The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-03-04
WOULD REMOVE TREASURY
DEFICIT.

United States Senator Elect Brous
sard has introduced resolution in
Congress which contemplates the sus-
pension of the free-sugar clause of
the Underwood bill. which provides
for free sugar after May /, 1915.
Mr.. Broussard says, Eve are inform
ed that there is practically an $780,
100000 deficit. despite the enact
ment of war tax in times of pro-
found peace This deficit" says the
senator elect, sis ascribed by the de-:
lenders CT he present financial policy,
20 what they term pork barrel ap-
rropriations by congress" Mr..
Broussard claims that such is not
the case. The twenty million dollars
which were appropriated for the i'm
of rivers and harbors, and
the construction of new public build
ings according to him. is a small
lump in comparison with the $780,
10000 deficit. The senator-elect
out of an entirely different situation.
The revenue from the income-taX
has fallen short by nearly $4,000
900 Of the original estimate. Like
wise the war tax has fallen short for
he fiscal year of 1J15. by half the
estimated income. According to Mr..
Broussard, by adding the deficien-
eies of the war tax and the income
az, we have the amount Of the pres
mt shortage in the United States
Treasury. He maintains that if the
,riginal estimates had been correct,
here would have been no shortage.
1.-The situation is appalling" con-
inues the senator. 1T cannot be
ihirked; it must be met. And the
'uestion is how are we to meet 1t?
There are several ways in which it
an be done. The simplest but the
most obnoxious, would be to issue
ronds; another would be to re-enact
he war tax in times Of profound
eace, and increase that tax; anoth-
3r still would be to readjust the in
,ome tax by decreasing the exemp-
ion and icreasing the rate; or, again
o revert back to the old practice OF
Collecting money from the duty on
sugar"
The last named course is suggest
| ed by the senator. AS he says, the
sugar refners once told congress that
| il the duty on sugar was reduced. the
| consumer would receive benefits from
he reduction. The duty on sugar
gas reduced 25 per cent and today
he American people are paying near
twice as much as they did before
he reduction. At the same time su
ar in this country is higher thar
merican sugar in war-stricken Eu
ope According to Mr. Broussard
he sugart rust is trying to deceive
nc public again, and we believe tina
hey have pretty well succeeded il
ne attempt. Had the duty on suga
OF been reduced, the income to thi
'overnment would have been S5S,
100000 instead Of SAB, 100000.
In concluding, Mr.. Brougsard said
To put the question squarely to Con
ress and the American people: ask
han we indefinitely suspend all ex
enditures for the improvements o
ur rivers and harbors and the con
J .ruction of necessary public build
ngs? And shall we reenact the wa
ak and increase its burdens? An
hall we reduce the exemption claus
{ the income tax and increase tn
ak itself to meet this deficiency? 0
hall we, as | suggest, return to tn
ime-honored system of collectin
axes on articles that can bear tn
.uty, particularly when the remissio
the duty does not cheaper thei
rice to the consumer, as is the cas-
18th sugar? Congress must soon ar
Wer these questions"