River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-12-28
Sec. LanSing's Sen
SatiOnal Interviews
d. S. Farther From War Than At Any
Time In Past Two Years
Population Drift To citiss
Items OF interest From Washington, D
c., by Hon. James a. FreaT, n. c.

volved in the peace proposals pre-
sented to foreign governments last
week BY President Wilson, ne nbers
generally will approve any effort
which seeks t. bring belligerents in
to peace negotiations. It IS unlikely
definite steps will be taken by Europ-
can countries at this time but the eff
feet will be wholesome on both war
rino. countries and neutrals. Secre-
tary Lansing gave out some sensa-
tionaI interviews to the effect that
this country is drawing near the
verge Of war. Since his accession to
the chair vacated by Mr.. Bryan, Mr..
Lansing or his assistants have been
constantly suggesting the nearness
Of war with Europe and Mexico.
Every new situation is made a pre-
text for profound opinions uttered
through the press, emanatlng from
his department, concerning strained
diplomatic relations that confront
Us. So far as can be judged from
surface indications, war is not in the
minds Of officials nor Congress and
we are farther from it than at any
time during the past two years.
4
Chairman Kitchin of the Ways and
Means committee is quoted by the
press as saying the revenue problem
to meet an enormousdefciency must
be taken up shortly and that Fhere
will be no tax on gasoline, tea, cot
fee. nor on any of the necessaries OF
life. His solution is to raise the
present income tax So, 900 for bache-
Iors. but preserving the same exemp-
tions.
Protests come from many quarters
SAYING exemptions ought to be low
cred to one half Of the present linn
its and there begin at a nominal rate.
People generally agree that NUM-
tions profits should pay larger per
centage of the revenues. Kltchln
halls from North Carolina which is
about the size of Wisconsin. In 1915
North Carolina paid into the treas
ury Individual income tax fund
1881 .O78; Alabama paid 1921, 1853;
Florida paid 1929, 500; Georgia paid
$40, 900; Tennessee $410, 209, and
other southern states with one or
two exceptions averaged like
amounts. Wisconsin's tax was one
of the smallest Of the northern
states and yet ours reached $780,
352. The reason why the south pr"
poses to make the income tax pay
the piper is discovered from the fact
that the contribution by New York
to that fund in 1915 reached $45,-
$50. 685, Illinois SIS, 654. Isl, Ohio, S4,-
027.45 while other states like Mas
sachusetts and Pennsylvania were
preportionately as large. Illinois
and Ohio combined or Pennsylvania
alone now pay more into the treas
ury than the entire south and the
south determines revenue legislation
Thus far, Congress has been CIV
ing attention to the regular appro-
priation bills and before recessing
for Christmas week the House pass
ed several of the smaller bills. Legis-
lation regarding the Adamson rail-
road bill has been proposed by the
president and many hearings held by
the Interstate Commerce committee
of which Congressman Esch is the
ranking Republican member In the
Senate the proposal to place the Dis
trict Of Columbia under prohibitory
law has been debated for several
days but has gone over for the holi-
days.
From statistics gathered by the
census office it appears that the
drift Of populati N to the cities is
rapidly increasing One estimate
places Al per cent Of our population
in cities Of 5000 and over. and less
than one third on the farm. The
farm problem is becoming more ser
ious every year. but while econom-
lists, legislators and the public gen
orally watch the drift, no one seems
able to suggest means Of stopping