The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-09-05


umns Of Newspapers Provide Best
Method Of Stopping Waste.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Sept. 5.-(SpeeiaD-In
financing the wal there Is a conflict be-
tween two schools OF thought. One IL
for raising as much OF the money as
possible by immediate taxation, and
the other would issue bonds and carry
the expense to future generations. OF
course a large portion of the expense
must be met by bond issues, and It will
be necessary TO pile up a public debt
which will be little less than appalling.
But there are many people who believe
that to some extent this great debt can
De lessened III all the available sources
Of taxation of the present time are uti-
lied.
In the debates I'm the senate many
solemn warnings have been made
against issuing bonds too freely.
imitation and Cost.
Two objections have been urged
against extraordinary issues of bonds.
One Is that bond issues tend to infa-
ton OF the currency, for bonds are
themselves a sort OF money, which
passes current In large financial trans
actions, and that such imitation will
make the present abnormal high prices
still higher.
The issue OF bonds. II Is also claim
ed. will greatly add to the cost or the
war because or the interest charges.
III the bonds run for any length OF time
II will mea that they will be paid
twice. once at maturity, and while
they run the interest will about equal
their face value.
"Sordid Considerations"
When war talk begins and some one
mildly or feebly protests against war
on account of the immense cost that
person Is squelched by assertions to
the effect that patriotism and national
honor should not be influenced nor gov.
erned by any such sordid considera-
lions. And when the war spirit has
Its way there are a lot OF men who
must take up these "sordid considera-
tons" and levy taxes on the country
so as to pay for defending the national
honor and back up the patriotism hat
has been displayed.
Locating the Units.
The postoftice department has issued
an order directing that persons sending
mail to soldiers In Europe must address
IL to the man, the company and the
regiment. Ii this order is carried out
1T will not be very long before the To-
cation of every company and regiment
will be known to everybody.
The war department has been at
great pains to prevent any information
concerning the number. the name OF
the organization or the names OF the In
dividual officers. outside of the stafY.
becoming known for fear that the In
formation would get to the Germans.
III the names OF the companies and reg
ments are TO be written out on all let
tiers 1t will not be very long before
there will be a general knowledge of
the number of troops and regiments
that are sent abroad In the American
expedition.
Stop the Waste.
III all the literature which the gov
eminent Is sending out could reach all
he people they would be surfeited
with information and advice. "Stop
the waste" Is emblazoned In a great
deal OF 1t. In nearly every envelope
containing matter for which free space
Is asked there is advice or instruction
as TO how to save on some commodity
and thus help the country.
OF course the best methods Of reach.
Ing the country have not been used
that Is, the advertising columns of the
papers. Perhaps the time may come
when the government will take a leaf
out of the book of experience OF Great
Britain and advertise for what 1t wants
so urgently.
Dogs and Expenses.
There were statesmen In Washing
ton who seriously considered the ad-
visibility Of levying a tax on dogs as
q means Of raising revenue. Some one
sent a communication advocating such
y toA w AitslItHl MdTendll, ii
he printed 1t I'm the Record. but that
was as far as 1t ever went.
There ought to be a tax on dogs
said an influential senator, but am
In politics and intend to remain In poll
tics, so | can't afford to advocate such
a tax. But it ought to be done. We
might get rid OF a great number of
useless dogs and at the same time
largely increase the revenue. And Just
consider the great amount Of food these
useless dogs consumed"
A Congressional Mistake.
1t seems to have been a great mis-
take on the part Of those who framed
the revenue bill in lot providing that
the tax on liquors should become efYec-
tive at the time the bill wos introduc-
ed. Since that time millions Of gallons
OF whisky have been withdrawn from
bond. paying the existing tax instead
OF the double tax of the revenue bill,
and vet fbfc rhsclyr ho~ hcnr ~clE -