Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-18
DEMOS STRENGTH
TAXED TO UTMOST
Floor Leader Kitchin in Tight Box
When Trying to Push War
Tax Through
SLOAN IN SARCASTIC SPEECH

(From a Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-(spe-
cial Telegram - Representative
Claude Kitchin Of North Carolina,
the floor leader Of the majority
party of the house and in charge OF
the bill 70 extend the war tax meas
ure for another year to rehabilitate
a sadly depleted treasury. was given
a real Jolt yesterday by reason Of the
breaking down Of the electric bell
system on the house side Of the cap
ital, that nearly resulted in the de-
feat OF the democratic plans TO cur
tail debate on the war tax bill.
On a division OF the previous question
70 limit debate to two hours and half
the republicans defeated the democrats
by a majority Of nine. forcing Represent
alive Kitchin. the majority leader. to ask
a roll call. Buttons were pressed by the
officers Of the house which rang the bells
all over the house side OF the capitol and
in the office building calling the abb
sentees.
Every Resource Taxed.
They failed 70 work and Unsy by dint
OF hard sprinting by doorkeepers. mes
sengers and pages and the slow calling
Of the roll by the house clerk did the
democrats muster the votes 20 overcome
tho republican strength the joint resolu-
ton carrying. 2o5 20 $50.
Had the war tax bill failed TO pass the
house today Il is doubtful whether II
49, 81 L. fnr
a recess on Saturday.
Having passed the rule and fixed the
time for a vote, the republicans wen,
after Brother" Kitchin hammer and
tongs. and he knows tonight what is In
store for a democratic leader during the
Sixty-fourth congress.
sloan Sarcastic.
Representative Sloan. wohse tongue is
one of sweetness, usually. was touched
with biting sarcasm as he referred to
the holiday gift about TO be presented
to the American people In conjunction
with the special celebration OF an event
important 10 some. and observed with
interest by ALL" which obviously referred
70 the forthcoming marriage Of the presi-
dent and Mrs. Gait. on Saturday.
After entering protest against the
the bill fosters. Congressman Sloan saidi
"A little over a year ago the life OF this
so-caiied war revenue bill was indeter-
inmate.
Il called the attention OF the house to
that fact But tho majority. which by
the way. was much larger than at pres
ent. refused TO limit II. It's limitation
was made in the first instance by the
other legislative body.
Wrong 90 Americans.
This special revenue tax wrongs the
American people because: First. II the
pledge Of economy at Baltimore had been
lived up TO- there would have been money
in our treasury now to proceed with the
nations business.
Second; II the pledge OF the party IN
power had been lived up TO ana the i'm
port duties levied. with the purpose OF
raising revenue. and no discrimination
made between industries OF between sec
lions. there would have been a much
greater sum In tho treasury than there
IL now.
Always waiving the question whether
there Is really any available money in
the treasury at present"
There Is ono great objection the
American people make 20 this resolution
which now proposes to levy grievouB
taxes to raise about ss0.Oo0.OOO.
Advises waving wand.
Now II there Is any virtue remaining
in the wand OF the treasury's magician
such as was exercised on the night be-
tween September and October. why can
not our secretary OF treasury by waving
that wand, by fiat or decree. breathe into
or wish upon the treasury OF the United
States another credit OF Ss0.0000O03
THE taxes OF America should be largely
paid by foreign producers who would
share with us the opportunities and
beneflsts OF the American market, tho
best market heretofore and TO be here
after. in the world"
McAdoo Joshed.
Judge Green OF the Council Bluffs dis
trict also had something TO say about
the bookkeeping In the treasury. and he
convulsed the house IN his analysls OF
the daily bulletins issued by that depart
ment as 10 the condition of the treasury
and the statement OF Secretary McAdoo,
wherein he found nearly twenty millions
more In the treasury than the daily re-
ports show.
Representative Green Iikened the Nc
Adoo statement to wilkins Micawber, one
OF Dickens famous characters.
Mr.. Mieawber." said Judge Green.
was the originator Of the celebrated
maxim. annual income. 20 pounds ster-
ling; annual expense. 10 pounds sterling;
result. happiness: annual income. 81
pounds sterling; annual expenses, u
pounds sterling; result. misery" lie
called this an expression peculiarly
adapted 10 the condition Of the national
treasury under the present democratic
regime.