The sun., 1917-08-22
LAFOLLETTE SEES
WAR COST M0L0CH
Flays erich Slackers" and
Says Next Years Bill May
Be 30 Billions.
FOR 4 BOOST IN TAXES
Senator Asserts Wealthy
Should Bear Heavier Bur-
den in L. s. Revenue.
Special Despntch 10 THE SrS.

Sper'ut Despdf0N W LUZ S'H'
WASHINGTON. Aug. :,.-The argument
begun Yesterday by Senator johnson OF
California in favor Of the more complete
constription Of wealth to defray the cN-
penses Of war was continued in the Sem
ate to-day by Senator La Toilette His
speech took up in dct all the line Of argu
ment advanced yesterday by Mr.. john
son and for three hours the Wisconsin
Senator held the attention Of the Sem
ate. Senator Weeks OF Massachusetts
made a response.
It ia admitted by the friends Of the
revenue bill as reported from the
Finance Committee that the theory OF
taxation advanced by the minority pre-
seslts an opportunity for argument.
Advocates of the bill insist that II "a
only the fundamental revenue plan. the
basis for such future tax legislation as
may be necessary. They assert that the
system which the bill outlines. both with
regard to war profits taxes and income
taxes. is model legislation. and that it
possesses the element of elasticity which
is needed when the financial necessities
Of the Government are to be defined by
the developments OF the world war
A known majority of the Senate ad-
here to this general principle. They are
fully cognisant OF the fact that the pre-
ponderance Of oratorical power among
he opposition will serve to ALLEVIATE some
of their following, They are taking this
situation Into account in their every
move on the legislative chessbOard, but
thus far they are unwilling to admit
that their ranks can be depleted to the
extent that the bill in these two vital
PARTICULARS can be amended.
Esp1n
Senator La Toilette has severa! more
speeches to make in developing his sub
iect Senator Boraa OF Idaho. who be-
licves that the war revenue bill should
raise approximately three billions in
stead OF two billions. will speak for the
'nnorit;. and to-day Il became known
that Senator Townsend OF Michigan. who
is one OF the signers of the ma jority re-
port had changed front on the question
of wa profits taxes and will advocate
Hat rate of approximately 30 per cent.
on the excess profits.
Senator Gerry. a Finance Committee
member. introduced an amendment re-
ported TO have been approved by COM
mittce leaders. to increase by about SO
percent. surtaXes on incomes OF $500. 900
and more His amendment proposes
levies Of 35 per cent, on incomes be-
tween $500 900 and $3.50. 900. 45 per cent.
on those between $750.OO0 and $1,000
600 and 50 per cent. on those OF more
than 100000. Ii would raise s40c25,-
600 more revenue.
! Advocating conscription of wealth to
pay for the war, Senator La Toilette said
I so per cent. OF war profits instead Of
only about &c per cent, should be taken
by the Government Hc emphasized the
I small proportion Of war revenues Il il
! proposed to raise by taXes--about one
( ff,h the sum to be received from bonds
and contended that the tax bill could
easily be increased more than $1,000
100000 by increasing war profits and
/ income tax rates.
Wealthy interests. the Wisconsin Sem
ator asserted. favor having more bonds
and fewer taxes. although the people
prefer hcayier taxation. He fay what
he termed "rlch slackers."
La Toilette asserted that governments
were demanding war while their peoples
were asking for peace. He contended
that S5 per cent. Of the men drafted are
protesting. Large bond issues desired
by wealthy interests, he sa!d initiate
prices and increase the present high cost
OF living. which. he asserted. already
imposes from so TO 100 per cent. war
burden upon the masses. The Liberty
Loan he said, was made possible by an
Iron hand within a kid glove and per-
sistent advertising methods
Next Years Expenses.
The pending bill, Mr. La Toilette con-
tinued, provides by taxes only l. per
cent. OF this years war expenses. while
Great Britain imposes IS per cent. Next
years war expenses, he predicted, may
reach $40, 900. 900. 900 or 100000. .0OO, 900.
and he urged that huge war profits and
incomes of wealthy persons by higher
surtaXes be made to bear the burden of
the war.
Urging larger proportion Of taxes
the Wisconsin Senator said:
1T Is part of the history OF all great
wars that wealth has demanded the
minimum of taxation and the maximum
of loans. while the poorer classes have
desired the maximum Of taxation and
the minimum of loans, and this differ.
ence Is accentuated now since wal
, profits and excessive incomes are being
forced by taxation to contr! butte some
portion OF the revenues which wal
makes it necessary to raise.
Wealth has never yet sacrificed Il
self on the altar OF patriotism In an,
, war. On the contrary, II has ever showr
/ itself eager to take advantage Of tn,
mlsfortures which war always brings t
the masses OF the people. That has beer
true of every war we have had and 1
is certainly true of the present war.
> Senator Weeks In reply to Senator Ii
Toilette, said the plan worked out b.
the Finance Committee should b'
adopted and took exceptions to Senate
= La Follette's attack on rich slackers,
0 asserting it WAS "scandalous libel t,
t say that wealth or the' wealthy classe
n were not doing their duty in this war.
e There are many vital reasons, Senate
q Weeks said. why all surplus OF income
:. should not be taken
s This bill raises the same proportion o
: taxes as the English system does" h.
d said. Taxation should not be made 70
n promoting Socialistic policies OF evening
e up relative incomes. We are fighting 70
future generations as we'll as the pres
q ent, and all should bear their proper
y tionate share Of the cost"
s