Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-01-09
BIG DEFICIT SURE
TREASURY SHORTAGE FOR THE
NEXT FISCAL YEAR MAY
REACH $500, 10000
DUE TO WAR CAUSES
Some Republicans Hope They Won't
Control Next House, So Party May
Avoid Blame for the Necessary Tax
Measures.
Rv GEORGE CLINTON


a big deficit this year, due almost en-
tirely to war causes. The prepared
ness measures and ofl-r things have
taken large sums of money, while there
has been a decrease in the govern
ment'S revenues. OF course, the grad
ual increase in expenditures on the
army and navy would not have been
in evidence if there had been no war
in Europe, and the fall in revenues
likewise is due to the war, which has
and thereby has prevented us from
levying normal amount of customs
duties.
1t is believed today that there will
be a treas Try deficit of $300,000,0OO
for the fiscal year which will end in
1918. The president, it is said, is op-
posed TO the sale of bonds to meet this
deficit, or, in other words, as friends
of the administration put it, he is op-
posed TO mourning one Indebtedness
in order to get rid of another. So the
question comes, how shall the addition
al revenue needed be raised? Con-
gresS will have tc answer this ques-
ton.
Still After n. C. of L.
The administration still is consider
ing the subject of additional legisla-
ton which possibly may solve the. high
cost of living problem. There are a
half fInzaf1 hills TNnn6if1n n
gress, the author of each one being
certain that he has struck the real
cure for the evil. Grand jury investi-
cations which have been going on in
various cities with a view to determin-
ing whether there is anything criminal
in connection with the high cost of liv-
ing matter have not been successful
thus far in getting really sharp re-
suits.
1t is said in Washington that the
administration is skeptical as to
whether or not legislation can bring
down the price of this thing or that
thing. 1t is also said that perhaps a
majority of the members of congress,
Democrats and Republicans alike, feel
the same way. 1t may be that there
will be no legislation at all on this
subject this year.
There has been manifest one curious
result following the publication of the
seemingly accurate figures concerning
the amount of the deficit which is
facing the United States treasury.
There are Republicans in Washington
who are bold enough to say that they
hope that their party does not con-
troll the next house of representatives.
The political complexion of the next
house is still in doubt and it proba-
bly, will not be known for many weeks
yet which party will succeed in eff
fecting its organization.
Willing to Avoid the Blame.
1t seems likely that many of the
revenue-raising measures may have to
go over to the next congress and a
few of the Republicans are saying that
for the party's sake it might be better
to let the Democrats share the blame
of any additional taxation that may be
necessary. OF course if the next house
should be Republican that party will
be under the necessity of passing rev.
enue legislation and if it fell hard on
the people the blame for it would fall
on Republican heads.
The Democrats are anxious to have
a majority in the next house, and nat
urally so. Without a majority they
cannot put through all the legislation
which they wish. They say. too, that
the country understands thoroughly
the necessity which has forced a def
cit in the treasury and that the people
will not blame congress for taking the
proper means to keep the balance in
the treasury's box even.
Electoral College Meetings.