Evening journal., 1916-07-25

dlOr naulSDuFy ONCE WheIt Aho
Senator greeted all the callers and
told them to make themselves at
home. Senator Stone was late in
arriving. Senator DUPONT arrived at
Senator Stones Office at o'clock,
and chatted with Senator John Walter
Smith of Maryland. and with Senator
Thomas until Senator Stone arrived,
and also with many members OF the
Delaware delegation who greeted
him. Senator DUPONT and Mr. Scott
remained with Senators Stone and
Thomas of the subcommittee while
they gave a hearing TO the Bartlett,
Hayward Company. Of Baltimore,
munitions manufacturers. who pro-
tested against the revenue Dill as
framed.
Senator dupont then was given a
hearing. and in his speech said
Senator dupont Speech.
"lIr. Chairman; appear before
your subcommittee this evening In
regard to a matter which is of vital Inn
pOrtance 10 a very large number of
my constituents. and In which the
Chamber of Commerce of the City OF
Wilmington is taking a most earnest
and serious interest l refer to the
tax on munitions In the proposed
revenue bill.
"The patriotic and law-abiding
people Of Delaware are perfectly Will
ing 10 contribute their full share to
the expenses of the government. and
while there are differences Of opinion
] 4. - al
raising the necessary revenue, so long
as the Democratic party Is In control
Of the government they recognize the
fact that Il has the right, acting
through its representatives In Con-
gress, 10 decide as to the manner In
which the revenue shall he raised.
"While. as inst stated, the people
of Delaware, regardless Of party, are
entirely willing 10 pay their full pro.
portion Of any tax that may be levied,
they most emphatically protest against
It's being levied in such a manner as to
unfairly discriminate against the in-
dustries Of their state as wei as
against their individual interests.
"rhe doctrine Of Equal 0ppOrtuni-
ties for All and Special Privileges to
NOne' is accepted by everybody, and
has been many times reiterated by
Democratic statesmen during my SER
vice In Congress. / am here today not
10 critCise this doctrine but to earn
estly request you 10 live mp 10 II. |
ask you 10 give the manufacturers Of
munitions OF Delaware an opportunity
TO pay the same tax as is paid by the
other munitiOn makers who are taxed
under the provisions of this hill. and
! further ask you not to give them the
special privilege Of paying two per
cent. on their net receipts and eight
| per cent. on their gross receipts while
other makers of Warlike munitions
are taxed two per cent. on their net
receipts and only from three to five
/ per cent. on their gross receipts nc.
] cOrding 10 the character of their
I product.
snow. Mr.. Chairman, In speaking Of
D other makers of munitions OF war,
J only refer 10 those who are taxed
] under the provisions Of this bill, bu
there are a great many of such manu-
facturers who escape taxation entire
V ly under its terms, and these probably
\ constitute a majority of all so en-
gagged. Take for example the maker
OF swords, artillery harness, eavalr,
! saddles, barbed wire for entangle
( ments and other products OF iron
and steel. parts Of submarines. rang,
/ finders, stamped metal military equip
ment, brOmine and other miitar,
gases, aerOplanes, motorcycles. autI
trucks and passenger automobiles
\ and automobile tires. all of which ar
| enormously used in the great cOnillc
now going on In Europe. To this lis
7 could be added many articles Whicl
are Indispensable for military opera
tiOns although they do not come s,
directly under the head Of warlik,
equipments as horses. mules
I shoes. blankets. canned meats ant
army ratiOns Of various descriptions
II trust that the Subcommittee ma,
see rs way clear 10 substantial,
amend the bill 50 far as II relates I,
the tax on the manufacturers of higi
explosives. which l. greater than thai
levied upon any other manufacturers
IN this connection II is 10 De observed
that the makers Of high explosive.
are az a disadvantage compared Will
nearly all other manufacturers. fOl
me reason that they cannot insur,
ulef plants as the experience Of
= centuries has demonstrated that n /,
I impossible 70 avoid the occurrence n
accidents, which are too often az
j. oyilpanled by loss Of human Iife an,
n enien almost always involve great do
u s.Iueuon OF property. The fav nro
g posed almost amounts 10 confiscatio,
d ana VIII have the eflect Of enorn, ars1,
u euitail".g the making Of ammunitio;
= or possibly lead 10 its ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NJ
tt which contingency wouId serionsi,
% anect the prosperity Of the Citr =
n wilmington and Of the state at lsr.'
e. Il desire 70 point ont tbat tb S n ,are,
+ ton manufacturers tax as formnia at
Y In the bin is indefensible srona
d revenue standpoint, for the reason IN,
n uniform and reasonable tax Ievie
r on all the makers OF Warlike mun
s tons. and not upon a selected 70,
? would produce greater returns; and
5 assert that the proposed tax Is equal
. indefensible In morals because II is
Z conflict with Justice and equity.
being evident that any American eli
zen who manufacturers ammunitio
should not be taxed a greater amour