Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1915-04-21
EVER At THE FRONT
Tariff Question Always Most Inn
p0rtant.
Reveuie to Meet the Country's Ex-
penses Must Be Provided-un-
derwood Measure a Failure
From the Start.

The hoary-headed tariff issue will
have to take 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 a new or original
command. We have had it many times
before, given by many men OF many
minds, but the hoary-headed tariff has
not obeyed Ii 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
tlnental 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 tariff
law which was signed by President
Washington on July 4. 1889. 1t was
the first Fourth of July celebration of
the government under the Constitu-
ton. and it 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. II was a protective tariff,
designed TO encourage the producing
or all these articles at home and also
TO produce revenue.
with that beginning 126 years ago,
the tariff is now hoary-headed. but it
mas Kept the front seat pretty much all
the time since, perhaps because sue
ceed1ng generations have been con-
fronted with the same problem, ways
ana means to run the government and
encourage the development of our ma
tural resources. The total receipts OF
the federal government were less than
Sl1,OO0,0O0 in 1900, and they are now
more than $7OO.OOO.OOO. with a deficit
OF $l2,5OO,OOO month. to indicate that
this same old question of revenues is
| still paramount issue
When we had a tariff law producing
surplus every year there were a
good many people who said leave the
tariff alone and don't agitate, but they
were called "stand-patters" and "reac-
uonaries." 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 de-
nounced as hoary-headed and reaction.
| airy. but 1t followed the precedent of
It's predecessors and produced a sur
plus We have young tariff now, but
IL does not show much yigor or hope
In combating the deficit. notwithstand.
Ing the encourage cent of head nurse
hedheId and the help of the war tax.
Even Democratic sponsors for the I'm.
derwood tariff are considering ways
and means to meet the expenses of
| the government