The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-09-10
PRESIDENT WILSON
ASKS WAR REVENUE
Urges S1O0,0OO,O 900 War Tax on
Joint Session Of Congress.
SUGGESTS IMMEDIATE ACTION
Decrease In Imports, Owing to Extent
Of Industrial Areas Affected by
European War, Has Made
Move imperative.

Washington, Sept I'm the pres
ence of crowded galleries and practi-
cally full attendance OF the TWO
houses, President Wilson read his mes
sage before a joint session OF the SEN
ate and house held in the house cham-
Der on Friday advocating emergency
revenue legislation TO replace the
losses caused by decreasing customs
duties during the European war period.
The address Of the president follows
in part
Gentlemen of the Congress: come
to you to discharge duty when /
wish with all my heart ! might nave
been spared: but it is duty which Is
very clear, and therefore, | perform 1t
without hesitation or apology. ! come
to advise very earnestly that addl'
tional revenue be provided for the gov
eminent.
During the month OF August there
was. as compared with the correspond
ing month of last year, a falling on
of s1O629, 53S in the revenues collected
from customs. A continuation OF THIS
decrease in the same proportion
throughout the current fiscal year
would probably mean loss OF customs
revenues OF from sixty to one hundred
millions. ! 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 is due to the extraordinary
extent Of the industrial area affeced
by the present war in Europe. Con
ditions 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.
ut would be very unwise to post
pone dealing with them.
The treasury itself could get along
for a considerable period no doubt,
without immediate resort to new
sources OF taxation. But at what cost
to the business of the community?
Approximately s75,0000O0, large
part OF the present treasury balance, Is
now on deposit with national banks
distributed throughout the country.
1t rs deposited, OF course, on call. !
need not point to you what the prob
able consequences Of inconvenience
and distress and confusion would be
II the diminishing income OF the treas
ury should make it necessary rapidly
to withdraw these deposits. And yet
without additional revenue that plainly
might become necessary and the time
when II became necessary could not
be controlled or determined by the
convenience OF the business OF the
country. II would be determined by
the operations and necessities OF the
treasury itself
Such risks are not necessary and
ought not to be run. We cannot too
scrupuously or carefully safeguard a
financial situation which IL at best.
while war continues in Europe, diff
fcult and abnormal Hesitation and
delay are the worst forms OF bad pol.
icy under such conditions.
And we ought not to borrow. We
ought 20 resort to taxation however.
The country is able to pay any Just
and reasonable taxes without distress.
The people OF this country are both In
telligent and profoundly patriotic.
They are ready to meet the present
conditions in the right way and to sup
port the government with generous
self-denial They know and under
stand. and will be intOlerant only OF
those who dodge responsibility or are
not frank with them.
The occasion is not OF our own ma
king We had no part In making 1t.
But ii Is here. 1t affects us an d.
rectly and palpa0ly almost as II We
we're participants In the circumstances
which gave rise to H. We must accept
the inevitable with calm judgment and
unrunied spirits like men accustomed
10 deal with the unexpected. habit.
uated to take care Of themselves, mas.
tiers Of their own affairs and their own
fortunes. We shall pay the bill,
'houSH We hib hol utllDtihltlS INCUR II,
I'm order to meet every demand upon
the treasury without delay or perad
venture and In order to keep the treas.
ury strong, unquestionably strong. and
strong throughout the present ankle
ties, | respectfully urge that an ad.
ditional revenue OF $l00000,O00 be
raised through internal taxes devised
gency. The only suggestion take the
liberty OF making is that such sources
OF revenue be chosen and win begin
TO yield at once and yield with "A Ger.
tain and constant flow.