Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-05

passed az due consideration will per
nit. 1t Is not that the tariff is mere
important in the long run than the
perfection OF the reforms in respect
to antitrust legislation and inter
state commerce regulation. but the
need for action when the revision
Of the tariff has been determined up
on. is more Immediately 10 avoid en-
barrassment of business. To secur"
the needed speed in the passage OF the
tariff bill it, would seem wise to at
tempt no other legislation at the eX-
ira session. venture this as sugges-
ton onl;, as the course to be taken
hv Congress. uron the call of the
executive. is wholly within its dis
cretiOn.
Taxation the Motive.
! In the making of tariff bill, the
prime motive Is taxation. and tn"
securing thereby CT revenue. Dn"
LARGELY 10 the business depression
which followed the financial panic OF
1907, the revenue from customs and
other sources has decreased to sHch
an extent that the expenditures for
the current fiscal year will exceed the
receipts by Sl0O.0Oo.o00. 1t is impera-
tive that such p deficit shall nor CON
time and the trainers of the tariff bill
must CT course have in mind the total
revenues likel: to II produced by 1t,
and so arrange the duties as 70 secure
an adequate income. Should II be
impossible to do so by import duties,
new kinds of taxation must be adopt
ed. and among these ! 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 burdens Of taxation as light as
possible. is plain and should be al
firmed in every declaration of govern.
mer. policy. This is especially tru"
when we are face to face with heavy
deficit But when the desire to win
the ponular approval leads TO the cut
ting off CT expenditures really needed
70 make the government effective. and
to enable It to accomplish its proper
objects. the result is as much to be
condemned as the waste OF govern
ment funds in unnecessary eXpendi-
turc. The score of a modern govern
ment in what it can AMI ought to ac-
complish for its people has been wid-
ened far beyond the principles laid
down by the old laissez faire school
of political writer's. and this widen
ing has met populer approval.
In the Department of Agriculture.
the use of scientific experiments ON
a large scale. and the spread OF in
formation derived from them for the
Enforcement of general agriculture.
must go on.
; Supervision ic Costly.
The impor; ance OF supervising i'lsi-
ness of great railways and industrial
cCmbnat .ons, and the necessary lnveS-
tigation and prosecution Of unla"i"i
business methods. are another ncces-
sary tax tfpof1 government which did
not exist half a century ago
The putting into force OF laws which
/ shall secure the conservation Of our
resources. so far as they may he with
! in the Jurisdiction of the Federal
! Government. including the most inn
! portant work Of saving and restoring
our forests and the great improve
! ment of waterways. are all proper
government function which must in
| volve large expenditure if properly
performed. While some OF them. lik"
| the reclamation OF arid lands. are
made to paw for themselves. others
are of such an indirect benefit that
/ this cannot be expected of them. A
, permanent Improvement. like the Pan
anna Canal should be treated as a
! distant enterprise. and should be pad
| for by the proceeds OF bonds. the is
sue of which will distribute its cost
| betweeu the present. and future gen.
Grafton in accordance with the benefits
derived. 1t may well he submitted
. to the serious consideration OF Con-
yrpss whether the deepening and con-
trn. of the channel of great river
system like that Of the Ohio Or of the
Mississippi. when definite end practi-
cal plans for the enterprise have been
approved and determined upon. should
not he provided for in the same way.
, Then, too. there are expenditures OF
Army and Nav.
government absolutely necessary If Our
country is to maintain its proper place
among the neticns OF the world. ana
/ is TO exercise its proper influence
in defense of It's own trade interests,
| in the maintenance Of traditional
American policy against IN" colonial
zion Of EurOpean monarchieS in this
hemisphere. and in the promotion OF
peace and interna ional morality. I
refer TO tn. cost Of maintaining a
proper Army a proper Navy and s"it-
able Notifications upon the mainland
~ the I-nitpJ States and in its de-
tendencies,
We should have an Army so organ
tod m. IN nFccrei az TO H. car. Bile
in time Of emergency. In cooperation
with me National Militia. and under
the provisions of proper national
volunteer law. rapidly to expand into
a force Sufficient TO resist all probable
invasion from abroai and I" furnish
q respectable cxDcaitiorary force. II