The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-10-05

sided. We have a great balance of trade
in our favor, but that does not help the
treasury IN the slightest degree, since
we collect duties on imports, not ex-
ports. We have war taxes, but miscal
eulation governed their enactment, and
unless something is done, or unless the
war IS brought to Il very sudden close,
treasury conditions bid fair to 50
rapidly from bad to worse.
There are several courses open to the
Administration to check the momentum
of the deficit. One IS to keep the sugar
duties IN force, as under the present
law they would expire on May / next.
Sugar IS big revenue producer, ana
by as much revenue as it produced it
would cut down the deficit Anothe,
course open to the Administration is
to provide q scientifically formed tax
alton program which shall bear more
equally on the country and shall get at
sources of revenue now wholly exemp>
from Federal imposition. A third course
would involve a frank confession of
error and a re-enactment Of duties
abolished by the so-called Underwood
tariff
To Judge from Washington despatch
es, while everyone sees that something
must lie done, everyone in the Demo
crotic camp, with the exception Of
Secretary Redfeld, is waiting for
President Wilson to outline a project
for raising the required additional rev
enue. Secretary RedGcld who, as q leg
lslatOr at least, is Of despotic tempera
ment, advances q scheme fer "ethical
resistance to economic invasion which
is a reputation of the old Democratic
doctrine that the consumer has an in
aienable right to buy where he can buy
cheapest. Mr.. Redfeld anticipates that
with the close Of the war there will BE-
| q great dumping of chcaply-madc
| European goods on the markets of the
United States. To prevent this he would
| have our consular authorities abroad
armed with the power Of holding up
manifcsts of goods clearly intended for
| dumping, But Mr.. Redfcld sees that
with all his vigilance cut-rate goods
might get by this consular barrie.
Then situation would be presented
which he thinks Congress should meet.
and Just at this point his scheme of
/ ethical resistance comes into view.
| lie would have Congress make it Illegal
for anyone in the United States t
buy or sell goods shipped into this coun-
try in an effort to undersell American
manufacturers Here is proposition
which is distinctly Redtieldian. 1t Is
that the Government shall have power
TO punish an American citizen for exe--
cising what Is now and ever has bceH
considered an inahenable right to buy
or sell any or all goods he desires to buy
or sell. If Mr.. Redfield s project should
| become a law, the citizen who purchas
cd hat made in Italy ut Il cost with
which cur own matters could not com
+, pete would be liable to the penalties of
1.-THE law. and might be incarcerated, in
company with the seller of the hat
| What becomes of the consumer Sc dear
to the Democratic heart? If he is To be
punished for buying cheaper foreign
goods, what becomes of the tariff
theory on which the Democratic party
have so long operated!
| If instead of seeking light in such
dark places as the Department of Gem
merco. OF putting everything up to
| President Wilson, the Democratic lead
| eTs would today bark back to the EARL
er stages OF their tariff making, when
Mr.. Underwood vaiHly urged them to
keep revenue in mind, they would
| follow course that would be benefi-
ciaf both to themselves and the country
The Treasury situation today is large-y
the result of tariff slashing. Its situa-
ticn will be worse if we resort to such
despotic measures as Secretary Red
field outlines, for, as in most foreign
lands. goods are made cheaper than in
the United States; and as every foreign
manufacturer must necessarily seek tc
undersell his American rival, the Red
field scheme in operation would fail
little short of being "nation wide pro
hihitiCn' Of importations with conse-
quent reduction of customs revenue
very near to the vanishing point.