Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-02
Preparedness and the Expense.

Indissolubly associated, of course,
with the question of preparedness is
the question OF expense and where
the money is to be found. The lat
ter question received attention yes
terday from three important and dis
| tinguished sources.
In his speech at Des Moines the
| President said:
Il have heard some gentlemen say:
My constituents do not object to the
! program. but they do object to the
bills that will have to be paid after
ward | would be very sorry to give
that account OF any constituency in
the United States. | would be very
sorry to believe-and / do not believe
that any constituency in the United
States would be governed by consid-
! Grafton of that sort. OF course it is
going to cost money to prepare for
| defense, but, equally Of course, the
American people are going to pay for
it, and pay for it without any grun-
bling whatever; because we are self
ishly rich! we are very rich people,
but we cannot be rich as people
| unless we maintain our character and
integrity as people. Life is not
worth anything for US as nation if
the very issues of life for the nation
itself are put in jeopardy by the &C
| ton which we neglect to take
In an interview Mr.. Kitchin, not re-
plying to the President, of whose re-
marks he could not at the time have
been advised, said:
"You understand it is an easy mat
ter for any one to favor or even vote
| for appropriations. whether a hun
dred million or billion dollars, for
any proposition. 1t takes neither wis
dom, patriotism nor craftsmanship
for this. The real proposition that
enlists study, thought and patritism
is how to finance such plan"
In an interview with Mr.. Simmons,
sought because of his position as
chairman OF the Senate finance COM
nittee, this interrogatory was pro-
pounded and answered.:
| IF the war emergency act should
be repealed and the Presidents pro-
gram of preparedness adopted, how
| could the money needed to meet the
resultant requirements OF the gov
| eminent be raised!"
Il am satisfied it is entirely FEAST
Bile to raise the amount that would
be required in the contingency con-
/ tcmplated from incomes, inheritanees,
sugar and munitions of war. If, per-
| chance, enough cannot be raised by
conservative levies upon these sub
jects. the deficiency could be made up
by slightly increasing the rates on
certain traditional subjects of inter-
| nal revenue taxation, such as whisky,
beer, etc, without imposing or con-
tinuing such direct taxes as are in
their nature, or in the methods of
collection, or both. more or less ir-
ritating and vexatious."
The President meets the issue
frankly and adequately. Conditions
in the country are such as will stand
assessments for the national security,
and the people will indorse the out
lay. The details are for Congress to
work out.
The suggestion by Mr.. Simmons,
who will handle the revenue ques-
ton in the Senate, that additional
taxes might be laid on whisky and
beer is worthy of attention. The
Star took the same view some time
ago. Those two articles are classed
as luxuries, and whisky as an evil
Why. then, should they not be laid
under tribute for the new emergency?
The taxes charged against them a,
present were calculated for peace
conditions, and when there wa.
neither deficit in the Treasury, no,
urgent need of heavier allowances fol
the army and navy.