Tax Reduction

Now York World. Mr. Mills' masterly summingup of the 'case for tnx reduction througu tanff reform, tccompaotad by a copy of the bill itself. would mako one of the most effective documents that the Demócrata coukl circuíate. Mr. Mills showed first the "condition" that called for tax reduction; a treasury surplus of $i:jO,UüO,ÜOO now bcing atignicnted at the rate of $9.000,000 per inouth. The Democratie policy is to stop this surplus. The Kepublican policy is to spend it. The Mills bilí reduces the revenue frotu universal necessities or comforts of the people, by au abatement of taxes, $50,000,000. It cuts off $20.000.000 more by putting upon the free list other necessary articles. It reduces the average duly from $47. 10 on every $100 of imporls to $42.49. Andthi8is called "free trade!" It is au average duty 23 percent, higher thau that of the Morrill war tariff of 1862. It i alniost identical with that of the prolongcd war tariff in 1882, which the Hcpublicans proposed to reduce 20 percent. If the promise of the Republican Tariff Commission and the Republican Congress in 1882 had been fultilled, the average duty would have been reduccd to 3-1.16 per cent. The Mills bill leavcs it at 42.49. And yet that was "revenue reform," while this is "free trade." The truth is that the bill does not go far enough in the direction of a lower revenue or a freer trade. It issimply the best that could be passed. If it should become a law and work well, the people would. no doubt, extend it. If it worked ill, they would eo back. The whole matter is in their hands. But tuis campaign is to be took long and too earnestly coatcsted to admit of tho deception of intelüifent yoters, by lyins as to what the Mili bilí is.