Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-03-06

TO meet on the 18th day Of March, In
order that consideration may be At
once given to bin revising the Ding
ley act. This should secure an ade-
quate revenue and adjust the duties iE
such manner as 10 afford to labor
and to all industries in this country,
whether Of the farm, mine or factory.
protection by tariff equal TO the differ
ence between the cost Of production
abroad and the cost OF production here
and have Il provision which shall PIT
into force. upon executive determine
ton Of certain facts. higher or maxi
mum tariff against those countries
whose trade policy toward us equitably
requires such discrimination. 1t Is
thought that there has been such a
change In conditions since the enact
ment Of the Dingley act. drafted on n
similarly protective principle, that i1e
measure of the tariff above stated VII!
permit the reduction Of rates In certain
schedules and will require the al
Vancemcnt of few, II any.
The proposal TO revise the tariff
made In such an authoritative way as
to lead the business community 10
count upon IL necessarily halts all
those branches Of business directly
affected, and as these are most iIu-
portant 1t disturbs the whole business
Of the country II is imperatively nee.
essary. therefore. that a tariff bin be
drawn IN good faith In accordance
with promises made before the elec-
ton by the party In power and as
promptly passed as due consideration
VIII permit
inheritance Tax Advocated.
In the making OF tariff bill the
prime motive is taxation and the Sc.
curing thereby Of a revenue. Due
largely TO the business depressfu
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 the
receipts by S10on00,000. It is impera-
tive that such deficit shall not con
tinue, and the trainers of the tariff
bill must OF course have In mind the
total revenues likely to be produced by
1t and so arrange the duties as to Sc
cure an adequate income. Should 1t be
to do so by import duties
new kinds Of taxation must be adopt
ed and among these | recommend a
graduated inheritance tax as corree'
In principle and as certain and easy Or
collection
Government Economy Urged.
The obligation on the part of those
for the expenditures made
% carry on the government to be as
economical as possible and to make
he burden of taxation as light as pos
iible is plain and should be affirmed II
,very declaration of government pol
cy. This is especially true when we
ire face to face with heavy dencit.
But when the desire to win the popu
ar approval leads to the cutting off on
expenditures really needed to make
he government effective and 10 en-
,ble 1t 70 accomplish its proper objects
he result IS as much to be condemned
Is the waste Of government funds IL
expenditure.
In the department Of agriculture the
Use of scientific experiments on a large
icale and the spread of information
derived from them for the improve
nent OF general agriculture must &C
N
The Importance of supervising BUSH
ness of great railways and industrial
and the necessary inyes-
igatlon and prosecution of unlawful
business methods are another neces-
;ary tax upon government which did
lot exist half century ago.
Proper Forms Of Expenditure.
The putting into force of laws which
shall secure the conservation of our
resources so far as they may be with
In the Jurisdiction Of the federal gov.
ernment, including the most important
work of saving and restoring our for.
ests, and the great Improvement OF wa
terways are all proper government
functions which must involve large
expenditure if properly performed.
While some of them, like the reclama'
ton of arid lands, are made to pay
for themselves, others are of such an
indirect benefit that this cannot be ex-
pected of them. a permanent inn
like the Panama canal,
should be treated rs distinct enter
prise and should be paid for by the
proceeds of bonds. the issue of which
win distribute It's cost between the
present aud future generations Ia ac-
cordance with the benefits derived, 1t
may well 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 def
mite and practical plans for the enter