Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-09-22
THE REVENUE BILL
Remarks Of Hon. Nelson Z. Matthews
in Regard to Revenue Bill in House
of Representatives, July 10, 1916
The "Why" and "WherefOres."

Mr.. Speaker, availing myself of the
privilege of extending my remarks, l
desire to present my views on the
pending revenue measure prepared in
secret by the majority members of the
the House without consulting any one
of the minority members on that COM
mittee, and, for that matter, no one
on the minority side knew anything
about the bill until it was introduced,
accompanied by a rule from the ma
jority members of the Committee on
Rules which allowed two days of gen
eral debate, after which the bill must
be read in full without interruption,
and no chance to offer any amend
ments with only five minutes discus
sion on any amendment by any mem
Der, and the hour was fixed at which
a vote on all the amendments must be
taken, and then the bill to be voted
on as a whole.
Here is a bill that proposes to raise
about $20O,0OO,000 of additional reve-
nue. over and above the revenue raised
by laws now in force. And by a sys-
tenn of internal taxation, which is a
direct tax lexied on the people, and is
a well-timed, bold, and deliberate at
tempt on the part of President Wilson
--as he absolutely controls the present
majority-to sidetrack and, if possible,
destroy all hope of ever framing a
tariff based on the theory of protec-
tion to our manufacturing and agri-
cultural interests against cheap labor
in other parts Of the world.
The bait offered Republicans to
abandon their time-honored principles
and come over and help our Democra-
tic friends out of the mire in which
they are fioundering is a "tariff COM
mission" composed of six members,
all to be appointed by the President,
who are to each receive a salary Of
$500 per year and all expenses; al
so a secretary, with salary of $1,000
per year and all expenses; to-
gether with a host of clerks and
retainers. The bill appropriates
100000 for the first years expenses
of the commission, and the expenses
of the second year will probably be
$500,00O.
In passing let me say that for years
prior to 1912 the Democrats were
complaining and crying out against
the very large number of persons in
the employ of the Government, and
yet during the first three years of Mr..
Wilson's administration over 10000
employees have been added to the pay
roll, causing an increase of expense
for salaries from that source alone of
$36,O00,0O0 or over per annum. And
this increase has been. caused by the
numerous new commissions and Of
fees created since March 4, 1918. At
the rate we are going in creating new
offices and commissions to regulate
the affairs of corporations, firms, and
individuals it will not be long until
even the farmer will have to employ
a lawyer to find out whether or not
he is carrying on his business of farm
ing in such q manner as not tofviolate
any Of the thousand and one laws
passed not only by the General Gov
ernment but by the State as well
Many, if not all of them tend toward
paternalism. A few short years will
find the country governed by commits.
sions entirely.
An increase in the present '"income
tax" law, doubling the tax and ther
some.
A small duty on dyestuffs for a per.
iod of five years, after which, if the
manufacturers of dyes do not pro.
duce go per cent. OF, all the dyestuffs
used in the country, the duty goes off
If they do, they take off 20 per cent
each year for five years. How much
capital can be induced to invest under
such law?
A tax on munitions of war. Rather
late, is it not, after these people hav'
made hundreds of millions of dollars
on shipments to Europe and are nov
ready to quit shipping abroad anC
will soon have only the United States
for a customer?
A direct inheritance tax levied ol
estates. As it is now, 80 States hav,
taxes on inheritances of this kind
and IL other States levy taxes ol
shares of estates passing to collatera
heirs. This looks very much lik
double taxation, as the States will
never give up this method of raising
taxes.
Then, last and worst of all, come
the antidumping clause. An attemp
to get up some scheme to counteract
If possible, the ruinous effect of tn
present Underwood tariff law, whic
Secretary Redfeld warns the major
ity is sure to come about as soon a
the war in Europe is over. Importa
tions are now the largest this countr
has ever known, with the central EN-
pires OF Europe unable to send US an