Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-13
Monday, December 10, 1915.
Who Pays for It?

at this session. These 81, Joined with
the Republicans, can control the
House But, much as they may see
the need and the sure trend of class
taxation, will they dare?
The administration has demon
strated to it's hearts content that its
tariff policy is a failure and would
have been disastrous to the nation but
for the European war, but 1t has not
the courage to admit its folly and do
its best to remedy the evil. Instead,
il goes deeper and deeper into taxa
ton here and taxation there, causing
those who draw not the slightest
benefits from the war trade and who
also suffer already from the tariff pol
icv. 10 paw for hundreds of millions
in added expenditure. Instead OF ALL
the people sharing the burden OF gov
eminent and preparedness" through
revenue derived from patronage of for
eign labor and trade, the adminstra-
ton jumps in and grasps the pocket
books Of a comparatively few indl-
viduals The scope of the income tax
is broadened, the automobile owner is
assessed more than once. In addition
to state and city tax. drivers license,
etc, the automobile owner is to be
taxed CAS- preparedness war
revenue) 5 cents per horsepower of
his car. He must also pay TO the
support of preparedness one cent Oh
every gallon of gasoline he buys. The
man who threshes grain or saws wood
with a gasoline engine also is throt-
tied for his contribution.
Neither of these American citizens
is enjoying the rich returns of war
orders. An exceedingly small per cent.
of them are Interested in powder and
ammunition making or the making of
shoes for the fighters. But they are
the ones selected TO pay for the in
surance' of the safety OF American
life and treasure.
Tina, is Democratic craftsmanship,
1t mas ever been thus. Piecemeal poll
cies:
To avoid a restoration OF tariff rates
that would support the government
and provide for a reasonable upbuild
ing policy for army and navy the
President proposes continuation u
tast years war tax" (inflicted on the
people to cover the difference betWe, n
Democratic receipts and expenditures,
a new preparedness tax to meet an
expenditure sure to come from this
Congress, restoration of a part Of the
tariff last Congress wiped out (the
sugar tariff)-and a mortified uphold
ing of hands at the suggestion of Il
bond issue.
The people demand of their Demo-
cratic business agents Il guarantee
against foreign invasion such as has
been witnessed in Europe. said
agents are unprepared to respond be-
cause they foolhardily, to prove their
confidence in their own medicine, pre-
pared against it. Now they must
prepare. And, instead of going about
it in manly, business-like way, by
acknowledging their mistakes and set
ting right about correcting them. or of
accepting the hated sound of bond
issue. they turn TO a makeshift that is
as impolitic and impractical as it is
unfair and unjust
Instead of recommending a bond is
sue the burdens of which would be
equally borne by this and other gem
erations who enjoy the benefits, the
administration covers before the
political campaign bugbear bond is
sue" Administration policy makers
seem to think it will be better for the
party to tax, tax, tax, in spots and
places, and so they propose to put
upon the generation that has put 400
millions Of dollars into a canal, q gen.
Grafton that has suffered two years of
Democratic laundering and incompe-
tence, the burden of preparedness"
for defense against possibilities
There's great political haste about
this kind Of preparedness. but suppose
the German common people should
arise today against the war-mad
oligarchy and their blood soaked mill
tarism, and the war should end to-
morrow. are we prepared or can the
Democratic politics players prepare us
for the commercial war that will in
stantly begin?
nr