Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-05-25
NO new TAXES NEEDED

wv N3ss nENhO u
Slight Tariff Changes Would
Overcome Deficit.
MAKE RECEIPTS EQUAL 0UTGo
If Some of the Prohibitive Duties
Were to n Tariff For Rev.
enue Basis the Treasury Shortage
Would Quickly Disappear.
One Of the problems which the presi-
lent will be obliged to discuss with the
leaders Of his party in congress is the
probability Of new taxes having to be
imposed and the best line to follow
with such taxation if it is necessary.
The administration holds that the treas
ury conditions need looking into even
in the face Of the rosy estimates of
some Of u Republican contemporaries
that the existing deficit Of practically
$35,600,0O0 is to be materially reduced
by the close Of the fiscal year and the
predictions that the law f%orbidding de-
partments to exceed their appropria-
lions will hold down the expenses next
year to a sum that can be covered by
the amount to be collected with no
change in the revenue laws.
AEOrv 10 4Lo $500
are no as hopeful as are the party or
gans. They would like to see the rev.
enue large enough to a little more than
meet expenditures, and they suggest
accomplishing this by the imposition
Of new taxes, thereby avoiding any
change In the protective schedules Of
the Dinghey bill. Beyond question the
amount Of revenue needed to run the
government on its present basis of ex-
penditures could be collected with only
slight changes in the existing tariff.
If some Of the highly protective sched-
ules were reduced from an almost pro-
hibitory rate to a tariff for revenue
basis enough would be collected in GUS
toms, in addition to what is now OBJ
tanned, to more than make up for the
difference between receipts and ex-
penditures.
That, however, is just what the high
protectionists wish to avoid. They pre-
fer to have new taxes imposed in al
most any line rather than to nave even
the most trivial reduction made in the
high protection afforded such infant in
dustries as the steel and tobacco trusts
or a host Of other struggling infants
that might be named.
According to the Washington rumors
a favorite proposal is an increase in
the tax on beer to double the present
rate, a change which, it is estimated,
revenue. A further tax is also suggest
ed on whisky. though the amount that
tax would bring in is problematical, it
being a question whether the present
tax is not close to the point of satura-
tion-that is, the limit at which the
greatest revenue is obtained.
Of course, the proposition to put an
import duty on coffee is again brought
forward. Ever since we obtained pos
session Of Porto Rico the wisdom of
imposing an import duty on coffee pur-
chased from foreign countries has been
frequently suggested, the Porto Ricans
doing everything in their power to call
congressional attention to the coffee
crop Of their island and the extent to
to Rican berry were given a tariff adj
vantage in the United States market.
Last year we imported more than
995, 100000 pounds of coffee, valued at
a trifie less than Z cents per pound, or,
say, just under $%7O,O0O,OOO for the to-
tai Importation. On these figures coffee
ran sugar a close second as the most
ports amounting to almost S72,00O.OO0.
With imports Of coffee continuing at
such figures, q tax of 1 cent per pound
would bring in almost $%10.00O.O00 Of
revenue. That certainly would be a
fertile field in which to grow revenue
for the filling of a bankrupt treasury.
But is the treasury so bankrupt that
there is need of a further tax on the
food Of the people? For coffee Is used in
this country as a food, a food consum-
ed in enormous quantities by what are
known as the laboring classes. They
would be the ones to bear the burden
Of a coffee tax. which might, therefore,
prove unpopular throughout the coun-
try. Last year we imported tea to the
amount Of a little less than 100000
pounds and Of an average value of
about 10 cents a pound. Tea also is
suggested as an article Of import that
might we'll bear a tax. During the
Spanish war a tax Of 10 cents per
pound was imposed on tea, a tax that
materially checked the imports Of tea
and doubtless encouraged, indirectly at
least, the imports of coffee, which
came In duty free.
To quite an extent the showing of
the treasury finances at the close of
the current year, on June 80, will de.