South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-04
President Shows Congress the
Great decrease in Customs
Duties and Tells Need of I'm
mediate Raising of Revenue.
CONFIDENCE In THE U. S.
TREASURY PARAMOUNT
Says Business Will be DemoraI-
lied if There is Hint of
Weakness in Government
Golfers and Advises no Delay

WASHINGTON. Sept. 4.-Pres. Will
son asked congress today TO pass
measures to raise 800, 100000 rev
enue through internal taxes. Address
ing a joint session of the senate and
the house of representatives. he sug-
gested that immediate action be TAX
en- in order that the sources of rev.
enue chosen should yield 'a certain
and constant flow
The president stated that during the
month of August there was falling
off of $10,629.53S in customs COM
pared with the same month last year
and pointed out that continuation
of this condition would result for the
current fiscal year of a loss OF from
60,000,00O to $10O.0O0.00O This is
due. he said, to a decrease in imports
owing to the extraordinary extent of
the usual areas affected by the Euro
pean war and not to the tariff reduc-
tons
Hesitation Bad Policy.
Hesitation and delay are the worst
forms Of bad policy under such con-
ditions" said the president efter
pointing out the risk that would be
run if the additional revenue were not
raised.
The address Of the president fol-
lows in full:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
Il come to you today to discharge
a duty which L wish with all my heart
1 might have been spared but it is
a duty which is very clear and, there
fore. l perform it without hesitation
or apology 1 come to advise very
earnestly that additional revenue be
provided for the government.
During the month of August there
was, as compared with the corre-
spending month of last year, fall
ing off of S10,629,538 in the revenues
collected from customs. A continua-
ton of this decrease in the same pro-
portion throughout the current fiscal
year would probably mean a loss of
customs revenues of from so to 100
millions. 1 need not tell you to what
this falling off is due. 1t is due. in
chief part, not to the reductions re-
Gently made in the customs duties. but
TO the great decrease in importations;
and that it 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.
Says Delay is Unwise.
r~fce 20
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 of the most embarrass-
ing and deplorable sort, for which /,
for one, would not care to be respon-
sible. It would be very dangerous in
the present circumstances to create a
moments doubt as to the strength
and sufficiency Of the treasury of the
United States, fits ability TO assist, TO
steady and sustain the financial op-
erations OF the cOuntry's business. If
the treasury is known or even thought
10 be weak, where viii be our peace
Of mind. The whole industrial ac-
tivity of the country would be chill
ed and demoraliZed. Just now the
peculiarly difficult financial problems
Of the moment are being successfully
dealt with. with great self-possession
and good sense and very sound judg-
ment; but they are only in process OF
being worked out. II the process OF
solution is 10 be completed. no one
must be given reason 10 doubt the
solidity and adequacy OF the treasury
Of the government which stands be-
hind the whole method by which our
difficulties are being met and handled.
POi0- Out Cost TO Business.
The treasury itself could get along
for a considerable period. no doubt,
without immediate resort to new
<CONEaSJED ON PAGE SIX.)