New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-27
Ships for Defence Not
Enough, Says North
Carolina Senator.
TAX ON SMALLER
INCOMES FAVORED
Imposts on Auto Cars and Case.
lene and Government Merchant
Marine Seen as Needs.
IRON ne Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, Nov. ga navy big
enough to assert the rights Of this
country on the high seas was urged
! by Senator F..M. Simmons. Of North
Carolina, to-day. Senator Simmons,
who is chairman Of the Senate Finance
Committee. which will shape the reve-
nue. bills in the upper house. declared
himself in favor Of reducing the ex-
emptions for the income tax so a. to
place a tax on smaller incomes than
are included at present, and also for
q tax on gasoline and automobiles.
II feel that we need to strengthen
our naval and military position" the
Senator said. Although ! have not
had an opportunity TO investigate
closely the details of the administra'
tons programme, | approve the gen.
cral idea which | understand underlies
IT
with reference 10 preparedness gen.
orally, / think that the sentiment OF
the people Of my state would oe
against what has been characterized al
frenzied preparedness, but overwhelm-
ingly in favor Of what might be termed
common sense preparedness; that is,
preparedness that would enable Us to
protect ourselves IL attacked and to
defend our rights on the high seas, as
well as on land, il those rights are
invaded. would have a navy adequate
not only for defence, but adequate to
assert our rights.
Vague on Revenue Figures.
81 am not in a position to express
any definite views about revenue needs
because | have not conferred with
President Wilson, the Secretary OF the
Treasury or members Of the Finance
Committee. OF course. If We are gong
to enlarge our army and navy we VIII
need considerably more money:
81 do not know exactly what the
deficit is, and probably will be on the
basis Of legislation for next year
Assuming that the deficit will be no
larger next year than this. 1t Is evil
dent that we will have to provide foI
raising a considerably larger sum OF
money.
al assume that the present tax on
sugar will be continued and that the
present war tax will, in the main, Dc
continued, with some possible changes
| think that there will be some addi-
tional subjects Of taxation.
81 see the suggestion that gasolene
and automobiles should be taxed. SPEAK
ing personally, was in favor OF this
tax when the present bill was under
preparation. and | still think 1t JUS
tax, and believe that these two articles
can well afford TO bear a share OF the
burden that has been imposed by war
conditions.
Exemption Called Too High.
81 incline also to think that the in
come tax exemption is too high. IL
has resulted in less than 100000 peo-
ple out OF a total of 100,000,000 paying
the entire tax derived from incomes
That does not seem to me TO be quite
fair. But, on this | am expressing
only an individual opinion, and l have
not considered the question sufficiently
10 have a definite conception Of pro-
gramme for raising additional revenue.
81 think the reasons why the gov
eminent should provide for merchant
marine are even greater to-day than
they were when the bill which failed
at the last Congress was introduced,
and ! believe that the reasons will be
stronger when the war closes than
they have been during its continuance,
because when the war closes and the
scramble for international trade sets
in, as it inevitably will, our position
will be a pitiably helpless ore il we
have to depend for the transportation
TO accommodate our nearly five bill
ion dollar international trade almost
wholly upon our competitors in that
trade. So that, as | was in favor OF
the ship purchase bill. ! am more ar
IDENTIFY in favor of like proposition
now, hut I like very much the sugges-
ton Of acquiring ships that may be
easily convertible into auxiliaries for
the navy"