Gilpin observer., 1910-06-02
WASHINGTON NEWS
Furnished the Observer Weekly by
Clyde n. Tavenner, Special Cores
pondent.

SSyoc n. tAVouuor, special CorreS
pondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Lay 31st,-
One hundred and thirty-three mil
lions OF dollars!
Try to comprehend the magnitude
OF this sum IL you can, and then
pause and reflect over the fact that
it is the amount the Senate has
voted to spend on the navy IN A
SINGLE YEAR, in time Of profound
peace. Then consider that only IL
years ago. in 1898, the naval appro-
priation was but $33,0OS.234. or one
hundred millions less than the
amount appropriated for the year
ending June 80, 1911.
A fact in connection with this aw-
full increase which the public sell
doln hears is that every penny Of
this $1OO,OOO,OOO which is to be
spent in excess of the amount used
in 1898 comes from the people; not
from the rich, but largely from work
ing men and women.
1t is the intimate consumer who
pays the battleship bills. who main
tain an ever-increasing army Of Of
ficeholders in Washington, and who
meets the one-hundred and one ex-
travagances Of the government. He
does it by paying excessive prices
for things he buys.
The government raises practically
all of its funds through the customs
houses and the internal revenue Of
fees, where taxes are levied on
things eaten, worn or used by the
people. When the consumer pur-
chases a protected article-and prac-
tically all of the necessaries Of life
are protected-he pays the real or
natural value of the article and in
addition thereto the amount OF the
tariff tax.
The more battleships constructed.
the greater the amount the govern
ment must raise through the tax on
consumption, and the greater the cost
CT living.
Thus it is not so strange that I'M
der the Taft administration, which is
spending more than twice the amount
used by Cleveland to run the gov
eminent, the cost of living Is so
per cent greater than under the
Cleveland administration.
While the hat, coat and shirt Of
the masses are taxed almost II per
cent to build 81 900 900 battleshsps
and keep an extravagant. government
in spending money. Messrs. Morgan,
Rockefeller and Carnegie are not ask
ell by the federal government to pay
any tax whatever on their swollen
fortunes.
Wealth escapes bearing its just
share OF the burden Of taxation be-
cause OF the absence of federal in
come or Inheritance tax. such as
were long ago adopted by Great Brit
ian, Germany. France, Japan, Hol-
land, Austria, Denmark. Switzerland.
Australia and New Zealand.
A majority CT 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 Pres
ident Taft and Senator Aldrich de-
feated the project through the sub
-
the necessary three-fourths OF the
state legislature will not vote to
amend the constitution is practical
" certain, which means that an in
come tax can only be had at the
hands of 4 Democratic administra-
ton.
1t is estimated that in 1908 the
cost of living was nearly II per
cent higher than 1t would have been
without a tariff Hence, calculating
that the average family consumed
s941 worth OF supplies per annum, Its
increased payment on account OF the
tariff was $111. or this Sill, $3.50
went to the government In collec-
tions, and $94.5O went to the trusts
In higher prices. OF this $945O,
1925 was on woolens. more than SIT
on other clothing. 1925 on furniture,
$4.25 on beef and mutton and pork,
$1O.25 on building materials and SO
on.