The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-09-09
WILSON URGES TAX
s@I00,000,000 EXTRA
MESSAGE ADDRESSED TO CON.
eREss PERSONALLY BY PRES
IDENT WILSON.
1T IS BAD BORROWING TIME
Play Safe In Event War Continues
Ready For Any Contingency
Keep Treasury Strong.

Washington.-"We shall pay the
bill, though we did not deliberately
incur It," said President Wilson when
presenting before q joint session OF
Congress his appeal for an emergency
internal revenue measure to raise
100000 900 the Governments prob
able loss in customs receipts because
of the European war. Prompt action
was necessary, the President said, ito
keep the treasury strong" His only
suggestion as to the method for levy
ing the tax was that sources be
chosen that would begin to yield at
once and yield with a certain and con.
slant aow."
The appeal met with quick action.
AS O 0 as the President had left
the House chamber amidst an out
burst Of applause, Speaker Clark re-
ferred; the message to the Ways and
Means Committee. Democratic mem
bers Of the committee met at the call
Of the chairman, Representative Un-
derwood and began considerationS9f,
plans to raise the additional revenue
Various members suggested sources
which they believed would be prop
erly subjected to additional taxation.
On the list suggested were:
Tax Gasoline.
Gasoline, q tax Of one or two cents
a gallon, railroad and amusement
tickets, a tax Of five to ten per cent:
beer, an increase of SO cents a barrel;
domestic wines, whiskey, an increase
Of is cents a. gallon; proprietary ar
ticles; tobacco and tobacco products;
chewing gum; soft drinks; playing
cards.
The proposal to tax railroad tick
cts was not received with enthusiasm
BY members Of the committee, al
though 1t was estimated that a i've
per cent tax would raise $4,000,0OO.
Chairman Underwood said the articles
suggested would be gone over and q
list of taxable articles agreed on by
elimination. This list would be sub
mitted to the Treasury Department
probably early next week. When the
bill Is completed in committee. II
probably will be brought into the
House under a special rule and hur-
ried through.
President Wilson was given an en-
thusiastic greeting when he entered
the House chamber escorted by Sena-
tors Kern, Clarke and Gallinger, and
Representatives Underwood, Fttzger-
aid and Mann: The President said ne
had come to discharge q duty ne
wished he could avoid. but made It
plain that additional revenue was g
cessary and that he performed ms
duty without hesitation or apology.
Unforeseen condition occasioned by
the conflict in Europe, he said, q
created conditions which unless dealt
with promptly might involve consez
ouences OF the "most embarrassing
and deplorable sort
To borrow money, the President
urged, WITS unwise, bond Issue Wouio
make an "untimely and unjustihableH
demand upon money marekts, ieavi
ing taxation as the only method left;
to raise revenue. In this shuaploH =
he appealed ito the profoundly pa
~triotic people Of the country to lake
upithe burden. q
The President said:
81 come to you today to discharge
q duty which I wish with all my heart
7 might have been spared, but IT rs
aduty which is very clear, and there
fore / perform it without hesitation
or apology. + come to ask very ear
nestly that additional revenue De pro
yided for the Government.
Huge Falling OF.
During the month of August there
was, as compared with the CORES
nonding month OF last year, a falling
off of $40, 629, 53s In the revenues cor
lected from customs. A continuation
of this decrease in the same proper
ton throughout the current fiscal year
would probably mean a loss or Oh Gus
toms revenues of from 60 to lOo MIL
IONS need not tell you to what
this falling off is due. Conditions nave
arisen which no man foresaW; they
affect the whole world Of commerce
and economic production and they
must be faced and dealt with. =
ut would be very unwise 10 post
pone dealing with them. -
1T would be very dangerous IN the
present circumstance to create>a mo-
ment's doubt as to the strength anu
suficiency of the Treasury OF tne
United States, it's ability to assist 10
steady and sustain the financial op-
erations of the country's business
If the Treasury is known or even
thought to be weak, where will be
our peace of mind? The whole nous-
trial activity Of the country would De
chilled and demoralized. Just no"
the peculiarly difficult financial prop
lens of the moment are being sue
cessfully dealt with, with great SELF
possession and good sense and very
sound Judgment; but they are only IN
process of being worked out. II the
process of solution is to be completed
no one must be given reason to oouDl
the solidity and adequacy OF the
Treasury of the Government, when
stands behind the whole method.
Hurt Business.
THE Treasury itself could get along
for a considerable period, no doubt,
u;thout inrnadiate resort to new