River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-05-17
Washington Letter
(By James A. Frear, NJ. CD

Lively HAL Will contribute some
share of the expense of carrying on
the war according to the statement
of Democratic Leader, Kitchin. The
| largest tax bill in the history of the
world, H. r. 1920, has been reported
by his committee according to the
same authority, when the bill was in
troduced last week. 1t will be the
standing order and will not be agreed
upon by both houses in all probability
for few days to come. The House
Committees report for the first time
| IN many years, comes unanimously
| signed by Fl members of the com
mittee, including all the Democrats,
Republicans, and Progressives. That
| report says in it's introduction: "The
war expenditures for the remainder
of this and the whole of the next fiscal
year are estimated to be about 49,
8O0,O00,000, exclusive of the $3,OOO,-
100000 bond issue to finance the for
eign loans We have already author
lied bond issue of 100000, to
provide a portion of the necessary
funds to finance the war. Therefore,
the amount necessary to raise by tax
alton or a further bond issue at this
time is 1,8OO,OOO,00O"
The ease with which the country is
talking of billions Of dollars comes
with startling force to those who have
heretofore criticised tax laws that
have never reached more than one
fifth of the present bill. 1t is an evil
dence of changed conditions brought
about by the war. Protest against
the new tax bill comes from all kinds
of industries, from those dealing in
automobiles and musical instruments,
down to chewing gum which is always
regarded as a public necessity. A
flood of kilograms declare that vari-
Gus kinds of business will be jeopar-
died or parties put out of business
by the passage of the law. One
trouble with the situation arises from
the impression Of many people that
some other fellow is expected to fight
the battles at the front and some
others are to pay tax burdens for
maintaining the war. In this connec-
ton the writer will not be charged
with any part in bringing on the war,
but now that war has been declared
someone must fight the battles and
someone must pay the bills. When
tWenty-one members of the House
Committee after weeks of consider
alton, unanimously join in tax bill,
it is futile for the average member
to try and determine the relative just
ice or injustice of tax burdens con-
tanned in bill of fifty-fOur pages.
The man at the front risks his life
for his country and it is the duty of
every patriotic citizen to contribute
his part Of the taxes necessary to
maintain the Government. 1t is an
emergency bill and all rules of pro-
cedure are set aside in time of war.
This observation arises because hun
dreds of kilograms and protests are
being received by the average member
against certain features of the war
tax measure. The bill may be amend
ed in minor particulars but it must
pass Congress in the near future in
order to meet obligations already in
! cured in connection with war prep
arations
The conferees on the CONSUMPTION
bill have taken out of the Senate
| Army Staff Bill, boys 10 and 20 years
of age, who were first included, and
with which the first army of 1,000,
900 men was to have been formed ac
cording to regular army plans. The
conferees have also agreed to extend
the age of conscription from 25 years
as the bill was first introduced, to in
clude 80 years, with a minimum age
of Fl years. This gives a ten year
range from which CONSUMPTION will be
made. The right Of civilians to con-
troll selection" and the further right
of judicial review, has been in con-
ference between the houses and also
will probably be agreed to The army
pay of enlisted men is sure to be
largely increased, almost doubled,
while Roosevelt's proposed army OF
volunteers is undecided at this writ
ing. An informal statement from the
War Department was given out re-
| Gently to the effect that while troops
will soon be sent to France, the regu-
lar army and national guard must be
kept in this country in order to serve
as nucleus and for the training of
the new army.
Editorials now appearing in the
Eastern press, admitting that al
though New York and New England
have been the shot bed of war spirit, =
that the middle western states are far