New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-05
MUST FILL TREASURY
TO HELP THE BANKS
Fears Loss of Revenue
Will Cause Withdrawal
of Federal Funds.
DEMOCRATS MAKELIST
Amusement Tickets, Gasoline,
Soft Drinks and Proprietary
Articles May Be Taxed.
tFrom Tho Tribune Bureau. I


Washington. Sept. president Will
son read before q joint session Of Con-
gress to-day his message urging imme-
date legislation to produce $lOO,OOO,-
900 annual revenue to Offset losses
which he said were principally due TO
a decrease in customs duties caused by
the European war Majority members
Of the Ways and Means Committee
held two hours conference late this
afternoon or the proposed bill, Dut
took no definite action. Various mem
bers suggested sources which they be-
lieved would be properly subjected to
additional taxation. On the list sug-
gested were:
Gasoline, tax one or two cents
a gallon; railroad and amusement
tickets, tax of to 10 per cent; beer,
an increase of 80 cents a barrel; do
nestle wines, whiskey, an increase OF
is cents a gallon; proprietary articles,
tobacco and tobacco products, chewing
gum, soft drinks and playing cards.
The proposal TO tax r-ilroad tickets
was not received with enthusiasm by
the members of the committee, al
though it was estimated that a per
cent tax would raise 100000.
Chairman Underwood said the arti-
cles suggested would be gone over by
the Democrats Of the committee and a
list of taxable articles would be agreed
on by elimination. This list will be
submitted TO the Treasury Department
probably early next week for estimates
as 10 the amount to be raised on each
and the rate of taxation When the
bill is completed in committee it will
probably be brought into the House
under a special rule and hurried
through.
The Presidents Message.
come to you to-day to dis
charge a duty which ! wish with
all my heart / might have been
spared; but it is a duty which is
very clear and, therefore, perform
it without hesitation or apology. l
come to ask very earnestly that
additional revenue be provided for
the government.
During the month of August
there was, as compared with the
corresponding month of last year,
a falling off of S10,629, 1913 in the
revenues collected from customs
A continuation Of this decrease in
the same proportion throughout
the current fiscal year would prob
ably mean q loss Of customs rev.
enues of from $50 900 to $780,
100000 / need not tell you 10
what this falling off is due. 1t is
due, in chief part, not TO the re-
auctions recently made in the GUS
toms duties, but to the great de-
crease in importations; and that is
due TO the extraordinary extent Of
the industrial area affected by the
present war in Europe. Conditions
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.
Treasury the Foundation Rock.
il would be very unwise to post
pone dealing with them. Delay in
such a matter and in the particu-
lar circumstances in which we now
find ourselves as a nation might in
volve consequences Of the most
embarrassing and deplorable sort,
for which ], for one, would not
care to be responsible. 1t would
be very dangerous in the present
circumstances to create a moments
doubt as TO the strength and sufti-
cheney Of the Treasury of the
United States, its ability to assist,
to steady and sustain the financial
operations Of the country's bust
ness. If the Treasury is known, or
even thought, to be weak, where
will be our peace of mind? The
whole industrial activity of the