consider the most practicable means Of in
craaslng the federal revenues il would doubtless
reach The conclusion that j readjUstment Of the
tariT schedules wss essential. but would be
power,ess 10 90 more than express an opinion
and advise the President in the absence Of nitia-
tive action by The House. which adjourned with
out making any provision " hereby the members
~ its WAYS and Means Committee could meet
curing he recess
Of The Senate Finance Committee, Senators
Alorlch. Allison Burrows, Hansbrough ana
kp0ouer arc known TO favor tarr readjustment
They constitute majority OF five, out OF the
Republican membership Of seven. The Democrats
would. Of course vote with The TeadJusters. IN
fact, before he went 10 Europe, Senator AldTlch
Secured the assurance OF Senator German, Dem
ocratic leader and n member Of the FINANCE
Committee that the Democrats in the Senate
would NOT nlibuster on any tariff biz when
might be considered in the Senate and that so
ftacie would be placed in the way % the ma
3ority II il wished 10 secure a vote on tarin
hn before the close Of the special session 10 pe
calico next fan.
In The House however, Speaker Cannon and
Represeutatiyes Grosvenor and DalzeN. who de-
tsrmiue the policy Of the lower chamber, are
unalterably opposed TO any change OF the taflH
and Pepreserfarive Payne chairman OF the
Ways and Means Committee. although probably
a. heart IN favor of certain notifications is un-
willing 10 be quoted 10 that eject