Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-28
A Study in Taxes.

Wnen the Rouse ndQ unQef COnSlQ-
Grafton the ship purchase bill, Hon. J.
Hampton Moore Of Pennsylvania, re-
Congress that the breaking of their
platform pledges had now become a
habit. In spite of the convictions and
former professions Of many Of its
members against extravaganza, they
have, with lamb-lik obedience, he
said, followed the deadly drive toward
government ownership, for which this
administration. more than any other,
has been responsible. Mr.. Moore then
presented an interesting study In
taxes-enumerating a number Of ex-
travagant measures some Of which are
as follows:
A war tax (when there was no war;
Of s1oO.Ooo.oO0 imposed for one year
and renewed for another, making a di-
rect tax Of 50 against every man, wo-
man and child.
A bill appropriating 100000 for
railroads in Alaska, an expenditure Of
80 cents per capita.
A flood-control bill granting up.
wards Of s5O,o00,Oo0 for reclamation Of
private lands, mostly along the lower
Mississippi. benefitting a few states,
but imposing an additional tax Of SO
cents per capita.
The army bill. which Chairman Hay
Of the committee on military affairs
says lis not an emergency bill"; car
rying an appropriation Of $20,000,oo0
for an unnecessary nitrate plant and
s11, 100000 for a government owned
armor- plate plant, making total tax
of 81 cents upon every man, woman
and child in this country for the in.
stallation of these two plants.
The rural credits bill which many
thoughtful men believe will require
from the farmer a larger expenditure
rant, providing for banks which must
needs employ lage number Of Of
ficers, agents, investigators. ETC., with
salaries ranging up to $4,000 per an
rum, and for deposit therein Of $15.-
100000 of public money, making an ad.
ditional tax of Is cents per capita.
The good roads bill carrying mod
est appropriation of s25,0oo,00o, which
the Senate raised to s75.ooo.OOo to be
spent on country roads only, putting
on every man, woman and child a tax
OF IS cents head.
Under this administration the postal
deficit is reported to be about $10,-
000,000-a burden Of 10 cents each OH
our population.
After a consultation at the White
House, declared Mr.. Moore, it has
been decided to impose new forms of
taxation to the amount Of $150.o00,00O
to make up their admitted descrep-
anoy in the treasury.
This is only partial list. Every
appropriation bill carries riders" for
pet appropriations. or creating some
new commission, board, or bureau, plac.
ing more power in the hands Of a few
at an expense estimated at $4,000, 600
next year. During the last three years
10000 new positions have been Great
ed, carrying salaries upward Of $685.
100000 every year, more than ever ap-
propriated under Republican ad-
ministration.
Mr.. Moore summarized as follows:
IF you want to pass this ship
purchase bill on the record you
have made, go ahead and do 1t.
Some day, perhaps, the people
pack home will be wise to what
1t all means. Your platform
promised to relieve the people of
their alleged but imperceptible
tariff burdens, has resulted in
levying upon them direct taxation
exceeding s75O,O0o,00O, which il
more than $3.50 for every man.
woman and child. If that $780,
100000 were put over on the vot-
ers exclusively, it would amount to
approximately $50 apiece"