Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-02-23

4
In the senate there are more Demo
Gratis this year than there were last.
the margin being big encGgh perhaps
to insure success of the shipping
measure as an administration propos-
al. Last year, taking advantage OF
the fact that congress must quit on
March 4, opponents of the shipping
legislation talked the bill to death. 1t
is doubtful IL any such tactics viii be
attempted this year, although there
is strong Republican and some Demo
cratic antagonism to the measure as
1t stands. The bill. generally speak
| ing, however, seemingly is more at
traetive to senators who last year
stood in opposition.
The proposed legislation commits
the government to the expenditure of
some fifty million dollars for the pur-
chase or the construction of ships
which are to be leased to companies.
The understanding is, and 1t is on this
understanding that some men may be
induced to vote for the measure, that
the government will not buy many
ships. but will exercise its energies in
construction. One thing which stood
in the way of the passage of the ship
ping bill as 1t was last presented was
the belief Of a good many senators
that the government intended to pur-
chase interned ships belonging to
beiligerent country. TO use them and
thereby possibly to embroil the United
States in foreign troubles.
Seaman's Law Amendments.
There is still deep interest in Wash
ington in the efforts which are being
made to secure amendments to the
seamans law. The Great Lakes ship
ping interests are deeply concerned in
this matter and their views have been
set forth by their representatives with
all the force possible. The opposition
to an amendment which will exempt
the Great Lakes shipping interests
from the laws governing ocean travel
is alert and obstinate. II is said that
there is a growing feeling in congress
that the fresh water seas should have
been given the exemption that was
given certain narrow bays and sounds
OF the salt water seas, but it is q
| question whether or not this feeling
will induce congress to take up the
/ matter Of amendments at this session.
| The matter will be pushed. however.
! by the interests involved and the feel
ing will be kept alive for another
! session If it cannot make Roadway at
this one.
The outcry against pork" has been
! loud enough and forceful enough to fix
! the attention of the administration
and to move it to tell congressman
privately thai their constituents must
not expect anything in fat humps this
y,ar. Congress, however. because Of
/ tie individual lCugings OF the mem
! 9ers and the indiV 'dnal proddings OF
! their constituents, Is not always will
/ ing to obey the administration man
\ date In pork barrel matters. Some
: persons say that the good roads bill
; cannot be put into the pork class. but
! there are others who say that it is
pure pork. The good roads bin has
passed the house carrying with II az
appropriation of s25.O00,000 but me
! senate probably will throw rocks into
; she highway.
Discussing Taxation Plans.
Every day now the members Of the
ways and means committee of the
house are discussing the question Of
how TO raise additional revenue to
meet the requirements Of expenditures
which will be made necessary by new
I legislation. especially that of prepared
ness. which. of course. will cost money.
although the argument is that the
money spent for preparedness is sim
ply a premium paid on policy to in
sure safety.
/ OF course the Republicans urge a
| high tariff as a means of raising reve-
nue., thus doing away to great degree
with more direct systems OF taxation
Just at present, however. there seems
TO be no strong ground for belief that
a tariff, high or low, will accomplish
much when there are comparatively
few goods coming in upon which to
levy IT.
II seems to be assured that the dom.
inant party will do all that it can to
| spread the tax so that the ordinary.
plain. everyday small business man
and wage and salary Garner shall not
! feel It. It seems to be assured that
such things as taxing bank checks.
which small business men and even
wage earners and salaried men occa.
sionally must use. viii be foregone.
The gasoline tax proposition also
seems TO have blown itself up with
these into the discard have gone some
other taxing schemes which were di.
| rect in their application to the men
! who In the main do not pay income
taxes
It seems likely, also, that the house
will not allow the taxable income limit
l to be lowered. The dominant party
fears the result of levying on the 81 600
income Of the benedict. So the prob
able solution of the income tax mat
ter will be the raising of the tax on big
incomes. 1t seems to be a pretty good
scheme from the point OF view of the
moderateincomed one-and here one
can write with a fun heart-to tax the
fellow who gets lot OF money yearly
no matter whether he earned 1t or hat
others earning it for him.