Gilpin observer., 1913-01-09
WASHINGTON NEWS
BY Clyde H. Tavenner.

Democrats to remain in power: by CIV
ing the people after election what they
promised before election. The people
don't want excuses; they want deeds. "
This is speaker Champ Clark's idea of
what the Democratic party must do to
make good and to be retained in power.
''If there is anything l believe in
strongly" said Mr.. Clark, "it is that
promises made to win an election should
be religiously carried out after the cleo
tion is won."
Men should say what they mean and
mean what they say; and they should
speak the plain language of the plain
people so that all may understand. The
voters of the land have right to be
treated honestly, candidly, fairly, and
courageously. They are entitled to that
square deal of which we hear so much
and see so little.
Robert j. Walkers report on the tar
iff remains to this day the greatest pap
er on that subject. In it he laid down
this general principle: "The highest rate
should be on luxuries; the lowest or none
at all on the necessaries of life." That
should be the basis of our revision of
the tariff to which we are solemnly COM
mitted.
"The rates should be arranged so as
to produce the maximum of revenue,
while taking from the ultimate consum-
ers the minimum of money in the shape
of tariffitaxes. That statement may ap-
pear paradoxial, but what it proposes is
perfectly feasible. There is a maximum
producing tariff rate on each
particular item which can be ascertain
ed, and which should be ascertained. The
moment the rate on any article goes
above the maximum revenue-produc-
ing rate the revenue begins to fall off
and the more the rate. is increased, the
more the revenue dwindles until it dis
appears entirely, and the rate becomes
prohibitive.
"Such is the.case with blankets nine
feet long, worth not over forty cents
per pound, an article of prime necessity
on which the compound specific and ad
I NdiOEGfl dIIlOulllS " d ldTlll VI Dt-
tween 165 and 1872 and 1-2 per cent.
without going into wearisome de-
tails, it is safe to say that three-fourths
/ of all the tariff rates of the Payne
Aldrich-Smoot tariff bill are above the
maximum producing rates and
should be reduced at least to competi-
tive point.
THE truth is that the words "a COM
petitive tariff are more easily under
stood than the words "a tariff for rev.
enue only "A competitive tariff is one
which would give Americans the Amer
lean market so long as they sell at fair
prices, but would let in foreign products
if Americans undertook to gouge Amer
leans. "A competitive tariff would in
practice be "a tariff for revenue The
revenue can be increased more frequent
by reducing rates than by increasing
them.
The present tariff, if thoroughly
overhauled, could be made to produce
great deal more revenue and at the same
time not cost the taxpayers one-fourth
of what they now pay, for under the
present system where one dollar goes
into the federal treasury four or five
dollars go into the pockets of the tariff
barons.
"The rates in new bill or new bills
should be fully as low as the rates in the
bills we passed during this congress, and
in some cases lower.
"All the talk about the Democrats
wanting toinjure business is absolutely
preposterous.
What we want to do is to give every
man an equal opportunity in the race of
life, and not pamper few at the ex-
pense of many. That plan would foster
every legitimate industry in the land
and injure none. That is one way in
which congress can aid in reducing the
exceedingly high cost of living, which is
really the most pressing, vexatious, and
important problem with which we have
to deal. What the people demand is
cheaper food, cheaper clothing, cheaper
necessaries of life generally, and any
cuts in tariff rates which do not accom-
plish that are not worth the trouble and
labor of making.
'The revision ought to be made care
fully, scientifically, and in harmony
with democratic promises
Miss May Kelleher, Of Denver,
spent the weekend with old time