Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-04-07
EVER At THE FRONT
Tariff Question Always Most I'M
portant:
Revenue to Meet the country's Ex
penses Must Be ProVided-Un-
deraood Measure Failure
From the Start.

The hoNry-headed tariff issue VII.
have to take a back seat in the next
national campaign" is the declaration
OF the AntisalOon League of America in
formal statement issued since the
adjournment of the Sixty-third con-
gress. This is not new or original
command. We have had il many times
before, given by many men of many
minds, but the hoary-hea6ed tariff has
not obeyed 1t has persistently occu-
pied front seat since the federal gov
eminent was organized. A tariff bill
was the first act passed by congress
and signed by George Washington.
The paramount question in the begin
ming was revenue TO pay the expenses.
The borrowing power of the fedora
ton had been somewhat impaired dur
ing the Revolutionary war, and the
state legislatures had not readily re-
sponded to the appeals from the Con-
tinental congress to pay their quotas
of expenses.
Ways and means was the first para
mount question which confronted the
new government, and the statesmen of
that day proceeded to enact a tariff
law which was signed by President
Washington on July 4, 17s9 1t was
the first Fourth of July celebration Of
the government under the Constitu-
ton, and ii levied customs duties on
importations OF spirits. molasses, Ma
deira wine, beer, cider, malt, sugar,
coffee, cocoa, candles, cheese, soap,
boots. shoes, slippers. goloshes, cables,
twine, pack thread, steel, nails, salt, to-
bacco, snuff. wool, coal, fish, tea, gun
powder, paint, buttons, saddles, gloves.
hats, millinery, clothing, playing cards,
carriages and coaches and practically
everything imported from foreign
countries. 1t was a protective tariff.
designed to encourage the producing
of all these articles at home and also
to produce revenue.
With that beginning 126 years ago,
the tariff is now hoary-headed, but 1t
has kept the front seat pretty much all
the time since, perhaps because sue
ceeding generations have been con-
fronted with the same problem, ways
and means to run the government and
encourage the development OF our ma
tural resources. The total receipts Of.
the federal government were less than
s11,O00,000 in 1900, and they are now
more than $7OO.00O,0OO, with deficit
Of $12,500,000 month, to indicate that
this same old question of revenues is
still paramount issue.
When we had tariff law producing
surplus every year there were
good many people who said leave the
.ariff alone and don't agitate, but they
we're called "stand-patters" and "reac-
tonaries. The Dingley law was not
hoary-headed when the agitation be-
gan to reduce the tariff and reduce the
cost OF living. The Payne law was not
out of its swaddling clothes before it
was kicked and cuffed about and der.
nounced as hoary-headed and reaction.
airy. but It followed the precedent OF
Its predecessors and produced O SURF
plus. We have young tariff now, but
1t does not show much vigor or hope
In combating the deficit, notwithstand-
ing the encouragement of head nurse
Redfeld and the help of the war tax.
Even Democratic sponsors for the Tn
derwood tariff are considering ways
and means to meet the expenses Of
the governu Nnt.