Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-03
Maine May Yet Affect the
Tariff Revision Bill.
How La Toilette Hailed The In
come Tax Juggernaui.
Decisive Verdict from Third Dis.
trlct May Help.

- -
Washington. d. c.. Sept 2--fSpecial)
Over into September goes the govern
ment at Washington, with all the rest
of the world summer of constant
session. if not of constant achievement
is belind. Now the autumn is ahead
and many big tasks yet looming large
The Senate is sitting six days in the
week and taking small notice of holt
days. The tariff is lingering there but
in the very last stages. Perhaps this
week will see the Senate write fms
upon the measure as far as the passage
there is concerned. The House is less
industrious, but it now has the ctr
fency bill in immediate prospect The
Democratic caucus has at last acted.
The House committee on banking and
currency has framed" the bill and re-
ported it favorable. These formalities
are necessary in CAUCUS rule. Now the
House must deliberate which means
that the House must pass the currency
bill as the caucus puts its o. X. upon
1t. Whatever changes are made hence
forth in that measure must be made in
the Senate. And toward the Senate
those who wish changes made are now
turning, even as they similarly turned
when the Underwood revision bill had
reached a similar stage in the House
But September is not bringing sur
cease from otner governmental cares
than those which are strictly legs
lative. The President has his burdens.
He has been away in the New Hamp-
shire hills. getting a little rest over
Sunday and Monday Gabor day.. It
is the second visit he has been able To
make to Cornish since he leased the
beautiful summer home of Winston
Churchill there. Mrs. Wilson came
down to Washington last week, with
one of their daughters, and all return
ed together. Friday.
1t looks as though the President must
vet bear hand. now and then, with
reference to tariff. Differences exist be-
tween the Senate and the House The
Senate text and the House text, at
some points, vary sharply. Presumably
these differences can not all be ADJUST
ed till after there has been an appeal
to the President for adjustment. Es-
sential principles in the bill to be sure,
are about the same as to Senate ana
House--free wool. free sugar after three
rates have been fixed differently. 1t,
certainly will require time to adjust
these and they must be adjusted be-
fore the bill can be in shape for the
President to sign
Some high old humping times the
Senate Democrats certainly have had of
late with their tariff bill II seemed all
smooth sailing until few days age
and then the water became sufficiently
choppy to shock the craft ana make
some Of those on board feel seasIck.
Wool and sugar seemed so easy, whefeI
there bad been expectations OF MP
and tuck fight that no one was prepar-
ed for the things which happened SUD
seouently. For instance, the income
tax. Senator La F'ollettes Willingness
to make trouble forced the Senate
Democrats to pause and they are not
entirely over the CONSERVATION he made
for them.
In a sentence, the whole difficulty
over the income tax Is as to how much
the government is warranted in taxing
swollen fortunes. An idea is abroad
in some circles that it is a mighty suod
thing to separate those who have many
millions from portion of their posses
sions State and National governments
undoubtedly have the power to do So,
through the fundamentally of taxes.
The finance committee of the Senate
was willing 10 go only certain length;
Senator LaFollette of Wisconsin, VINO
is a Republican member of the finance
committee, wanted to go much fafthef.
When a mans income was over SlV,ooo
a year. senator LaFellette would hesln
to put the taxing pressure upon NM
and when an individual income was
getting up to $4,000 and $4,000 year
and over. Senator La Toilette would
take a goodly portion away from INN
every twelve monthS-not of his prlncl-
pal, mind YOU, but of his interest.
There the split came. The more con-
servative Democrats called q halt ana
spoke out ab6At the dangers oil com
munism 1t was we'll enough, they ar
gued. to make the very rich bear their
proper share of the burden OF taxation,
lust as it was proper for the man with
a very small income, even, to pay
1.-THE to the government at Washington.
Then lie would have a livelier realiza-
ton of what government at Washing
ton costs and would watch his lcgisla
tors there more closely, "a wholesome
considerations But und1ly large in
come taxes for the very would
smack of government piliage. 1t
might all be very regular and legal but
in principle, would not differ very
much from the practice III certain
Southern Republics of arresting rich
men and by duress forcing them to
contribute.
The Senate battle ragged over this
point for two or three days. Mr.. La
Toilette stuck to his contention that
the income taxes on large fortunes
should be considerably higher than the
Senate finance committee had voted.
Continued on Page Twelvel