The Washington times., 1914-09-16
THE WAR TAX PLAN.

he Suggestion OIL d lcS VII lISlSliI
bills, as an important feature of the
special war revenue measure, be-
came instantly So unpopular that it
was speedily withdrawn. The Demo-
cratic caucus was told by Leader Un-
derwood last night that the sugges-
tion of this tax had never been more
than a suggestion, and it was
dropped as soon as it was found to
be altogether unacceptable.
Instead, a stamp tax, practically
a revival of the Spanish war
measure, will be inserted in the law.
This is decidedly 4 change for the
better. That the country almost
unanimously demanded the stamp
tax is an encouraging sign Of a
better understanding Of the whole
problem of taxation for Federal
revenue. The kind of ! tax that
produces instant results, and whose
application gives least chance for
increases through the operation of
passing it on" to somebody else to
pay, is the ideal one. Moreover, the
naticn which is accustomed to a sys-
tenn of internal revenue levies, that
can at any time be adjusted to me
revenue needs by the simple process
of lowering pr raising the figures,
has a scheme that most quickly and
with least disturbance will meet
fiuctuating requirements.
By all means the revenue rceasure
should he accompanied by the
economy program of killing the river
and harbor legislation. If Congress
will take the trouble to ascertain
real public sentiment at this point
it will find that the pork barrel plan
of squandering revenue is just as
universally unpopular as the freight
tax plan of raising it. TO tim
thirty millions, more or less, out of
the pork barrel bill will be onl-
postponement. The items now
elided, after they have been inserted
by one or both houses, viii 0e re-
eardcd as preferred claims against
the next measure of the same kind.
Trey will be trotted out rs first
mortgages on the revenues 4 year
hence, or two years hence; and the
result will be not only n continuance
q the cid and vicious program of
pork, but a bigger and fat.er pork |
hogshead than ever before.
II is time to begin handling the !!
liver and harbor business CT bust
ness principles. There must be an
end to buying votes for the measure
as whole, by passing succulent |
slices to a large enough number of
members to max, up majority. Co.
operation in plumber has gone on,
under this system, until it has taken
near billion dollars from the
revenues of the country. TIE size of |
the appropriation measure grows
steadily. Cut it down this year by
reason of an exigcncy, and 4 year
OF two years hence, if fiscal conditions
are reasonably improved, there will be
a demand for hundred -million-dol- |
lar bill. 1t will BE- imposed on the
country when conditions Do not war
rant it, and more than likely will be |
for continuing TIE war
taxes longer than otherwise would
be necessary.
Let the rivers and na~hors be
placed under a proper aiministra-
tive organization, that Will spend |
money where the money Will really
be invested rather than merely
spent. There's a vast difference.
Using this appropriation bill as n
means of suDsidizing the water 2o"er
the MARITIME shipping COM
the contractors AID the |
spectators in reclamation of aliuvial
Isnds, is not the righ5 systerc. That
iE tire present system. 1t is old