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Cleveland Writes Re: Hotly-Contested Taxes,"...in strict confidence..."
Cleveland Writes Re: Hotly-Contested Taxes,"...in strict confidence..."
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Description:

Grover Cleveland
Washington, D.C., May 11, 1887
Cleveland Writes Re: Hotly-Contested Taxes,"...in strict confidence..."
ALS
Superb content and association autograph letter signed, seven pages, 5" x 8.25", Washington, May 11, 1887, on Executive Mansion letterhead to Democratic politician William L. Scott. With transmittal cover addressed in Cleveland's hand and marked "Personal." Letter is in very good condition; cover exhibits expected wear and soiling, still very good. From the collection of a Dallas gentleman.

At the time of this letter, William L. Scott was the chairman of the United States House Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy, and had announced his stepping-down from that position in April 1887 due to ill health. Cleveland writes, in part: "...Your kind letter and the barrel therein referred to have arrived and I return my sincere thanks for both. I never owned a barrel of whiskey before and it makes me feel very rich, which sensation I understand often accompanied the consumption of a much less quantity. Your repeated kindnesses come upon me so fast that I am in a chronic state of thankfulness; but as it is said that public life hardens one to these things I hope I shall be able to stand it.

"I want to talk with you about a number of things, and as you will persist in running away I shall try to write you something concerning them. Randall was in the other day & seemed to be amiable. He said he was going to Philadelphia in a few days and hoped to get the Marshal business eased up a little as far as Joseph is concerned. I said I would wait till I saw him again. He spoke very highly of course of Hand and I really expect he will see him before he returns. He also approved very fully the selection of Patterson for the place he holds. Mutchler was in a day or two ago and seems to think under all the circumstances Markley would be the best appointment – though he spoke well of Hand and only doubted the propriety of his selection because he was known as a Randall man and perhaps a recognition of another element might be more useful. I honestly think Pennsylvania matters are straightening out.

"Now another thing in strict confidence. I am thinking strongly of consolidating some of the Internal Revenue districts. It ought to be done in the direction of economy and business methods and I am of the opinion that this movement would rob people in Congress who want to reduce the revenue in that quarter instead of by readjusting the Tariff, of an argument based upon the present expense of conducting an Internal Revenue System. The consolidation under advisement would dispense with Boyle's friend who is quite inefficient and the office at Erie. It puts both of these two Districts in McGonigles and a part in Biglers. Of course some of the Collectors thus superseded can be retained as Deputies.

"I have talked with a few of our people on the general subject of this consolidation scheme and they all seem to think it should be done. In fact looking the thing all over I think I cannot help it.  Have you anything to say about the two PA Collectors who it seems might be dispensed with? It happens that both of them come pretty near you there I mention my intention, though I don't expect to do so in any other case. If these things are done they ought to be done pretty soon so that the new arrangements can begin with the new fiscal year…"

One of the most contentious issues of the time that divided the Republican and the Democratic parties in 1887 was that of high protective tariffs. While it had not been a central point in his campaign, Cleveland's opinion on the tariff was that of most Democrats: that the tariff ought to be reduced. Republicans generally favored a high tariff to protect American industries. American tariffs had been high since the Civil War, and by the 1880s the tariff brought in so much revenue that the government was running a surplus. Cleveland had previously reached out to Scott in a prior, separate letter (not included), and looked for his support, stating: "I have talked with a few of our people on the general subject of this consolidation scheme and they all seem to think it should be done. In fact looking the thing all over I think I cannot help it. Have you anything to say about the two PA Collectors who it seems might be dispensed with? It happens that both of them come pretty near you there I mention my intention, though I don't expect to do so in any other case. If these things are done they ought to be done pretty soon so that the new arrangements can begin with the new fiscal year."

The issues of the tariff and internal revenue continued to preoccupy Cleveland. In his Third Annual Message to Congress on December 6, 1887, Cleveland attacked the tariff, stating: "The public Treasury, which should only exist as a conduit conveying the people's tribute to its legitimate objects of expenditure, becomes a hoarding place for money needlessly withdrawn from trade and the people's use, thus crippling our national energies, suspending our country's development, preventing investment in productive enterprise, threatening financial disturbance, and inviting schemes of public plunder." However, he never did succeed in obtaining a significant tariff reduction and, in his Executive Order of May 7, 1895, designated new Internal Revenue Rules to deal with the abuses he was concerned, thus achieving that goal.

Some of the names Cleveland mentions in this fine letter are: William Mutchler, a Congressman from Pennsylvania; Arthur D. Markley, a Pennsylvania Democrat and future member of state senate. He was also son-in-law of powerful politico and future U.S. Senator Boies Penrose; Richard H. Hand, a New Jersey politician and cousin of Judge Learned Hand; Richard Patterson, likely the member of the Pennsylvania state house of representatives of that name; and Antonio Joseph, a delegate to U.S. Congress from New Mexico Territory.

William Lawrence Scott (1828-1891) was a Democratic member of Congress (and the wealthiest!). A railroad magnate, he was the author of the 1888 Scott Act, a law that prohibited U.S. resident Chinese laborers (many of whom were railroad workers) from returning to the United States. The influx of Chinese workers led to a strong anti-Chinese sentiment among white American workers, and subsequent legislation would culminate in the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited the immigration of any Chinese nationals for a period of 10 years.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8.25"
  • Medium: ALS

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