Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-01-18
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10. 1917.
pEMOcRATIC REVENUE PLANS.

~ VOLUNTEERING around in the mire Of uncertainty
& the Democratic party presents pful spectacle IN
its efforts 10 devise. through the medium OF the tarin
some to meet the results OF four years OF mai
administration and gross extravaganza. Up TO date
they have about everything but the graves OF the
dead and the latest proposal Is TO place revenue
srn on tea coffee rubber and wool, and to raise the
rate on sugar II tariff be placed on tea, coffee ana
rubber the people the United States will have to
pay because OF those products is raised here
and the proposition to wool will certainly meet
objections Of Mr. Bryan and his followers who have
consistently fought for free wool
Since the outbreak Of the European have
imported nearly SIT 100000 pounds Of woods classes l.
., and 8. and hair of the angora goat Had the Re-
publican duty collected this amount OF
WOOL customs revenue not far short OF $lOOOO00OO
would realized by the Federal Treasury from
this product alone. amount which would have
been acceptable to administration which prom
sed economy and reveled in extravaganza.
1t may be argued that with Republican rates Of
feet no such would have been imported. and,
normal conditions Il would not have been for
the purpose of the Republican law to protect
wool growers. But the war created abnormal de-
mands on us for wooden manufactures, and not only
made It imperative that have these foreign woods,
but boosted the price of domestic woods to height
before realized by the growers of the United
States. There is good reason why we should not
have enjoyed the revenue which protective would
provided With the duty restored the termination
OF the should find growers protected from
an influx OF foreign woods. much OF which Will con
tine 70 in, unless the Democratic proposal to
restore wool to the dutiabe list is carried to a
point which makes the rate really protective.
The sugar schedule has been a thorn in the side
Of the Democracy since President Wilson broke
his promise not to niure that industry and forced
through provision making sugar free after May 1,
1916 but to operate under % per cent cut in duty
ue-producer TO such extent that shortly
before the free sugar clause TO take ehect the
Democrats repealed the provisions and sugar still
comes il under the % per cent reduction. The pro
posal TO restore it to the old duty upon
Washington bid TO Congressman Martin, OF
Louisiana, who styles himself Progressive Protec
tionis to vote with the Democrats the organization
OF the House in the next Congress
There is excuse for taxing crude rubber Durnl
the calendar year 1915 imported S1l6oOOOOO worth
and during the ten months OF 1915, ended October
SlSs.ooo.ooo worth. Il is not produced by us and i
vitality important to and the would OF course
be handed onto people on the rubber use
here. The may be said OF tea and coffee Dur
ing 1915 imported 1O600OOOO pounds of the forme
and 1.22s.00000O pounds OF the latter. Tea Is not
Nuxury, and coffee is a necessity Neither being pre-
dhced here. people would pay the tax This propose
Of the party in is in striking wit
It's sohcitude for the poor mans breakfast table
when the Democrats out OF power
Apparently the Democrats will remain steadfast
their refusal TO enact tariff law which will make U
commercially prepared for postwar conditions b.
the Republican party has the best opportunity oere
10 II since 1918 Of drafting tarif bill which may
presented as substitute for the Democratic hodg,
pooge now in contemplation bill which will me,
Oar postwar needs. which will rid our producin
Grasses OF their doubts and uncertainties and whicl
forced through, will place our prosperity on soil
foundation. ~