The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-09-17
National Deficit Is Badly in Need OF
Attention nv Congress-.

the most important, will be to devise
ways and means to increase the rev.
enues.
II has been clearly demonstrated
that as a revenue producer the I'm
derwood tariff measure (the Demo-
cratic free trade measure now in
force) is inadequate. Democrats as
well as Republicans are aware of
that fact, and some effort is bound
to be made to check the growing de-
felt in the national treasury, to say
nothing of safeguarding the indus
tries of America against serious re-
suits which are reasonably sure to
follow the close of the European
war, whenever that may come, when
the cheap made goods of abroad are
poured into the country. With the
tariff schedules as they are now the
markets of the United States will be
deluged with cargo after cargo of
goods and every imaginable charac-
ter, and even with a higher tariff
schedule acting as restraining in
fluence, the effect may be disas-
trous.
Apologists for the Underwood law
insist that under less adverse condi-
tions the beneficient effects of such
a tariff law as the Democratic meas
ure now in effect would prove entire
ly satisfactory, and argue that had
the country been prosperous when
the new law became effective and had
no great worlds war occurred to I'M
balance the business of the world,
then the feeling toward the Under
wood law would not be so antagon-
/ istic at this time. These same apol-
ogists should recall that prior to the
enactment of the Underwood law
the country was prosperous and that
il was the very threat carried by the
Democratic determination to enact
such a law. and by its subsequent
enactment that upset Industrial con-
ditions in America, and made the
country the less able to stand the ad-
ditional strain entailed by the war
abroad. Indeed, but for the war Or
ders that are flooding certain of our
industries particularly steel and the
metals generally, as well as leather
and cotton, the industrial and COM
mercial interest of the United States
at this time would be incomparably
worse off.
Now, our Democratic friends, with
their eyes opened to the exigencies
of the situation, realize that their
pet tariff measure is a failure and
they grasp at what they please to
term the cause thereof: Universal
business depression prior to the break
ing out of the great war, and later to |
the effects OF the war itself and in
their extremity to replenish the ma
tional excheQuer may even endorse
revision of tariff schedules upward!
Not. of course. with the idea of pro- |
tecting American industries, but to |
produce revenue with which to carry |
on the various departments of the I.
national government.
1t is earnestly hoped that when
Congress meets the Democratic ma
jority will have the courage TO take
up the tariff schedules of the Under
v COT bill, and increase them even 10 !
the level of the last Republican tariff ,
measure. Let them do it, If they feel !
the purpose of enhancing the revenue
receipts; If they get the schedules
sufficiently high to bring in the re-
Quired revenue the necessary protec-
ton TO American industry will be
thereby provided.
II this is not done, bond issue
of such proportions as will put the
loNeland bond issue far in the hac--
ground will be an absolute necessity.
The national treasury is bound to
have money, and lots of it, and the
necessity can not much longer be ig-
nored.
1t will likely be found that the Re-
publican contingent in Congress will
cooperate in increasing the tariff
schedule to a protective basis rather
than vote for a bond issue in time
of profound peace.