Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1916-05-18
At
WASHINGTON
Rep. Bailey Of Pennsylvania
Dep|ores Conditions

resentative Warren Worth Bailey, of
Pennsylvania, lifelong Democrat,
said recently in debate:
1t is true that the treasury is in a
depleted condition. We have gone
on spending money with a lavish
hand, which we should not have
done. The Baltimore platform
pledged the Democratic party to
rigid economy in expenditures. On
the contrary, expenditures have been
more lavish than ever before. In
many directions they have exceeded
all previous records. Economy has
been a watchword of Democracy.
That this watchword should have lost
it's meaning in these later days is
not reassuring. There would be no
occasion for the retention of the tax
on sugar if decent economy were
practiced in carrying on the affairs of
the government. To my mind, even
the OdiOus stamp tax is less OdiOus
than the tax on sugar. l want to
protest with all my might against
this betrayal of Democratic pledges.
Extravaganza is flourishing uncheck-
ed. With even ordinary prudence We
might bring expenditures within the
limits of income. 1t grieves me to
stand in opposition to my party in
this matter. But cannot make light
of my given word. shall remain
loyal to the pledge given and stand
true to the people,"
Then Mr.. Bailey voted against the
retention of the duty on sugar.
Special Taxes Needed.
The ways and means committee
are soon to report substitutes for
certain parts of the war tax within
a week or so. They find that the
stamp tax has become a political ir-
ritant. so they are going to get rid
of it. But they are going to subst-
tute other taxes, such as an increased
income tax and tax on munitions
They find it necessary to make up
deficits by the continuance Of special
taxes and the change in the form is
only due to the necessities of politics.
The people are asking too many ques-
tions. The first explanation offered
for continuance of war tax is the
decreased imports due to the war.
This faction has been kept up now
for two years, and the country is still
being gravely assured that the gov
ernment would not impose war taxes
if imports were normal. This is
deliberate perversion OF the truth,
and only asserted in the hope that
the ordinary citizen will not investi-
gate. Let us look at some Of the
figures. In March Of this year we
had imports of 100000, which
is $31,5O0,OOO more than the i'm
ports of March, 1914, before the war,
and three or four months after the
Underwood Tariff Act had gone into
effect. The figures for March of this
year are nearly $59,000,00O more
than in March, 1913, when President
Wilson was inaugurated. They are
$74, 100000 more than in March,
1911, fully 100000 more than in
March, 1909, and 1925, 100000 more
than in March, 1908. What is the
answer to these figures? The answer
is that the Underwood Tariff is bring
ing in, even today, such a flood of
duty-free imports that all records are
being broken, while sufficient rev.
enue cannot be obtained through Gus
toms duties to pay the government
bills. The maintenance of war taxes
is for the purpose of making up the
deficit caused by the present tariff
bill, and not because of the decrease
in imports, or any effect of the war.