The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-11
.H|SIORY'S BIGGEST WAR
BILL UNDER DISCUSSION
Chairman kitchin, of Ways and
Means Committee. Explains Reve-
nue. Measure While Party Lines
Are Obliterated.
TO RAISE 81 ,sO0. 1000, 900
BY TAXES FIRST YEAR
Complaints From Millionaires and
Other Wealthy Men, and Protests
on Higher Postal Rates Are From
Big Publishers Alone.

Washington. May 10-Promising
the country that the trainers of the
great s1,spo.0o 600 war revenue
measure would follow in the house
+ the same patriotic disregard for par
! ty advantages as characterized the
committee discussion Chairman
kitchin. of the ways and means COM
mittee, for four hours explained and
defended the bill when it was taken
up for consideration in the house to-
day. He apologized for the unsclen-
tihc character of the tariff provisions
but told the house the United States
government needed the s200. 00o. 900
which the ten per cent horizontal ad-
vance will yield and that il might he
to- place the burden on the shoulders
OF all.
Representative kitchin admitted
there were many complaints and pro-
tests against each item OF the bill.
but said these complaints had always
suggested shifting the burden to some
one else
( That the bill was not a perfect
measure he was prompt to admit.
This he said was especially true of
the tal II provisions wherein the bill
boasts tariff rates horizontally ten
per cent But az a war measure he
said the bill should be passed con-
tanning the tariff provisions,
| We have authorized a bond issue
fer two billions additional to the So
900, 900 In bonds to loaned the
allies" he said.
81 500, 900. 900 by Taxation.
/ "Of the amount OF $4,000, 600 900
the estimated expenses of the first year
of the war--we must raise by taxa
ition $l,s0o.0 900. 000,'
The committee estimates the pend
| ing bill will produce that amount.
The present generation should pay
part OF the war burden and the war
should not be conducted by the is
suance of bonds alone.
| There was no craftsmanship during
the fortnight that this bill was under
| discussion in committee. Not one
member raised the question Of To-
cality or party l trust that the ex-
ample set by the committee will be
/ followed by the house"
| Representative Kitchin admitted
there was hardly a paragraph or an
Item which would not work an in
justice to some one.
! IT would not vote for single tax
| in the bill except as a war measure"
ne continued. This bill is larger by
$500. 100000 than any tax bill ever
passed in the history OF the world.
| But it is necessary to raise every dollar
| OF the 81 500. 900. 900 to carry on the
war. ] am afraid we shall be called
upon TO raise $4,000. 100000 before
1.-THE end of the next fiscal year,
We've had a hundred times more
kicking complaining and protesting
over this bill than we ever had on
any taxation bill framed in time OF
peace. This is q surprising thing to
me- But | believe that when this
j bill is written on the statute books
Il the wealthy man and poor man will
stand by the bill and say: I'm will
ling to pay NV part.
Rich Will Not BE Slackers.
We've been told the taxes on in
comes and excess profits and other
taxes will raise a howl throughout
this country. The men who will pay
the excess profits will not stand with
lin 1000 miles OF gunshot. T do not
believe the wealthy mon will be
slackers in the payment of these
taxes"
Mr.. Kitchn defended the advances
| in the postal rates on first and second
i tests such as had come had been
registered by the great publishers who
were depending for their vast income
ion individual advertisers. He cited
1.-THE instance of one weekly publica-
ton which charged an advertising
rate of $4,000 per page and carried
weekly ninety-seven pages OF paid
advertising out of total OF 132
pages OF the periodical. He said un-
der existing postal rates this publica-
jtion- was being carried through the
United States mails at a loss OF So
100000 per annum to the postofice
department.
I'VE have no complaint from the