The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-02-03
CONGRESS PREPARED 10 I|0I[ upon
MANY IMPORTANT MEASURES PENDING
Leaders Think That Other
Bills Will Be Made Law
Ahead of Prepared
ness Program.
IN RESIDENT WILSON, having
requested some of the leaders
in congress to speed up and
'.... nosS sOmo of tln imnO,.ta :, r

~ requested some of the leaders
in congress to speed up and
pass some of the important
measures now pending, left the capital
on his speaking tour confident that
some of the measures will be quickly
disposed Of Aside from the prepared
ness program, there is much important
legislation awaiting consideration by
the house and senate. Among these
measures are the tariff, the revenue
bills. a merchant marine, the question
Of granting independence to the Philip
pine Islands, prohibition and others.
Perhaps the most important of these
is the tax problem. The supreme
court, having upheld the validity Of
the income tax law, opened the way
for other legislation Of similar ma
ture. and 1t is most probable that this
method of raising revenue will be more
+, extensively used in the future. In
discussing with Mr. Kitchin and Mr..
Fitzgerald. the house leaders. the mat
ter of government revenues, the presi-
dent indicated his willingness to ac-
cept any measure provided the reve-
nue. will be sufficient to meet the in
creased expenses Of the government,
including the preparedness program.
He told the two leaders that he
would leave the details to them and
permitted the inference that his rec
concentrations for tax on bank
checks. gasoline and other articles at
the beginning of the session were
made more with view Of forming the
basis for a suitable revenue measure
than for literal adoption.
Commenting upon the proposal to ex-
pand the income tax to it's fullest de-
velopment, the taxing Of inheritances
and levy on munitions of war ship
ped abroad, the president gave the
leaders the impression that he would
not oppose them If they could be fran
ed without unjust consequences to the
people.
Will Stand For No "Pork."
A declaration made by the president
to the leaders of congress that had
pretty much the same effect as the ex-
plosion of a bomb was that he would
not stand for the pork barrer' this
session. He >bluntly told Mr. Fitz
gerald that he would not sign any ap.
preparation bill carrying items for un-
necessary improvements.
He therefore urged the chairman of
the appropriations committee to elimi-
nate from the annual river and harbor
and public buildings bill items for new
improvements, but to confine it to the
continuation Of those already under
taken.
An immediate effect Of the presi
dents stand was the action of the riv-
ers and harbors committee in voting
to confine appropriations to projects
already authorized. thus limiting the
total to approximately $44.O00.o00. Els
Inmates for new projects aggregate
nearly $125.00O.OO0. Chairman Spark
man announced the committee would
begin hearings soon on new projects
for inclusion in the rivers and ,harbors
for the December session of congress-
This action is regarded as formal no.
tice that there will be no general river
and harbor bill this year.
The improvement projects eliminat-
ed totaled $122,935.G97. for which an
initial appropriation Of $21622399 had
been asked Among the proposals cut
out were: New York Delaware bay ca
nal, $2O.OOO,OOO: New York harbor, up
per bay and East river and He'll Gate
$14,23O,000; Jamaica bay, $1,273.00O:
dam at the foot of Lake Erie. New
York. $3,50OOOO; Connecticut river,
Connecticut and Massachusetts. ST..
$4,000 ..
Favors Tariff Board.
Decision of the president and Demo.
cratic leaders in the house and senate
to press for legislation for tariff com
mission has excited no end of talk
about the capitol.
The expectation is that tariff com
mission bill will be passed. and the
present Outlo0k, is that the president
will have named such a commission,
and it will have been organized by the
time the prediction campaign is un-
der way.
He sent to Mr.. Kitchin letter ex-
planning his reasons for having chang
ed his mind regarding the question of
xaraofiner tariff RI sold IN,