Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-15
PAYING DEMOCRATIC BILLS.

NY SuInOel BlOS" Kansas Clly, Mo.
PAYING DEMOCRATIC BILLS.
The country might as we'll be honest
with itself. President Wilson has call
ed upon congress to levy war loan
Of $100,000,000, which marks the cri-
sis In the affairs Of the present dem.
ocratic administration. That this great
sum of money is needed to make up
the deficit caused by decreased rev.
enue due to the European war no well
informed person will believe. The
present financial troubles of the admin
istration began eight months ago and
have increased rapidly ever since. In
order to show the exact situation 1t IS
necessary to review the tariff situation
prior to last August when the first ef-
fects Of the war we're felt. For the
five months beginning March l, when
the democratic tariff went into ef-
feet, until the last day of July, condi-
tons were normal, and they afford an
honest comparison with the same five
months of the previous year under a
protective tariff.
! During these five months the i'm
Sportations from abroad to the United
States amounted In value to $S3S,000,-
600. For the same period in 1913 ths
importations amounted to $7O5. 100000.
This Is an increase during the wilson
administration of nearly 20 per cent,
and an average increase OF $26,OO0,OOO
a month. For this period of the dem
ocratic tariff the exports from the
United States fell off 10 per cent in
comparison with the same months IN
1918. This means that the increased
importation and reduced expectation
took a large quantity of work and
wages from American workingmen.
For these Ave months the balance OF
trade ran against the United States.
and continued to do 90 during all OF
the period. Upon this basis the general
deficit to the United States treasury
due to the failure Of the tariff to pro-
vide sufficient revAnues would amount
to about 500, 100000 q year-a signifi-
cant figure in view Of the fact that this
is the amour: asked for by the presl-
dent In his plea for war taxes"
II there mad been no European war
practically the same deficit would have
been encountered, but In all probable
ity the administration would not nave
had the assurance to put such sys-
tenn of special taxation into erect as
is now proposed. The war is merely
an excuse. 1t Is subterfuge eagerly
accepted by the administration to TOOL
the people and cover up the rear
causes of the governments financial
embarrassment. President Wilson IN
his message to congress was very care.
full to state that during the month OF
August" there was falling of In gov
eminent revenues. He made no refer
ence to the fact that August was no
exception to all the other months DUR
ing which the country has bad the new
tariff. II need not tell you,' says the
president, ITO what this falling OH IS
due. It is due in chief part. not to the
reductions recently made In the Gus
toms duties, but to the great decrease
in importations.'' That Is for the
month of August. Tho war had effect
only in August. Again. the president
is suddenly solicitous for the business
of the country. He says the treasury
could get along for awhile but at what
cost to the business of the commun-
ity?" Certain financial arrangements
might be made to get the money, ne
argues. but "it might become neces-
sary at time which could not be con-
trolled or determined by the conven.
fence of the business of the country.
Do the president and his friends
imagine that the sensible people of this
nation can be, fooled by this sort OF
sophistry? Surely they cannot place
such faith in the credulity of intelli-
gent Americans. Where are the bless
ings OF low tariff when the people
must make up the deficit by paying ex-
TIA for gasoline, beer, soda water,
theater tickets, chewing gum, etc? For
II must be remembered that the estl-
mated deficit in governmental rev.
enues is not based on the imports and
exports of the month of August, but
on those of the five months previous
tn the outbreak of the European war.
The democratic tariff without either
issuing bonds or levying special taxes
would have bapkrupted our govern
ment, war or no war. The last low
tariff under the Cleveland administra-
ton had exactly the same effect, only
IN that case instead of special taxes
the administration issued more bonds.
President Wilson Is more fortunate
than President Cleveland, for he has
the war in Europe to hide behind. The
new internal revenue taxes are to
make up the natural and inevitable
deficit OF a democratic tariff, and the
European struggle makes 1t convenient
to refer to it as war tax. Kansas
City Journal.