Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-04-30

The National Republican Congress
ional Committee of Washington D. c.
is responsible for the following ar
ticle, which gives a point Of view of
the National Democratic administra-
ton that to say the, least is worthy of
the thoughtful attention of citizens
who have the bills to pay:
A blunder signalized the legislative
career of the present administration.
The Democratic tariff bill. first in
the articles of Democratic faith, and
the one achievement on which natural
ly they would be expected to expend
their most exhaustive study and care,
was so clumsily executed that it fail
ed to accomplish the results intended.
The failure was due to crude, hasty
unscientific, secret legislative methods.
Designed to furnish sufficient reve-
nue. to finance the United States trea-
sury, it has proven absolutely made
quate for that purpose.
In writing the tariff bill the Demo-
Gratis dimly foresaw a possible reduc-
ton in customs receipts, although
they did not know how much and did
not ascertain the facts. So the income
tax provision was Incorporated, in the
| AOpC CldC IL WOulu HIdhO up 1OF any
INSTALLATIONS in the tariff bill, al
though the Democrats did not know
and did not ascertain the facts.
But what happened when these pro-
visions went into effect?
Customs receipts were millions of
dollars below the amount needed from
that source. and at the same time col
lections from the income tax fell
many millions below the amount need
ed from that source. The inevitable
result was to leave the treasury with
out sufficient money for it's needs.
The failure was caused by careless
ness. Had there been conscientious,
open consideration Of the revenue bill,
sufficient to enable members of Con-
gress to study and understand it, the
reduction in revenue could have been
properly safeguarded. But instead
of getting accurate information and
adequate estimates, the Democrats
guessed at it. And they guessed
wrong.
The results of this first mistake
should have been a warning. But the
startling fact remains that the Demo-
Gratis committed the same kind of an
error again. Forced by their heed
lessness to provide for revenue, they
passed a "war tax in time of peace.
Based on a guess instead of an esti-
mate, the war tax did not produce
money enough. For months the re-
ceipts of the treasury have been daily
falling short of expenditures the rate
reaching at times more than a million
dollars a day. According to official
estimates the deficit will probably
amount to one hundred million dollars
by July l, the end of the fiscal year.
No chain is stronger than its weak.
est link. The fatal weakness that
has characterized the work of this ad.
ministration from it's inception two
years ago has been it's eagerness tt
propose laws, carelessness in drafting
them, haste in committee action. anc
stubborn refusal to permit intelligent
amendment in either House or Senate
after the party brand had been affix.
ed by the all powerful caucus.
Every American citizen has had tc
help pay for these costly experiments
There will be still more to pay unit
the errors have been corrected by
thoughtful, intelligent legislation.
Later articles will follow, illustrat
ing still further the slovenly habits Of
the Democratic administration.