New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-29

Bitter Defence Fight Expected.
Almost equally bitter. and equally
non-partlsan, Is likely 20 be the fight
over national defence, in which the ad-
ministration will try 70 put through
/ the compromise into which il was
! finally forced by the awakening OF the
! people when American helplessncss in
the face OF Europe's armies and navies
was driven home by the violations Of
American rights. The issue hiss al
ready split the Democratic party,
Bryan, though outside Congress. being
tho recognized leader of some three
score Of Democrats who are still fight
I ing for peace az any cost.
The administration. forced 70 turn %
Republicans for help, has been met by
a demand for much more vigorous
! and real programme than IL has formu-
lated, and thus three factions viii 60
into battle, each opposed TO the othor
! two. The outcome Of the struggle can
not safely be predicted. but Il does
seem certain that nothing less than the
00.000,0 900 programme Of the admin
| istration will be adopted, however tina,
msv he altered.
By far the most important of the
ton Is that of providing sufficient
revenue 70 pay the running expenses
Of the government and carry out the
administrator programme. BY Sec
rotary McAdoo's own figures there Will
be needed, in addition to all present
revenues, including the retention Of
the war tax and sugar duties. more
than S112,0OO,000. Republican experts
declare that as q matter Of fact more
than $500. 100000 must be raised IN adj
dition to all present taxes to carry out
the administrations programme. Mr.
McAdoc admits that his figures include
nothing for the purchase Of ships, al
though the administration bill which
has been virtually completed under his
direction provides for the spending Of
$50000,000.
The administration will favor taxing
incomes down TO $4,000 for single men
and $4,000 for married men, higher
rate of tax than at present on larger
incomes, and special taxes on gasolene
and automobiles. This scheme Of rails
ing the money needed has the approval
of q large number Of members Of Con-
gress, but there is considerable ele-
ment favoring other plans. Some men
wish TO increase the taxes on beer and
whiskey. Others favor heavy inheri-
lance tax, some going so far as TO say
that all requests In excess of S2O,OOO,-
900 should be confscated.
Certain It Is that there will be
long and full discussion of the various
plans before any revenue bill is sent to
the President for his approval. The
fight on revenue will be started the
moment Congress convenes. The adj
ministration will be faced with the i'm
perative necessity Of having the So
called war tax reenacted before the
Christmas recess, as otherwise it Will
expire by limitation on December 81.
Ii is probable that TO meet this sit
uation the administration leaders will
bring In continuing resolution leav-
ing the fight over additional sources
of revenue until such time as long de-
bates or flibustering in the Senate
will not result in having this import
ant source of revenue lapse even for
short time. Advocates Of radical
changes in the present war tax, how
ever, may be relied on 10 fight this
proposal with all their power
Three Long Debates Ahead.
After Christmas a bill continuing
the present duty on sugar must be put
through Congress before May /. or this
large revenue source will lapse tenn
porarily. Thus there will probably be
at least tIree long series of debates on
revenue, one before Christmas on the
continuance of the present war tax,
one right after Christmas on the sugar
duties and the third when the bill
proposing additional means Of raising
revenue comes up.
Republican orators, il may be taken
for granted, will not overlook such OPP
portunities for pointing out 10 the
country that the Democratic tariff re-
vision is the cause Of all the trouble.
They will do their best to make il clear
10 Smith, Jones and Brown that the
Democrats are responsible for their
having to pay the various internal reve-
nue. impcsts which the administration
must have.
Closely connected both with the de-
fence and the fiscal issues will be the
renewed attempt of the administration
to force through q measure for the
government ownership and operation Of
ocean steamers. This Is to carry about
S50,000,000 TO be put at the disposal
Of the Treasury for the purchase or
construction Of ships. The Republi-
cans who, with the aid OF Democratic
deserters, defeated the bill after
spectacular flibuster last year, are not
disposed TO a finish fight again, and
this measure seems likely to pass after
more or less formal debate. 1t may
be connected with plan for some sort
Of commission, 10 have much the same
control over maritime affairs that the
Interstate Commerce Commission has
over railroads.
Protection Against Foreign Competition
Some provision for protection against
the European competition which Is ex.
pected by American manufacturers at
tho close of the war will form the last
of the war measures. The need for
this IL admitted by both sides The
Republicans will demand a tariff re-
vision, probably with a comm ssion Of
experts, to make adjustments as rapid
ly changing conditions shall dictate.
The Democrats dare not accept this
plan, and have been casting about for
another. Secretary Redfeld presented
one that called for making the handling
of dumped" foreign goods unfair
competition" within the meaning Of the
antitrust laws, but this was so prompt
ly laughed down by economists that It
was almost equally promptly disavowed
by the administration. Its substitute
has not yet appeared but is understood
to be on the way.
Several outside ISSUES will be put
before Congress and will have con.