The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-12-29
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE ON DEM
OCRATlC TAX LAW.

Senator fenrOSe, OF pennsylvania:
This deficit is blamed on the war in
Europe. and the necessity for this So
called tax bill is argued on account Of
the war in Europe. ! say without hes
itation and it will be fully shown when
this general subject comes up for dis.
cussion, that the very large amount of
imported goods coming into the cOun.
try now and ever since the war in
Europe, did they carry a proper duty
collected at the cusOm house, would
be largely sufficient to defray the en-
penses of the federal government. But
they are coming in free, the large
part OF them. comparable in amount,
although perhaps differing in detail,
fore the war, but bringing no return
to the treasury of the United States.
These conditions which are blamed on
the war in Europe would, in my opin.
ion, be q thousand times worse were 1t
not for the war in Europe. The war
in Europe has been the only cause
which has saved the fiscal policy of
the party now in power from the most
gigantic collapse ever witnessed in a
civilized country. believe IL we had
not had the war in Europe we would
have had the blacklist times in the
history Of the American republic, COM
pared to which the depression under
Cleveland's second administration and
under the Wilson-G German law would
have been Insignificant. We would
have witnessed poverty and starva:
ton all over the country, bread riots.
the. army of the United States out to
preserve order and universal distress
and misery. Instead OF the war in
Europe being the cause of such a con.
litiOn, It has been the cause of the
alienation of q condition too dreadful
for any lover of his country to desire
to contemplate.
Congressman Fordney, of Michigan:
The gentleman from North Carolina
(Nr.. Kitchin) said that they. the dem
ocrats, were now moved to do the un.
popular but patriotic thing in passing
this law. They are forced/to pass this
law in order to save the treasury of
the United States from bankruptcy. 1t
is not due to the war in Europe that
the condition of the treasury of the
United States today is chaotic. It is
due to your tariff law. II you were to
have extended the republican tariff
laws upon the statute books when you
came into power, you would collect
more money than the treasury of the
United. States under judicious man.
agemeht would have used during this
say, my friends,
that notwithstanding the fact that we
have had war in Europe all these
.since the Sd of August, 1914,
the revenues Of this government, based
upon the nd valorem rates in the Payne
tariff law, would have yielded to this
country sufficient revenue to pay the
expenses of this government.
Congressman Mann, of Illinois: The
are IN majority in the
house and in the senate. and have the
They believe in raising
revenue by applying internal taxes
against the people rather than in i'm
posing additional duties upon imports
from abroad, which additional duties
might in some way give protection tOl
American industries. They have thel
right to their belief. They have the
power to enact it into law. They pass
ed the present law, which expires on
The 3lst of this month, somewhat in
haste, obtaining votes on the demo-
cratic side of the house by the plea
hat it was only for short time, and