Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-09-08
WILSON URGES EXTRA TAXES
Government Requires $1oo,ooo,ooo te
Meet Deficit.

did not deliberately incur it," said
President Wilson, last Friday, present.
ing before a joint session Of congress
his appeal for an emergency Internal
revenue measure to raise $1O0,0OO,OOO
the governments probable loss in GUS
toms receipts because of the European
war. Prompt action was necessary
the president said, Ito keep the treas
ury strong" His only argument as TO
the method for levying the tax was
that sources be chosen that would be
gin to yield at once and yield with a
certain and constant fiow."
The appeal met with quick action.
AS soon as the president had left the
house chamber amidst an outburst Of
applause, Speaker Clark referred the
message to the Ways and Means COM
mittee. Democratic members OF the
committee met tonight at the call OF
the chairman, Representative Under
wood and began consideration of plans
to raise the additional revenue.
Various members suggested sources
which they believed would be properly
subjected to additional taxation. On
the list suggested were:
Tax Gasoline.
Gasoline, a tax Of one or two cents
a gallon; railroad and amusement
tickets, a tax Of five to ten per cent;
beer. an increase of so cents a barrel;
domestic wines, whisky, an increase
of Is cents gallon; proprietary az
ticles; tobacco and tobacco prodr '+s;
chewing gum; soft drinks; playing
cards.
The proposal to tax railroad tickets
was not received with enthusiasm by
members Of the committee, although 1t
was estimated that a five per cent tax
would raise s40,000.000. Chairman Un-
derwood said the articles suggested
would be gone over and list of taxa
| BILE articles agreed on by elimination.
This list would be submitted 10 the
treasury department probably early
this week. When the bill is completed
in committee, it probably will be
brought into the house under special
rule and hurried through.
President Wilson was given an en-
| thusiastic greeting when he entered
the house chamber escorted by Sena-
tors Kern, Clarke and Gallinger, and
Representatives Underwood, Fitzger-
aid and Mann. The president said he
H. q I,,tu he yUiSh-
ed he could avoid, but made it plain
that additional revenue was necessary
and that he performed his duty with
out hesitation or apology.
Might Grow Serious.
Unforeseen conditions occasioned by
the conflict in Europe, he said, had
created conditions which unless dealt
with promptly might involve conse-
quences Of the most embarrassing
and deplorable sort"
To borrow money the president
urged, was unwise, bond issue would
make an "untimely and unjustifiable"
demand upon money markets, leaving
taxation as the only method left to
raise revenue In this situation he ap
pealed ito the profoundly patriotic
people of the country" to take up the
burden.
The president said:
Il come to you today to discharge a
duty which l wish with all my heart l
might have been spared, but it is a
duty which is very clear, and there
fore | perform it without hesitation or
apology. l come to ask very earnestly
that additional revenue be provided for
the government
Huge Falling OFF.
During the month Of August there
was, as compared with the correspond
ing month of last year. a falling off of
$10.629,53S 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 60 to 100 millions. l
need not tell you to what the falling off
is due. Conditions have arisen which
no man foresaw; they affect the whole
world Of commerce and economic pro-
duction and they must be faced and
dealt with.
1T would be very unwise to post
pone dealing with them.
1T would be very dangerous in the
present circumstance to create a mo-
ment's doubt as to the strength and
Sufficiency of the treasury Of the Unit
ed States, its ability to assist to
steady and sustain the financial op-
erations of the country's business II
the treasury is known or even thought
to be weak where will be our peace of
mind? The whole industrial activity
of the country would be chilled ana
difficult financial problems of the mo-
ment are being successfully dealt with, |
with great self-posseSsion and good
sense and very sound judgment; but
they are only in process of being |
worked out. If the process of solution
is to be completed. no one must be Civ
en- reason to doubt the Solidity and
adequacy of the treasury of the gov
ernmcnt, which stands behind the
whole method 10y which our diIiicul
ties are being met and handled.
Hurt Business.
THE treasury itself could get along
for considerable period no doubt,
without immediate resort to new
sources of taxation. But at what cost
To the business industry. Approx
mately $4,000, 900. Il large part of the
present treasury balance, is now on
deposit with national banks distribut
ed throughout the country. | need not