Evening star., 1917-09-06
SPEAKER FOR TAX
ON 5000" BASIS
Head of House Would Have
Present Generation
Pay for War.
DEFENDS THE BOND BILL

Champ Clark took the floor of the
House today and in plain, old-fashioned
speech let it be known that he believed
in financing the war on "50-50 basis"
"I am opposed" he said. "to loading
this war debt on succeeding generations.
TEis generation entered, into this war
and it ought to pay the war debt"
The Speaker answered the arguments
of men who had been opposing several
of the features Of the administration
bond bill: among them being the OBJ
lection of several members to loans
made to European governments. which
may never repay this country. The
Speaker said no real big government
had ever failed to pay its debts.
Madden Sees Ruin for Business.
Representative Madden of Illinois. re-
plying to the statement by the Speaker
that he would finance the war on a
so basis" warned the House that
any attempt to levy tax which would
raise one-half of the cost of the war
would ruin all business in twenty days.
Lets see about that" said Champ
Clark This country is worth two hum
dred millions and the highest tax yet
proposed would not be unreasonable. l
would not impose cruel or unjust
tax. but the men of this generation who
are not going into ths war ought to be
willing to contribute their share of the
expense. | think a man ought TO contrib
ute dollar as willingly as another man
contributes his life.
over in England they are levying an
excess profit tax of SO per cent, and as
we seem to be copying them a good deal
these days. it might not be bad idea
to copy this tax"
Representative Longworth of Ohio in
terrupted him to say that England is
raising four-fifths of her war money by
bonds. Speaker Clark answered i'm
mediately:
Yes, and l am willing to bet the best
hat that Stetson ever made those English
bonds will never sell at par
Representative Fordney of Michigan in
terrupted
Mr.. Speaker, those bonds are being
sold to US at par at this very moment"
Yes, to us, but to no one else," snapped
Speaker Clark.
Republicans Check Bills Passage.
Republicans did everything in their
power to modify the power grantel
Secretary >McAdoo in the big bond bill.
and yesterday put so many obstacles in
the way of quick passage that only a
few lines of the bill were read in
committee of the whole.
Representative Moore of Pennsyl
vania and Representative Gillett of
Massachusetts offered amendments ere
ating congressional committee to CO.
operate with the President on the con-
duct of the war. They We're knocked
out on points of order brought by Rep
rcserSative Kitchin of North Carolina.
Representative Johnson of Kentucky be-
ing the chairman of the committee of
the whole. Representative Morgan of
oklahoma and Representative Sloan
Of Nebraska endcavored to amend the
bill so as to define definitely the in
terest rates on the proposed bonds.
The bill gives the Secretary of the
Treasury wide latitude in this respect.
The House, defeated these amendments.
Seeks Advisory Commission.
Representative Stafford of Wisconsin
made one of the strongest fights against
the one-man power contained in the
bill when he offered an amendment
calling for an advisory commission
composed of cabinet members and the
Federal Reserve Board chairman.
Chairman kitchin of the ways and
means committee took exception to it
and made a point of order. which was
argued a great length by Representa-
tive Stafford, who intimated that the
committee had determined to use the
steam roller on any amendments
from the floor.
The point of order was sustained
after considerable argument back and
forth on both sides. Uncle Joe" Can
non supported the bill and declared he
did not believe in tying the hands of
the President in any way at this time.
Representative Moore expressed
doubt that some of the money loaned
to foreign governments would be re-
turned. and Representative Cooper of
Wisconsin brought out the fact that
foreign loans are made by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury on the representa-
tion of a duly accredited representative
Of that government a