River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-12-24
THE PATRIOTIC
DOLLAR
CONGRESS DEGREES DOLLARS IN
DULGING IN LUXURIES MUST
FIRST SALUTE THE FLAG.
Levied-Beer Bears Brunt of
Burden.

Congress has levied a war tax of
$1O5 100000 to Offset similar amount
of loss on import revenue due to the
European disturbances and of this
amount beer is the heaviest
contributor, having been assessed ap-
proximately $50,000,000; stamp tax on
negotiable instruments, it is estimated,
will yield $31,000,000; a tax on the
capital stock of banks of $4,300,000
and tax on tobacco, perfumes, thea
ter tickets, etc., makes the remainder.
Congress has decreed that the
brewer, the banker and the investor
must shoulder the musket and march
to the front; that milady who would
add to her beauty must first tip Uncle
Sam, and dollar that seeks pleasure
must first salute the flag; that Pleas
ure and Proft-the twin heroes of
many wars-shall fight the nations
battles and by an ingeniously ar
ranged schedule of taxation congress
has shifted the war budget from the
shoulders of Necessity to those of
Choice and Gain, touching in it's
various ramifications almost every line
of business.
All hail the dollar that bleeds for
its country; that bares it's breast to
the fortunes of war and risks it's life
to preserve the stability and integrity
of the nations credit.
The market place has always been
a favorite stand for war revenue col
lectors. The trader is a great finan-
cial patriot. His dollar is the first to
rally around the star-spangled bannec
and the last to hear the COO of the
dove of peace. He is called upon to
buy cannon; to feed and clothe the
boys in blue and each month cheer
their hearts with the coin of the
realm. Men can neither be free nor
brave without food and ammunition,
and money is as important factor
in war as blood. Many monuments
have been erected in honor of heroes
slain in battles, poems have been writ
ten eulogizing their noble deeds and
the nation honors it's soldiers while
they live and places a monument upon
their graves when they die, but very
little has been said OF the dollar that
bears the burdens Of war.
Honor to the Dollar that Bears the
Burdens OF War.
All honor to the dollar that an
swers the call to arms and, when
the battle is over, bandages the
wounds of stricken soldiers, lays a
wreath upon the graves of fallen
heroes and cares for the widows and
orphans.
bend their backs under the burdens
of war; lift the weight from the Shout
ders of the poor and build bulwark
around the nations credit.
All honor to those who contribute
to the necessities and administer to
the comforts of the boys who are
marching; cool the fever of afflicted
soldiers and kneel with the cross be-
side dying heroes.
A dollar may fight it's competitor in
business, industries may struggle for
supremacy in trade and occupations
may view each other with envy or
suspicion, but when the bugle calls
they bury strife and rally around the
flag, companions and friends, mess
mates and chums, all fighting for one
flag, one cause and one country.
The Injuries in life have always
been the great burden-bearers in gov
eminent. We will mention a few of
them giving the annual contributions
to the nations treasury: Liquor, $780,
100000; tobacco, $1O3,OOO,OO0; sugar,
$54 100000; silks, $15,50O,0OO; dia-
monds, $3,837 900; millinery, $2,479,-
900; furs, $2,O24,OOO and automobiles,
$4,000. We collect $685., 100000 of
internal and custom revenue annually
and $3.50, 100000 of this amount classi-
fies as 1uxuries, and to this amount
we should add the $100,00O,000 war tax
now levied.
The war tax is Immediately effec
tive. Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! the
industries are marching $100,000,000
strong and beneath the starry flag
they will fill the treasury again while
they shout, "Hurrah for Uncle Sam!"
In every field of human activity the
demand for more competent men and