Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-05

Z
pie, that the measure Of the tariff above
stated VIII permit the reduction Of rates
| in certain schedules and will require the
advancement of few, If any.
The proposal to revise the tariff made
in such an authoritative way as to lead
the business community to count upon
il, necessarily halts all those branches
of business directly affected, and as
these are most important it disturbs
the whole business Of the country. 1t is
imperatively necessary, therefore, that a
tariff bill be drawn in good faith in ac-
cordance with promises made before the
election by the party in power, and as
promptly passed as due consideration will
permit. 1t ds not that the tariff is more
/ Important I'm the long run than the per-
| fecting of the reforms in respect to anti
trust legislation and interstate commerce
regulation, but the need for action when
the revision of the tariff has been deter
mined upon, is more immediate to avoid
embarrassment of business. To secure the
needed speed in the passage of the tar
| in bill It would seem wise to attempt no
venture this as a suggestion only, for the
course to be taken by congress, upon the
call Of the executive, is wholly within
| its discretion.
In the making Of a tariff bill, the
prime motive is taxation, and the Sc
curing thereby Of a revenue. Due large
" to the business depression which fol-
lowed the financial panic of 1907. the rev.
enue from customs and other sources has
decreased to such an extent that the ex-
penditures for the current fiscal year
/ will exceed the receipts by SlO0.O00O00 1t
| Is imperative that such a deficit shall
not continue. and the trainers Of the tar
I III bill must OF course have in mind
I the total revenues likely to be produced
3 by It, and so arrange the duties as to Sc
4 cure an adequate --lcome. Should 1t be
| impossible to do so by import duties, new
kinds of taxation must be adopted, and
among these / recommended graduated
inheritance tax, as correct in principle
and as certain and easy of collection.
Economy Is Urged.
The obligation on the part of those re-
sponsible for the expenditures made to
carry on the government to be as eco
nomicaI as possible, and to make the bur-
den Of taxation as light as possible. Is
plain and should be affirmed I'm every dec
laration of government policy. This is es-
peciaIly true when we are face to face
with a heavy deficit. But when the de-
sire to win the popular approval leads
to the cutting of Of Expenditures really
needed to make the government effective,
and to enable il to accomplish its proper
demned as the waste of government funds
in unnecessary expenditure. The scope
of a modern government in what it can
and ought TO accomplish for it's people
. has been widened far beyond the principles
laid down by the old laissez faire school
OF political writer's. and this widening has
met popular approval.
In the department of agriculture, the
use of scientific experiments on a large
scale, and the spread of information de.
rived from them for the Improvement of
general agriculture, must go on.
Railway Legislation.
The Importance of supervising business
J of great railways and industrial combina-
tions, and the necessary investigation and
/ prosecution Of unlawful business meth
DDS. are another necessary tax upon gov
eminent which did not exist half a CEN
tury ago.
| The putting into force of laws which
shall secure the conservation Of our re-
sources, so far as they may be within
the jurisdiction Of the federal govern
ment, including the most important work
OF saving and restoring our forests, and
the great Improvement of waterways are
all proper government functions which.
must involve large expenditure IL proper
ly performed. While some of them, like
] the ItEldIudlAOn OF dIlu ldNuSs are uldQc
! to pay for themselves, others are of such
an indirect benefit that this cannot be
expected Of them. A permanent improve
ment, like the Panama canal should be
treated as a distinct enterprise, and
should be paid for by the proceeds of
bonds. the issue of which will distribute
its cost between the present and future
generations in accordance with the ben
efits derived. It may we'll be submitted TO
the serious consideration Of congress
whether the deepening and control of the
channel Of a great river system. like that
OF the Ohio or OF the Mississippi when
definite and practical plans for the en-
!terprise have been approved and determin-
ed upon. should not be provided for in
, the same way.
] Then, too. there are Expenditures of gov
eminent absolutely necessary IL our coun-
try is-to maintain its proper place among
the nations of the world, and is to eN-
ercise its proper influence I'm defense OF
its own trade interests, i'm the mainte-
nance Of traditional American policy
against the colonization of European
monaFchies in this hemisphere. and in the
promotion OF peace and International
morality. I refer to the cost Of maintain