Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-26
A STUDY IN TAXES
WHEN the House had under
w consideration the Ship Pur-
chase bill, Hon. J. Hampton

| CndSe Dill, Hon. y. hampton
Moore, of Pennsylvania, re-
minded the Democratic members OF
Congress that the breaking of their
platform pledges had now become a
habit. In spite of the convictions and
former professions of many of its
members against extravaganza, they
have, with lamb-like obedience, he
said, followed the deadly drive toward
government ownership, for which
this administration, more than any
Moore then presented an interesting
study in taxes numbering a number
of eXtravagant measures, some of
which are as follows:
A war tax (when there was no war;
of 100000, 900 imposed for one year
and renewed for another. making a
direct tax of $500 against every man,
woman and child.
A bill appropriating s3,OO0,O00 for
railroads in Alaska, an expenditure
of thirty cents per capita.
A flood-control bill granting up
wards of $50,O00,O00 for reclamation
of private lands, mostly along the low
er Mississippi, benefting few States,
but imposing an additional tax of so
cents per capita.
The army bill. whicn Chairman
Hay. of the committee on Military Af-
fairs, says lis not an emergency bill";
carrying an appropriation of 100000
900 for an unnecessary nitrate plant
and $11, 100000 for a government
owned armor-plate plant, making a
cry man, woman and child in this
country for the installation of these
two plants.
The rural credits bill, which many
thoughtful men believe will require
from the farmer a larger expenditure
for loans than his necessities will war
rant, providing for banks which must
needs employ a large number of Of
ficers, agents, investigators, etc., with
salaries ranging up to $4,000 per
annum, and for deposit therein of
l5,O0O,0 900 of public money. making
an additional tax of Is cents per
capita.
The good roads bill, carrying a
modest appropriation of $4,000, 900,
which the Senate raised to SIS, 5,000,-
900 to be spent on country roads
only, putting on every man, woman
and child tax of rs cents head
Under this administration, the pos
tai deficit is reported to be about s1O,-
900, ,O0O-a burden of ten cents each
on our population.
After a consultation at the White
House, declared Mr.. Moore, it has
been decided to impose new forms of
taxation to the amount of $3.50, ,000,-
900 to make up their admitted dis
crepancy in the treasury.
This is only a partial list. Every
appropriation bill carries riders" for
pet appropriations, or creating some
new commission, board, or bureau,
plac g more power in the hands of a
few at an expense estimated at $5,-
100000 next year. During the last
three years 10000 new positions have
been created, carrying salaries up
ward of $36,000,000 every year more
than ever appropriated under a Re-
publican administration.
Mr.. Moore summarized as follows:
If you want to pass this shlp-pur-
chase bill on the record you
have made, go ahead and do it.
| Some day, perhaps, the people back
home VIII be wise to what II all
relieve the people of their alleged
but imperceptible tariff burdens,
has resulted in levying upon them
direct taxation exceeding $75O,O0O-
900, which is more than $3.50 for
every man, woman and child. II
that S750,O0O,000, We're put over on
the voters exclusively, II would
amount approximately to $50
| apiece.