Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-21
PONPADOUR BOB IN
THE LINEuGHT AGAIN
LaFOIIette Attacks War Fin
ance Policy, Would Con-
Gscate All Profits

| washington, aug. zl.-Ine people OF
the United States viii not tolerate fur
lther taxation of life IS necessities, Sem
ator LaFollette, Wisconsin, told the
senate today in a speech flaying the
government IS war finance policy.
If the attempt is made, he said, the
mass of the people will lose confidence
lin the war. He urged immediate con-
iscription of big incomes and war prof.
its, to make wealth pay the bigges.
share of the cost.
He predicted that war expenditures
Iat the present rate will reach thirty
to forty billion dollars next year alone.
The majority make passing sug-
!gestion that at some other time more
convenient to the owners of big in
comes and huge war profits there will
be another tax bill. At the next ses-
sion, or in the next congress or in the
next world2
"But why not now? why put it off9
Whose interest is to be served by keep
ling down taxation on income and war
profits, and mortgaging the masses to
the money lenders9" LaFollette urged
striking out consumption taxes ON tea,
coffe and sugar and raising all the
revenue through increases in the war
profits and incomes. He would increase
the sum to be raised by the bill ST.
500,000,000, making it total $3,506,970,-
1000.
81 am no prophet, but am greatly
mistaken if the people accept this bill.
Consumption taxes upon the necessar-
les of the people will be no longer toll
Grated in war. Surely it is not too
much to ask that they be relieved of
the burdens of war taxation, until those
who profit by the war and those who
| live in luxury and security have con-
tributed a substantial portion of their
surplus. y
Would Confiscate Wealth
He urged the senate to "declarc
here and now that the wealth of this
country will be taken as mercilessly
through the power of taxation as men
are taken by the force of the draft. Y
g In this great cataclysm Of destruc-
ton, said LaFollette, "when thrones
are tottering, and cabinets changing
almost daily because they do not meet
the popular will; when the cry of dis
tressed and suffering is. heard around
the world. when governments are ans
wering with bullets their peoples cry
for bread, when the people everywhere
are asking for peace while their gov
ernments are demanding war; when our
own government is raising by draft q
million men, eighty five per cent out
of every hundred of who are protesting
against being forced into the army,
this is not the time to adopt this un-
just financial policy.
Let no one be misled. Our finan-
ciering is being so managed as to COM
nit the country to bonded debt five
times as large as the amount raised by
taxation"
LeFollette said that including loans
to the allies, and other war expenses,
the people of the country must raise
this year at least $l9,735, 900 bas-
ed upon treasury department estimates. |
Wants to be Bled Properly
"The pending bill provides for
taxation less than II per cent |
of the minimum amount to be collect
ed,2 said LaFollette. els it necessary
to go further in this discussion to
make it apparent the bill must be mod /
flied to raise vastly more;"
LaFollette warned that huge loans
being made to the allies, may be re-
paid and they may not or they may be
repaid at the cost of another war;
Senator eeks, Massachusetts, ans
wered LaFolIette in speech defending
the finance committee s method of pro-
viding revenue,
Business would have made vastly
more if the United States had stayed
out, - said eeks. "Therefore it is alb
surd to say business got us in"
America may bled white to pay the
cost of the war, eeks said, "but if we
are bled scientifically it may lead to
The publication of our blood If we are
oled wrongfully, it may lead to perni-
,ious anaemia.