New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-13
Warns Fellow Democrats
People Are Revolving
Against Taxes.
ADVOCATES ISSUING
OF PANAMA BONDS
Senator Exposes $4,000 Appro-
priation for Building in
Village of S03.

From The Tribune BurcSul
Washington, Aug. 12.-lssuance OF
the Sl9l, 100000 remaining of the
Panama Canal bonds to soothe the
present nationwide complaint of the
people against the burden of taxation
was demanded by Senator Thomas Tag
CART, of Indiana, in the Senate to-day
Senator Taggart. although Democrat,
and running this fall on the ticket with
President Wilson in Indiana, joined
forces with Governor Hughes on the
extravaganza issue.
He read a list of public buildings
proposed for small towns in the omni-
bus public buildings bill now on the
House calendar but being reserved Tor
passage until the election is over, as
Mr.. Taggart frankly declared.
A sample Of these is the case OF
Lewisburg, W. Va, with population
Of sO3.- The appropriation for the
public building in the pending bill is
$4,000. Mr.. Taggart pointed out that
the interest on the Investment would
amount TO $3.50: the yearly deprecia-
ton would be S755; the janitor service
would cost 81 200. and the supplies
would run to 5000, making total
annual charge of S5,465 for a town OF
sos persons.
TaCgart Pleads for Economy.
81 have not been member of this
body very long" said Mr.. Taggart,
"but il looks to ME that sometimes
more attention is paid TO spehoihg
money than TO economy. l wonder
what would happen to each Senator
and TO each member of the House II ne
soent or appropriated money IN ms
private affairs as he spends 1t IN puohc
affairs.
81 wonder how long it would be until
We would sll find ourselves IN court
of bankruptcy. On the other hand,
wonder what would happen TO the coun;
try if every member of the Senate ana
House would make up his mind IN the
direction of rigid economy and rear.
lessly cut off every useless dollar OF
authorizations. / wonder II the tax
payers Of the nation would rise up ana
revolt AGAINST Congress if such thing
should happen! l favor lIOeI@l Du'
businesslike economy.
II believe the taxpayers OF the ma
ton would like to be given rest from
having their taxes increased every
year. ....
inst TO see what would happen. l do
not believe the people can be made
prosperous by taxation, be 1t direct or
indirect.
Warns of Reckoning Day.
"These enormous increases in appro-
priations cannot go on forever. mere
must and will be day of reckoning.
Tho mower TO tax means the power to
DESTROY. and we do not want to destroy
the earning power Of the people by
overtaxation. Congress is getting IN
the habit of casting about TO hnd
things on which to place tax, instead
OF vigilantly seeking where II can econ
omize without injury to the pubic ser
vice
The party in control holds the
purse strings of the Treasury, and it
should assume responsibility for dis
Iurscmcnts. If il fails to assume this
4csvons bility, it fails to DO its duty.
NO. a dollar can be taken out unless
Ccnrrc-s appropriates it. Unless more
economy IS practised. Congress Will
soon fad itself driven to the necessity
OF LAYING and collecting taxes on many
otncr things II may be stamp tax,
direct tax. but it must and VIII
eventually come unless economy is
rractisei in the future
Complaints Are Nationwide.
THE complaint Of the people to-day
against the burden of taxation Is ma
tion-wide. | do not mean in partisan
sense Its voice is heard in every
township. county. municipality and
state in the Union in regard to local
taxation, and feel sure If this revenue
bill is adopted without some amend
ment the protest viii soon reach
Congress. ....
eve should have saved S2O000'0O in
the rivers and harbors bill. There
should have been several millions
saved in the agricultural bill, and !
have no doubt that on all the other APP
rropriations, outside of the army and
navy. other millions could have been
saved"