Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-09-14

Washington, Sept. IA. - Senator
Penrose, Of Pennsylvania, ranking Re-
publican member Of the Finance Com
mittee and leader of the Republicans
in the Senate, in a statement analyZ-
ing the performance of the Demo-
cratic Congress shows that while the
actual appropriations amount to about
100000, the authorization of
future expenditures, If included,
500. He said that with the closing
of the session the political record was
complete and that the issue would now
be fought out at the polls His auth
orized statement is as follows:
with the adjournment of the re-
cent session Of the sixty-fourth Con-
gress, the record may be said to have
been completed and the campaign will
now be fought out to a conclusion.
The most important measure passed
is the revenue law. AS with most of
the important legislation in the pres
ent Congress, the bilIs were perfected
in a Democratic caucus, and the Re-
publicans were given little opportunity
to participate in the discussion of
these measures.
Probably never IN the history of
the country has caucus control been
carried to a greater or more intoler-
able extent than has been exhibited in
the recent session. Thus, in the case of
the revenue bill, 1t was held for
several weeks under consideration in
a Democratic caucus and was then
reported to the full Committee on
Finance of the Senate, reported out
on the same day, and a few days af-
terward the Senate proceeded to the
consideration of the measure. The
Republican minority had no oppor-
tunity to participate in any of the
preliminary discussions.
Interference From White House
In most of the important measures
passed, not only was the severe eau
Gus control noticeable, but added to
it was a direct and effective inter-
ference from the White House, direct
ing and controlling the details of leg
islation. For the revenue legislation,
and for nearly all other legislation,
with the exception of the provisions
for preparedness, the Democratic
Party was strictly responsible and the
majority of the Republicans were
found recorded against the several
measures.
1.-THE revenue law carries the policy
of direct taxation further than was
ever attempted before. In fact the
majority admittedly emulated the ex-
ample of the British and other foreign
governments. endeavoring to raise the
requisite revenues by direct taxes. In
doing this they have imposed burdens
upon the individual and upon busi-
ness, which are going to be a great
hardship. And, moreover, these di-
rect taxes will in a very serious way
interfere with the revenue of cities
and municipalities the growing needs
of which are constantly increasing,
which can be met only by direct taxes
levied by the States or cities.
The Republicans contended we
should first endeavor to raise suffici-
ent revenue by duties upon imports
of a character to protect adequately
American industry and American
labor and to be so adjusted as to pre-
vent undue exactions by monopolies
or trusts, and, above all, particularly
in view of the crisis confronting us
with the close of the war in Europe
with the object of securing the in
dustrial independence of the United
States to the end that our industries
can be so organized that they will
become not only a commercial bull.
wark. but powerful aid to nationa