The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-05

WAsuINGroN. Sept 4.-President Will
son to-day asked Congress. assembled
| II, Joint session, to pass a bill to raise
| 500. 900, 900 to meet the emergency
caused by the decline in customs as
the result Of the war in Europe.
The President delivered his message
in person. In conformity with the prac-
tice that he inaugurated at the be-
si,ning of his administration. He read
the message from the Speakers ros-
tram, and the members OF the House
and Senate and the hundreds in the gal
lie lies followed every word with close
attention.
The President tried to meet in advance
political arguments that will be made
criticising the proposed revenue bill.
Nowhere in his address, though, did the
| President urge economy OF appropria-
tons as one means of meeting the situa-
| ton.
The President received a boisterous
welcome from Congress and the crowds
in the galleries. Southern members
shouted their approval. much to the ais
comfiture of Senators who never mani
fest either approval or disapproval OF
anything that happens in the upper
chamber.
Every one arose as the President en-
tered and remained standing untn ne
began the reading of his address. the
applause continued for longer period
than on previous appearances OF the
President and ceased only when Mr..
Wilson showed a desire to proceed win
his talk.
The crowds in the galleries were made
up largely of women. on the floor or
the House members OF the Cabinet oc-
cupied chairs. Secretary Lane, POST
Muster General Burleson and Attorney
General Gregory, together with Secre-
tary McAdoo. occupied seats reserved
for them Mrs. McAdoo, attired in
black: Dr. Cary Grayson, the Presi-
> dents aid. and Secretary Bryan were
in the Executive gallery.
: The Prcsidrnts Mrssngc.
? The president said:
| Gentlemen of the Congress, | come
to you to-day to discharge a duty
which | wish with all my heart l nigh,
have been spared but 1t is a duty
which is very clear and. therefore, !
perform 1t without hesitation OF
apology. come to ask very earnestly
{ that additional revenue be provided
for the Government.
During the month of August there
was. as compared with the correspond
I ing month of last year, a falling off OF
= sl0,629.j3s in the revenues collected
! from customs. A continuation OF this
decrease in the same proportion
throughout the current fiscal yea:
! no
I toms revenues OF from sixty TO one
hundred millions. l need not tell you
n to what this falling off Is due. 1t Il
due. in chief part. not TO the reductions
recently made in the customs duties
c but to the grea, decrease in !mporta
lions; and that is due to the eXtraor
2 binary extent OF the Industrial ares
: affected by the present war In Europe
= Conditions have arisen which no maj
foresaw: they affect the whole worl'
Of commerce and economic production
and they must be faced and dealt with
Delay IL Dangerous.
s ut would be very unwise to postpon'
r dealing with them. Delay in such
= matter and in the particular circum
. stances in which we now find ourselves
as a nation might involve consequence
= OF the most embarrassing and deplor
II able sort, for which !, for one, would
- not care to DC responsible. Ii Woul'
n he very dangerous in the present cir
d cumstances to create moments doub
as to the strength and suf'iclency OF tn
Treasury OF the United States, its abil
ity to assist, to steady and sustain III
e financial operations OF the country
business If the Treasury Is known o
Ic even thought to he weak, where VII
is be our peace of mind? The whole in
:. dustrial activity of the country woul
be chilled and demoraliZed. Just no,
" the peculiarly difficult financial prob
I lens of the moment are being success
fully dealt with, with great self-posses
70 sion and good sense and very SCUM
4 Judgment: but they are only in process
~ of being worked out, If the process q
solution is TO he completed, no one mus
be given reason to doubt the solid!t
- and adequacy of the Treasury OF TN
r. Government which stands behind III
ar whole method by which our difficultie
n are being met and handled.
T. BIg Deposits In Banks.
III "The Treasury itself could get alon
We for a considerable period, no doub
sources OF taxation. But at what COT
e. 10 the business 81 the community? Al
IN proximately s75.O0O,9 900, a large part
-, the present Treasury balance. is no
" on deposit with national banks distri
w. uted throughout the country. 1t u d.
n posted, of course, on call. ] need m
ut point out to you what the probah
t. consequences Of Inconvenience and dl
he tress and confusion would be II Il
iii diminishing income nf the Treasul
should make Il necessary rapidly
withdraw these deposits And yet will
out additional revenue that plain
M might become necessary, and the tin
90 when il became necessary could not
ho controlled pr determined by the col
49, yenicnce % the business Of the countr
.a 1t would have to hc determined by Il
70 operations and necessities Of Il
81. Treasury Itself Such risks are n
-.