River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-07-13
WE ALWAYS
PAY THE PIPER
(By James A. Frear, M. CD

We gre always called upon to pay
the piper, which accounts for a new
revenue bill that held the stage most
Of the week. Figures don't mean
much but it is interesting to know
that the new preparedness program
and waste in governmental expendi-
lures has brought an estimate of ST.
579,000,000 for the coming fical year.
Of this amount, $125,OO0,000 is caused
by the Mexican situation for which
bonds are to be issued according to
the committee. Deducting postal re-
CENTS and an amount taken from the
general fund, TIE Committee asks
that one billion dollars in round num-
bers be raised
In the fiscal year ending June L,
1913, under the old tariff law, sur
plus of over forty million dollars re
suited without any income tax or war
tax but the Committee now says that
in addition to the bond issue and
6O0OO,O00 income and emergency
tax, further deficit Of $267,000,O00
in round numbers will occur.
These figures may not interest the
majority of people but it shows how
expenditures have grown in four
years. In fact they have more than
doubled within that time, largely of
course because of the preparedness
propaganda and Mexican situation.
If you have a net income Of over
$4,000. the new bill will tax you two
per cent on the surplus. Then it
jumps to $4,000 at which figure the
tax rate is increased to three per cent.
On all incomes over 100000 annual
~, the rate reaches twelve per cent.
do not suppose the Tenth District
will have many people paying a
twelve per cent income tax but few
people would object to paying that
rate if given the income. The income
tax will reach about $4,000 people,
or less than one-half of one per cent
of the entire population.
Then the Government proposes to
take one per cent of the net estate
of decedents who leave less than
$4,000. A graduated increase brings
it up to five per cent on all estates
over $45O,000. The concerns that
profit from manufacturing munitions
Of war get hit at different rates reach
ing five per cent on receipts exceed
ing enc million dollars annually.
Part of the present stamp taxes
will be repealed by taxes on pawn
brokers, circuses, bowling alleys and
theatres will be continued. Of course
the tobacco and liquor tax will also
be continued but some of the stamp
tax annoyance will be obviated by a
repeal of schedules A. and B. of the
1914 act.
Last year New York paid about
one-ffth of all the tax and Illinois
about one-eighth. Wisconsin comes
farther down the list but our contri-
button will reach about double that OF
the average Southern State. How
ever, it is worth that much more tc
live in Wisconsin, so there is compen-
sation for the cost.
Last week, | called attention to the
splendid showing made by the Ma
tional Guard and in this connection
quote from a private letter which Is
received from General Holway al
Camp Douglas under date of July 3
wherein he says: Il have now II
camp approximately 1900 men," He
refers to prophesies that not one-hal1
Of the militia would respond to cal
bv saving that although the Wiscon-
sin Guard only numbered 5000 three
weeks ago, it is now recruited up te
about 5000 men, counting those al
ready sent to the border. In Other
words. we added fifty per cent in
stead of losing that proportion, all OF
which goes to show that Genera
Wood, commanding the Military
forces of the country, was right wher
he said in General Army orders that
the Wisconsin National Guard is 9
model for the country to pattern aft
er.
Again the House passed an act
appropriating funds for families OF
dependents of Guardsmen. Only two
votes out of about 800 were cast
against the proposal this time. Il
now goes again to the Senate which
loaded four million dollars on to the
pork barrel bill but refused to give
one million to help dependents. The
Senate will have another chance tc
vote on the bill.
Cyclone" Davis, long whiskereC
former populist from Texas, shouts {
loud "Amen" when pleased with re-
marks of his Democratic colleagues