The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-09-21
MEN OF AFFAIRS"
The Chicago Tribune of August 10th
printed the following editorial:
DIGGING INTO OUR POCKETS

The Chicago Tribune of August 10th
printed the following editorial:
DIGGING INTO OUR POCKETS
Representative Kitchin announces
it will be necessary to add another
billion dollars to the pending revenue
bill-which would send the skyrocket-
ing total up to more than S3,0OO,OOO,-
100000. He says the United States
will have to spend $14,000,O 600
during the fiscal year, and he calls it
chicken feed He speaks of getting
the additional billion as one might
saw please pass the mustard. One
would assume he lights his cigar with
gold certificates.
'In discussing war taxation The
Tribune does not wish to be under
stood as Directing to giving the gov
eminent all the money it needs. We
think the totals called for are prob
ably inflated; we should be surprised
if the appetite for pork had no part
in the computations; but that is not
the question at issue.
"What is vital now are the methods
for raising these enormous sums. Mr..
Kitchin votes for II revenue measure
with his eyes shut but with his mouth
open. The country would prefer hav-
ing him shut his mouth and open his
eyes. A little clear vision would en-
able the majority in Congress to per-
ceive that their revenue program is
radically wrong,
"Tax experts are agreed that the
nation will have to contribute prac-
tically all its surplus to finance the
war. They are also agreed that as a
matter of theory it doesn't make much
difference whether this surplus is OBJ
tanned by the issuance of bonds or by
taxation. But as a matter of prac-
tice they agree that heavy taxation is
unwise.
"The psychological effect of taxa
ton explains why public borrowing is
preferable. If, as Mr.. Kitchin says,
we are going to spend $4,000, 100000
during the fiscal year, it is obvious
that most of the money will have to
be borrowed anyway. There is no
rhyme or reason in trying to raise an
arbitrary Is or 20 per cent of that
amount by taxation. There is no pc
culiar virtue in a tax total of $4,000
100000 or 5000, 900 600.
"Men of affairs have informed Con-
gress they would support rayenue
bill amounting to $1,25,000,0D0. 1t
might be possible to add another qlar-
ter of a billion dollars to this total
without producing an injurious psy-
Geological effect. But who cam doubt
that the proposals of Mr.. Kitchin are
likely to produce the blacklist kind of
business depression
"Wise counsels may not prevail in
Congress. But elections are coming"
1t first slurs Congressman Kitchin,
chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee, and then proceeds to put
up against his judgment the opinion
of the "Men of Affairs" (unnamed)
who have Uniformed Congress" that
they would Support" revenue bill
of "a billion and quarter, but who
have not agreed to support bill call
ing for two or three billion. In this
respect the "men of affairs" differ
from the masses-the masses will
support ANY revenue bill that Con-
gress passes. The trouble with the
"men of affairs" is that they are not
willing to bear their share of the bur-
den. They want the expenses Of the
war raised by bond issue so that the
debt will extend over generations
the poor finally paying it. That, is
Just what the people do NOT want.
Those who make money out of war
contracts ought to be willing to con-
tribute literally through excess pro-
fit taxes and income taxes. If sol
6iers give their lives, and the masses
give Of their savings, why not COM
pei the "men of affairs" to give a
large part of their war profits
w. j. BRYAN.