Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-29
LETWEALTHYPAY
BILL,SAySK|TCH|N
House Majority Leader Believes $780,
100000 Will Be Raised By In
heritance Tax.
FOR EQUALIZING THE BURDEN
Discovered That People OF Largest
Means are Chief Advocates of
Preparedness.
FOR EQUALIzING THE BURDEN
Especial to The Argus.l

washington, Jan. 29.-lndlcatlOnS
are that s1OO,O0O,OO of additional rev.
enue will be raised by an income tax
or an inheritance tax. Local news
papers are beginning to concede this.
There is reason to believe that I'M
less such a course is taken and unless
the government is permitted to manu-
facture a much larger share of its mu-
nitions than heretofore, the program
for big army and navy appropriations
is in peril.
There are, it is believed, sufficient
number of members who will refuse
to support the increases unless these
provisions are inserted, as to make it
necessary for the powers-that-be to
yield to the program.
Representative Tavenner Of Illinois
is one of a number of members who
has notified Chairman Kitchin of the
ways and means committee that unless
government manufacture of NUM-
tions, and the raising of additional
lance tax legislation, are made fea-
lures of the military program, he will
not support it. 1t is practically con-
coded that there are enough members
who take exactly the same view to
require real concessions to those who
hold these views. Representative Kit
chin is himself in sympathy with
these ideas
1t is said in fact, that plans are now
underway at the capitol to amend the
income tax law so that the long arms
of the taxing power shall extend deep
into the pockets Of the rich.
If there existed any doubt that the
income tax was destined to become
the chief revenue producer of the ad-
ministration at this period of none
/ tary need, it was removed by the de-
cision of the supreme court which
has upheld the constitutionality of the
income tax in its every phase.
Nothing Unfair.
That the revenue from the income
! tax may be doubled without the impo-
/ sition of unfair tax burdens was con-
| fidentially asserted by the taxation ex-
pert of the ways and means commit
tee 1t is generally understood among
party leaders that the amended law
/ is to hit the man who is most able to
pay. Proposals to levy more special
/ taXes-on bank checks, gasoline, and
dozens Of articles of every day use
are slated for the legislative discard
| The income tax is to save the demo-
cratic day and the national defense
program.
| Congressman Claude Kitchin, ma
iority leader Of the house, went to the
| White house to talk over the revenue
situation with the president. He left
the capitol prepared to tell the presi-
dent that the rank and file of the par
ty favors a revision of the income
tax law and will oppose additional
stamp taxes and similar legislation
that would hit the common people.
AS chairman Of the ways and means
committee Mr. Kitchin is an advocate
of boost in the surfaces of the in
come tax law. The surtaxes apply tc
all incomes aboxe $4,000. Incomes
below that amount and above the ex.
emptions of $4,000 and $4,000 would
pay only the nominal tax of l Del
cent. Democrats believe that It is moi
only at mater of politics but equity tc
increase the surtaxes and cause the
rich man to pay for national defense
Mr.. Kitchin has told certain friend.
that his observation is the richer
classes constitute the strongest advo
Gates of preparedness.
There is lot of talk" Mr.. Kitchir
told friends recently, about the bonn
bardment Of New York and the captur,
of our big cities by an invading force
If the advocates Of preparedness-th
men who have the big incomes AIT
Vast nroperty holdings in these cit