Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01
NO DEFICIT NEXT YEAR
THAT IS HIS OPINION FROM
PRESENT OUTLOOK.
He Discusses the Tariff Question From
Several Different Points
of View.

I'm my opinion, from the present out
look, there will be no deficit next year.
This year the deficit of the government
will be about s20.Ooo,Oo0. That is the
way II looks to me-"
This statement was made by Represen-
tative Serene Z. Payne, chairman of the
House committee on ways and means. the
committee that is charged with the duty
of taking the first step in revising the
tariff whenever the tariff is revised.
Have you any plans for revising the
tariff?" Mr.. Payne was asked.
There are no plans and there is no
understanding on that subject. so far as
1 am aware" replied Mr.. Payne.
No Deficit Next Year.
When the deficit of the government for
the present year was referred to together
with the prediction of some tariff revision-
lists of a still greater deficit for next year
was called to Mr.. Paynes attention. he
made his reply to the effect that. In his
opinion, there would be no deficit next
year.
Mr.. Payne didn't care to further discuss
the subject of tariff revision. In years
past he has locked arms with Speaker Cam
non as stand patter'' on the tariff. His
friends rather regard him as stand pat
man today He is today the buffer between
the tariff revisionists and the stand pat
ters and he retains a smiling countenance
while he receives the thrusts. ttrst from one
faction of his party and then from the oth-
err He hasn't given his confidence IN any
positive way to his friends yet as to whetn-
er the tariff should or should not be re-
vsed.
He is watching the revenues of the gov
ernment and is reading thousands or let
ters and pamphlets that come to him either
in opposition to or in favor of change
of the tariff If he has any inner purpose
definitely formed as to what shall be done
with the tariff, if anything, he has kept the
secret well guarded.
As to a Tax on Coffee.
Then there will be no necessity for a,
tax on coffee in order to raise more rev.
enue?" Mr.. Payne was asked.
II do not see any such necessity he re-
piled.
There is imported into this country over
a billion and one hundred million pounds
of coffee annually.so that each cent pound
of duty placed on coffee would produce an
annual revenue of Sl1,0O0,ooo People who
want to provide for any deficit the gov
ernment may meet without interfering with
the present customs duties have suggested
that coffee gives ample opportunity 1or the
raising of such revenue without working a
hardship the people They nave sus-
gested that cents a pound VIII provide a
revenue of $5J0Oo,oDo.
I'VE may" said Mr.. Payne. revise the
Philippine tariff.
There we can make some reduction OIL
duties When the time comes in 1909 Tor
a conclusion of the agreement that Spain
shall have the benefit of the same duties
that we have l will be in favor of giving
free trade between the Philippines and TINS
country AS it is now the Philippines are
never likely to produce manufactured ar
ticles and free exchange of the prooucts
of the two countries could not result ex.
cept beneficially. OF course there woulu
be no danger under such a provision or any
goods from foreign countries making tnelr
way into this country. What the Phllp-
pines want is a tariff that will produce
revenue for them"
An Important Hearing on Revision.
Mr.. Payne's announcement today that in
his Judgment there would be no govern
mental deficit next year was later dis
cussed as having a very important bearing
on the suggested revision of the tariff. This
deficiency has been urged by many people
as practically forcing Congress to revise
the tariff at the next session. But that Is
only one of the reasons being put forth
urgently for such course. There are
specific schedules that are being urged for
revision of New England manufacturers,
and by others as we'll Whether there is q
deficit or surplus of revenue will not dis
pose of the demand for revision so far as
they are concerned.