The Washington herald., 1914-09-27
Political Situation.

The new issue in the political situation has aread
become acute. Under gag rule which limited debat
and prevented the offering of any amendment tht
Democrats in the House have imposed an additiona
tax burden of over SIoooooooo upon the American
people.
at WILL perhaps" said Representative Garrett OF
Tennessee mot be popular tax" Solomon never
spoke a truer word 1t will not This is hardly the
time to add to the burdens of the people, especially
when the designation of war tax" is absolutely in
accurate. There tax in 1893 when the
nation through the Constitutional exercise of Con-
gressional power, declared war upon Spain and
brought about happier condition of affairs in dis
tressed Cuba. There is no need now for such tax
The United States is peace with all the world and
even the expense of the naval crusade to Mexico the
capture of unoffending seaport, and the mainte-
nance of an army at Vera Cruz did not add enough
millions TO the national expense to create trouble 1t
is absurd to talk OF tax in time of peace.
The Democratic contention, plainly set forth by
Mr. Underwood the Democratic leader is that there
is deficiency in the due the decrease in
importationS. His estimate of the falling off in
revenues during the next twelve months from the
countries which at war, will be $I25,oooooo He
admitted that the total imports free and dutiable in
August, 1913, aggregated in value SI37.oooooo while
in August, 1914, they were $I2ooooooo difference
of only $8oooooo but asserted that very large
quantity of undutiable material came from countries
which are not at war He defended, also, the vari-
methods by which the tax is to be raised, calling
especial attention the fact that almost every
item the scheme of the Republican levy of 1893 had
been followed This position is peculiarly interesting
in view of the fact that Mr.. Underwood opposed
and voted against the tax of 1893 because as he
the hard-working and industrious artisans mer-
chants, mechanics, farmers, and professional of
the country but not on idle wealth that is protected
but never made to pay for benefits received" This
Characterization is appropriate the tax legislation
which the Democrats are now seeking to enact
The Republican position, voiced by Representatives
Mann, Payne, and others, is that the deficiency in
the revenues is not due to the European war, but
to the failure of the tariff law TO produce income
besides which the Democratic Congress has by ex-
travagant appropriations involved the government in
expenses which cannot be met except by additional
taxation 1t is shown for instance, that last Janu-
ary the falling off in customs revenues was $5Sooooo
and in February the decrease $9oo5ooo, with
a steady decline up to August l. when the be-
gan. AS to the appropriations, the figures show
that this Congress has already contracted to expend
$7ooooooo more than the last Republican. with S2o-
10000 to be added by the river and harbor bill;
asked for Colombia, 100000 for Mica
ragua, and S3ooooooo for creating a merchant ma
rine The Republicans assert that if the Democrats
had practiced what they preached in the matter OF
economy, or if the revenues had not been depleted
by free trade law the present emergency would not
have arisen In addition to this, the administration is
criticised for refusing take of the national
banks the government deposits of $75oooooo it be-
ing claimed that it would have been better to have
taken the money out of the banks than out of the
pockets of the people.
Thus briefly stated, is the issue made The peo-
pie will be called upon to decide 1t is hardly more
than a month until election day but information
spreads rapidly in this country and it will not take
long for the people to understand the question which
has been presented TO them. In the meantime it
would seem 10 be the part Of patriotism to accept
cheerfully the increased taxes. If some one has
Dlundered-f the tariff bill has proven a dsappont-
ment in raising revenue and if the appropriations
have been eNtravaGant-the fact remains that the
Treasury is in sad condition. 1t must be replenish-
ed The American people cannot allow the govern
nent to fail in meeting its obligations. They must
go down in their pockets meet the deficiency and
eave the question OF responsibility to be settled at
The polls.