Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-03-11


promptly passed as due consideration
will permit. 1t Is not that the tariff
is more important in the long run
than the perfecting of the reforms in
respect to antitrust legislation and
Interstate commerce regulation, but
the need for action when the revision
of the tariff has been determined
upon is morS immediate to avoid en-
barrassment of business. To secure
the needed speed in the passage of
the tariff bill it would seem wise to
attempt no other legislation at the
extra session. 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 tariff bill the
prime motive is taxation. and the Sc
curing thereby of revenue. Due
largely to the business depression
which followed the financial panic of
1907, the revenue from customs and
other sources has decreased to such
an extent that the expenditures for
the current fiscal year will exceed re-
ceipts by S100.000,000. 1t is imperative
that such a deficit shall not continue,
and the trainers of the tariff bin must
of course have in mind the total
revenues likely to be produced by it,
and so arrange the duties as to secure
an adequate income. Should it be
impossible to do SO by import duties,
new kinds of taxation must be adopt
ed, and among these l recommend a
graduated inheritance tax as correct
in principle and as certain and easy
Of collection.
The obligation on the part of those
| responsible for the expenditures made
| to carry on the government to be as
| economical as possible, and to make
| the burden of taxation as light as
| possible, is plain and should be af-
| firmed in every declaration of gov
eminent policy. This is especially
| true when we are face to face with
heavy deficit
In the department of agriculture
the use of scientific experiments on a
| ton derived from them for the i'm
| must go on.
The Importance of supervising bust
ness of great railways and industrial
combinations, and the necessary in
vestigation and prosecution of unlaw.
| ful business methods. are another
| necessary tax upon government which
did not exist half century ago.
The putting into force of laws
which shall secure the conservation OF
| our resources, so far as they N.Y. be
within the jurisdiction Of the federal
government, including the most i'm
| portant work of saving and restoring
our forests, and the great improve
ment OF waterways, are all proper
| government functions which must in
volve large expenditure if properly
performed.
Then, too, there are expenditures OF
| government absolutely necessary il
our country is to maintain its proper
| place among the nations of the world
and is to exercise its proper influence
| in defense of its own trade interests
| in the maintenance of traditional
| American policy against the colonial
tion OF European monarchies in this
hemisphere, and in the promotion O
peace and international morality
| refer to the cost of maintaining {
proper army a proper navy and suit
able Notifications upon the mainland
Of the United States and in it's de
| tendencies.
One of the reforms to be carried
out during the incoming administra
ton is a change of our monetary anC
banking laws, SO as to secure greater
elasticity in the forms OF currency
available for trade, and to prevent
the limitations Of law from operating
to increase the embarrassments of
financial panic. The monetary com
mission lately appointed is giving full
consideration to existing conditions
and to all proposed remedies, and will
doubtless suggest one that will NEE
the requirements of business and O
public interest.
The incoming congress SHOULD
promptly fulfill the promise of thu
Republican platform and pass a prop
er postal savings bank bill. 1t viii
not be unwise OF excessive paternal
ism.
l sincerely hope that the incomin,
congress will be alive, as it SHOULD
be, to the Importance of our foreign
trade and of encouraging it in it
every way feasible.
The Importance which the depart
ment of agriculture and of commerc,
and labor may play in Kidding tn,
markets of Europe Of prohibitions an,
determinations against the importa
tion of our products is fully un,ier
stood, and it is hoped that the us,
of the maximum and minimum featur,
of our tariff law to be soon passe,
will be effective to remove many O
those restrictions
The Panama canal will have mos
important bearing upon the trade be
tween the eastern and the far western
sections Of our country, and will great
ly increase the facilities for trans
portation between the eastern an,
the western seaboard, and may DOS
sibly revolutionize the transcontinent
al rates with respect to bulky me1
chandise. It will also have a mos
beneficial effect to increase the trad
between the eastern seaboard of tn
United States and the western coas
Of South America and, indeed, witt
: some of the important ports on TIL
east coast of South America reache,
by rail from the west coast. The wor]
on the canal is making most satisfae
tory progress. The type of the cana