The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-08-03
PROPOSED WAR TAX ON COPPER WILL Be
VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED By IDAHO SENATOR
SENATOR BRADY REPLIES WALLACE BOARD OF TRADE-HE
POINTS OUT THAT PROTECTIVE TARIFF WOULD RENDER
OF A WAR TAX UNNECESSARY.

TAX UNNECESSARY.
The attempt of the democratic ad-
ministration to place heavy tax on
copper to raise revenue that should
and could be raised by more equitable
means has drawn out vigorous pro-
test from the mining states of the
west. These protests are not confined
to copper producing states, for 1t Is
apparent that If this unjust tax can
be levied upon copper under the pre-
tense that it is largely used In the
manufacture of munitions of war; then
1t Is only a short step to include lead,
zinc and numerous other metals used
more or less in the manufacture of war
supplies. But aside from this consd-
Grafton, there Is far more copper used
in peaceful pursuits than In war. and
yet the bill which has now passed the
house makes no distinction, but lev
les a burdensome tax upon the entire
production. AS an example of what
this means to the copper miners, II
this bill becomes a law the Anaconda
company alone would be required to
pay in round figures 100000 annual
ly to the government as direct tax.
But II the country Is to have this in
iquitous war tax in time of peace. why
not distribute the burden among all
the products that enter into the manu-
facture of war supplies? Why single
out copper?
Brady Protests.
In response to telegram sent by
NJ A. Corner president of the Wal
lace board of trade, asking him to use
his best efforts to defeat the copper
tax provision in the bill when 1t is be-
ing considered in the senate, the fol-
lowing letter has been received from
Senator Brady:
Washington. D. c.. July 81, 1915
Mr.. M. A. Corner
President Wallace Board of Trade.
Wallace, Idaho.
My Dear Mr.. Corner-This Is In
confirmation of my telegram Of even
date stating that l should oppose the
section in the present democratic rev.
enue bill providing a serious tax upon
the copper mining industry.
am certainly opposed to any such
tax which will single out a particular
industry and impose such a heavy
burden as that proposed in the bill.
1t Is my opinion that If this country
were operating a reasonable protec-
tive tariff at the present time and had
been in the last three years. that suf-
ficient funds would be in the federal
treasury to meet in a large measure
the expenses of the government, and
there would be no necessity of these
so-caled war taxes and revenue bills
which have been receiving the atten-
g tion of congress in the last two or
three years.
shall be pleased to call the views
of your organization as set forth in
your telegram Of July 26th to the at
tention of my colleagues in the senate.
Very truly yours,
JAMES H. BRADY,
No Necessity for War Tax.
Senator Brady gets at the bottom of
the whole question of internal taxa
tion when he states that II a reason
able protective tariff had been main
tanned during the past three years
there would have been no necessity
for levying a war tax. The system is
wrong, and these democratic senators
and representatives from western
states who are now so energetically
opposing the tax on copper should re-
fleet that they gave their support to
the administration in placing the same
| burden on other industries which did
= not happen to hit their constituency at
q home. They are in an awkward posi-
tion and will find it difficult to ex-
G plain why they supported the vicious
I per and other products from their
: states. About all they can accomplish
now is to get their speeches in the
VI Congressional Record protesting
IobolhSb IAAS bebA OiA SOPPOA hh ~
e them distributed at home for cam
= paign purposes but so far as their ef-
= feet upon the administration measure
: they will accomplish little. They are
3 committed to the general policy of war
u taxes in time of peace, and they will
N hardly be able to convince the south
y, ern statesmen who are in control OF
) congress that there Is any merit in
= their contention that the copper tax
Is unjust.
Senator Brady's letter expresses the
sentiment of the republican party in
and out of congress. II the repub-
y lican party is restored to power. its
first act will be to pass protective
II tariff law which will provide sufficient
Is revenue to meet the requirements Of
), the government and eliminate the wal
al taxes which have proved a serious
I'd burden to the people and which are
wholly unnecessary. And 1t will dC
= more. 1t will start the wheels of in
at dustry throughout the country in al
Of lines as well as those engaged in tht