The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-09-10
Duty Not Pleasant.

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f1ict in Europe.
Duty Not Pleasant.
The president told congress that he
discharged a duty which he wished
with all his heart he might have been
spared, but which he performed with
out hesitation or apology because of
the danger in present circumstances TO
create a moments doubt as to the
strength and sufficiency Of the treas
ury of the United States"
While the treasury, he said, could
get along for a long period, he pointed
out the peril of the governments with
drawing from the national banks ap-
proximately $75,O00,0 600 of the treasury
balance deposited there; advised
against the government borrowing
money or selling bonds which would
make "a most untimely and unjustifi-
able demand upon the money market"
and appealed to the Intelligent and
profoundly patriotic public" to bear
the burden of a special tax to meet the
unforeseen emergency.
Congress Is Attentive.
Congress listened aCtentively to the
address. Immediately upon it's conclu-
sion, the Legislative machinery was
set in motion to carr? its recommends
tons into effect. Chairman Under
wood called a meeting of the ways and
means committee to perfect an inter
nal revenu measure tentatively draft
ed in preliminary conferences. A bill
will be introduced Immediately.
Text of Message.
Following is the full ext of Presi-
dent Wilson's address to congress, as
sembled in joint session, on the need
of emergency revenue legislation:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
Il come to you today to discharge
a duty which | wish with all my heart
| might have been spared; but it is a
duty which is very clear, and, there
fore, l perform it without hesitation or
apology. | come to ask very earnestly
that additional revenue be provided
for the government.
Revenues Fall Of.
During the month Of August there
was, compared with the correspond
ing month of last year, a falling off Of
$40, ,5SS in the revenues collected
from customs. A continuation of this
decrease in the same proportion
throughout the current fiscal year
would probably mean a loss Of customs
revenue of from $50, 000, 900 to $780,
100000.
Il need not tell you to what this
falling off is due. 1t is due, in chief
part, not to the reductions recently
made in the customs duties, but to the
great decrease in importations; and
that that is due to the extraordinary
extent of the industrial area affected
by the present war in Europe. Condi-
tions have arisen which no man fore
saw; they affect the whole world of
commerce and economic production,
and they must be faced and dealt with.
Unwise to Postpone.
at would be very unwise to post
pone dealing with them. Delay IN
such a matter and in the particular
circumstances in which we now find
ourselves as q nation might involve
consequences Oh the UlOSI LlDdI dSS-
ing and d%eplorable sort, for which l,
for one, would not care to be respon-
sible. 1t would be very dangerous in
the present circumstance to create a
moments doubt as to the strength and
sufficiency of the treasury of the Unit
ed States, its ability to assist, to
steady, and sustain the financial opera
tions of the country's business. If the
treasury is known or ever thought to
be weak, where will be our peace OF
mind? The whole industrial activity
of the country would be chilled and
demoralized. Just now the peculiarly
difficult financial problems of the mo-
ment are being successfully dealt With,
with great seif-possession and good
sense and very sound judgment; but
they are only in process of being
worked out.
IF the process of solution is to be
completed, no one must be given rea-