The Washington herald., 1909-04-24
PROVIDEFORFUTURE,,
DEFICIT NO MENACE
Business Mans View of the
Government Situation.
PUSH PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
4. Lisner. the WeII-kBOwn Mer-
chant. Talks OF the Tariff and
Revenues let Generations to
Come Bear share of Burden.

An optimist as to the future and an
earnest advocate OF a progressive policy
on the part OF the government. \. Lisiier.
the well-known Washington merchant.
proprietor OF the Palais ROYAL talked in
1erestiEgly 10 representative OF The
Washington Herald yesterday His views
are especially pertinent NJ this time when
;he tariff y Occupy ing the attention OF
Congress and the kindred questions OF
revenues : likewise uppermoSt Mr.
Lisner said:
Why should this country % Ours-
great and strong row. and growing
greater and stronger day by day-feel the
slightest apprehension regarding its fu-
tu-e2 Why any misgivings as 20 our
revenues2 Why should there he the leas,
fear Of a deficit?
To the business mind the situation Is
simplicity itself Let the tariff be ad-
justed 50 that il VIII impose the mini
mum Of taxation upon the necessities OF
life. but let there be no sacrifice Of the
principle o. protection under which this
nation has developed and expanded De
yOnd the dreams OF us founders
Congress Should Look Ahead.
let the affairs Of the government be
economicany-uot parsimouiously-adm
isteytd. but let our lawmakers. above all
things else. shun the short-sighted policy
Of piIins up an enormous surplus in the
Treasury.
-. - -,s. ,,-,~s,,--t,ss -. % b.,
reduction OF tariff duties would 50 stim-
ulate importation as 10 multiply our rev
enues many fold. but IL that should mean
a Simultaneous Ianguishing Of our indus
try and trade-and I confidently believe
II would mean that very thing-then We
should have the depIorably anomalous
situation OF a country commercially and
industri0usly depressed. yet with a Treas
ury gorged with money.
Therefore. there is a call for. prudence
in adjusting the tariT; a call for states
manship whose vision extends beyond
the day and embraces the years TO come
am not a politician. but as a business
man I do regard the position OF the Re
publican parry on the tariff as sound.
Chairman Aidrichs bill-whatever its de-
fects in detail-eommends itself 10 me as
4 measure inspired by knowledge OF
material conditions and needs. and in
tended primarily for the greatest good
OF the greatest number.
Why take fright at the prospect or
possibility Of a deficit9 II W had de-
ficit Of SS0ea9. eco year for the next ten
years our stability as a nation would
undergo no strain whatever On the con-
trsry. We should really be better Of pro-
vided that. in the msaltine. We continued
TO make public Improvements so impera-
lively demanded, including the develop
ment OF our waterways and the con-
servation Of or timber and mineral re-
sources.
Public Debt Lew, Credis Good.
Our pubic debt IS Iov. There is no
danger IN increasing It Our credit IS
good. Bonds bearing 3 nominal rate Of
interest would fnd an immediate market
the vsoole themselves would take them.
n given the opportunity. Thus tbe ex-
trao-dfnsry expenditures which are de-
marded. and called for novs. would be
distributed. as they should be. over a
period Of years.
1t is a national shame that this gov
evnment. in the conduct Of lis business.
should occupy rente5 a9arteTs. II should
have buildings ample To- its need for a
century 70 come They should oe in hep
arbitration tribunal composed OF men
whose judgment would be guided solely
By judicial reasoning. justice. ard equity.
and not by narrow and biased local or na-
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