Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-08
II Is Such a Relief

A Washington correspondent write:
that Democrats of the Senate and
House resent the disposition of Re-
publicans and the people of the coun-
try to call the new revenue bill q
war revenue" measure. Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Peters ex-
plains that 1t Is NOT war" reve-
nue. bill, but an adjustment of reve-
uues," and that the people will have
to pay no more taxes anyway; that
the total required of them will be the
same; that the extra money collected
under special taxes" is NOT for war
purposes.
This is indeed n relief, We are so
glad to know those things! Indeed, it
seems that we may really consider
the adjustment" as one of the Demo-
cratic means of reducing the high
cost of living.
But we are not the only one who
misunderstood the situation. The
Maine grammatical purist (who OBJ
jects to hogs" and swine" and
pigs" and who sees such 'laughable'
things in the writings of others)
missed his cue on the matter. He was
started IN wrong. He thought it was
q war" revenue bill and that the
country was in need of war revenue"
Just read how he disagrees with the
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury:
A good deal of nonsense is printed in
newspapers. An exhibition of that fact is
now being given by editors who are writ
ing articles in which they say that be-
cause this country is not at war we need
no war tax. Everybody of ordinary in
telligence knows perfectly well that the
war in Europe has seriously interfered
with business and that because of the
stoppage of importations this country is
losing revenue The government is TAX
ing steps to supply the deficiency. There
is only one way in which to supply II.
The money must be raised by taxation.
We must have special taxes because of
the war in Europe. To deny that We are
thus placed in need of war tax is TO
talk nonsense.-waterville Sentinel
So, what are you going to do about
it? There is a "deficiency"-the
Sentinel says so. The administration
HAS to have the money-the Sentinel
says so. And there is only ONE way
to get it, by taxation--the Sentinel
says SO.
The Sentinel hadn't been informed
Of the necessary "adjustment'-the
editor happened to be debating les
sons in rhetoric and syntactical ar
rangement to his neighbors-and he
declares right out loud that what the
assistant treasurer says is nonsense"
The editor of the Waterville Senti-
mel knows the difference between q
deficit and war tax" because he
says SO.
And the deficit exists because for
eign labor, encouraged by the Under
wood bill, are busy with the war See
the point? 1t is here: When Ameri
can industry and labor are given a
rear seat in favor of foreign industry
and labor, and foreign labor is sud
denly embroiled in war, then Ameri-
can industry and labor have to come
forward and pay handsomely for their
governments preference for imported
goods and revenue" Unfortunately,
because of that preference, American
industry and labor at this time can i'll
afford to make up the little deficiency
of 500, 900, 900.
It is also unfortunate that the
deficit is necessary, and 1t need not
have been but for undeniable and I'M
restrained extravaganza on the part of
the administration. The treasury has
been drained by Democratic tariff
folly. to reduce the high cost of liv-
ing"
You have seen how they did 1t. II
your taxes ARE higher and to go stin
higher, are not your wages higher?
Are not times better? Are not money
conditions easier? Are not sugar and
flour, and all sorts of household ne
cesstties ridiculously cheap? Are not
bankers chasing you to lend you
money?
In fact, is not the cost of living so
amazingly low that it is almost a
shame to take it? And all because
Democratic tariff was enacted?
And now all that is necessary is
little adjustment" and the thing is
done. To be sure you have got to
pay for the adjustment to the tune of
another hundred millions of dollars
but what is that among friends?
Cheer up The worst is vet to
come. And after all, you'd have to
pay 1t anyway-Peters says so.