Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-30
SOME REAL LIVE
GOSSIP FROM THE CAP
ITAL OF THE NATION

ITAL OF THE NATION
Continued from Page One.)
the Taft administration. which Is
spending more than twice the amount
used by Cleveland to run the govern
ment, the cost of living is 80 per cent
greater than under the Cleveland ad-
ministration.
While the hat coat and shirt of the
masses are taxed almost II per cent,
to build s11,00O 900 battIeships and
keep an extravagant government i'll
spending money MessTs. Morgan,
Rockefeller and Carnegie are not ask
ed by the federal government TO pay
any tax whatever on their swollen for
tunes.
Wealth escapes bearing its just
share of the burden of taxation be
eaus> of the absence of a federal in
come or inheritance tax, such as were
long ago dopted by Great Britain, Ger
many, France. Japan, Holland, Aus
tria, Denmark, Switzerland, Australia
and New Zealand.
A majority of both houses of con-
gress were in favor of lacking an in
come tax clause to the new tariff law.
Such legislation would now be upon
the statute books had not President
Taft and Senator Aldrich defeated
the project through the substitution
of a corporation tax. That the neces-
sary three-fourths of the state legisIa-
lures will not vote to amend the con-
stitution is practically certain, which
means that an income tax can only be
had at the hands of a democratic adj
ministration.
1t is estimated that in 1908 the cost
of living was nearly II per cent
higher than it would have been with
out a tariff. Hence, calculating that
the average family consumed $941
worth of supplies per annum, its in
creased payment on account of the
tariff was Sill. OF this Sill, $16.50
went to the government in collections
and $3.50 went to the trusts in higher
prices. OF this $94.50, 1925 was on
woolehs, more than ST on other cloth
ing, S625 on furniture, $4.25 on beef
ing materials, and so on.
In 1910, the cost OF living being Is
per cent higher than it was in 1908,
the average family pays $1,OS0, of
which 10 per cent, or sos, is tribute
TO the trusts and other protected in
dustries.
Here is a little table which speaks
for itself. 1t compares the expendi-
lures on the army and navy in a per-
iod of peace with amounts expended
for maintaining civil establishment:
Expense since 1897
For rural free delivery. s 173, 755, 313
For rivers and harbors.. 96,075, 191
For public buildings and
grounds 1890 1890. 12S,172,4Q7
For the navy ........... 1,126,210,193
For the army ........... 1,044, 101,1SS
Now is the time for making presi-
dents, or soon will be- says the Wash
ington Post, which in the national
capital is considered by many to be
an administration mouthpiece. I'VE
ali know that Taft will be renominated.
That is inevitable"
There is little doubt but that the
still seriously consider
Taft the logical candidate in 1912, and
if they are still in the majority in
after She approaching con-
gressiona1 elections the president will
have no difficulty in securing a re-
nomination, if he desires it.
Referring to Aldrich, President Taft,
in an interview printed in the June
declares there were not a
few reductions in the tariff schedules
which were introduced at MS instance, |
or with his consent" In other words, |
concessions in legislation which was |
to affect the cost of living to 10000, 900 /
could only be had with the |
consent of political boss, and that /
political boss the acknowledged repre- /
sentative Of the tariff trusts and Wall /
street!
The exposure of Ballinger's secret /
relations with George W. Perkins of 1
J. P. Morgan & Co. in Alaskan mat
ters has started reports that the use
fulness of the present SECRETARY of /