The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1917-03-23

NAPsAAb AnCA VWA DaAnA4Cos
Congress is meeting with consid
cradle crisp criticism because a pro
vision of the war revenue law ex
empted the salaries of members from
a war tax placed upon like incomes
of ether individuals. The Literar,
Digest quotes the Houston Post al
saying: "No Congressman who votes
war taxeo upon the people and ther
takes unto himself immunity there
from is fit to sit in a hog-caucus al
the etockyards, and he ought to be
driven from public life at once"
This refers to what is called an ex-
cess profits tax. which levied 5 per
cent upon the salaries of individuals
in excess Of $4,000 a year. A Con-
gresham or Senator, therefore, get
ting $1,000 annually, IL an excep-
ton had not been made of his case,
would have had to pay per cent on
$500, or 1920 year.
In an appendix to speech on the
subject, which was not published in
the Congressional Record until after
adjournment, Chairman Simmons, of
the Senate Finance Committee. stated
that exemptions from this tax includ
ed 'the compensation or foes received
by persons as officers or employees of
the United States, any State. Terri
tory, the District Of Columbia. or any
local subdivision thereof
It is only fair to state that prob
ably nine-tenths Of the members did
not know that the bill they were
passing contained this special favor
itism to themselves. 1t was new mat
ter for which the conference commit
tee was responsible. and. as our read
ers know, conference committee re-
port is subject to little deliberation
and practically no change. This i'm
cident represents condition quite
common to all important legislation
in that the rank and file of the mem
bership have little to say about final
results.
Excepting insofar as they should
be held responsible for the undemo-
cratic parliamentary system, under
which an oligGrchy of key members
make the ultimate decisions, the ma
jority of Hoase and Senate should not
be subject to too much consure for
this exemption of their own salaries.
Probably they knew nothing about it
at the time, and no parliamentary OPP
portunity- would have been given to
change the provision had they known
We quote the above from the
Searchlight on Congress. printed in
Washington City by the Voters
League, Some time ago The Com
mercial referred to the fact that the
salaries of members of Congress were
exempted from war tax. Then from
an editorial in the Louisville Courier
Journal. in which the kentucky mem
Der there sought to make a different
Impression, we made correction.
But the fact remains that Congress
did vote to exempt officers and en-
ployees of the United States. and
therefore members OF Congress are
placed in the attitude Of Sinking
their part OF the tax obligations to
the Government which they are sery-
ing and the country which should
above all Others have their support
as well as their patriotism, for with
out substantial support patriotism is
as tinkling cymbal and sounding
brass.
Now we do not want to drop into
Incorporate comment on the subject.
1t is hardly ever becoming in any
reputable paper to do this, but does
not this action upon the part of Con-
gress. to say the least OF Il. seem very
scowardly.
The more charitable view Is taken
that some members. especially those
who were not permitted the sacred
precincts of conference, did not know
in all probability that this exemption
was made until the bill was passed.
Congressman and Senators have a
salary each Of $500 per annum.
In addition to this each one is en-
titled 10 the salary OF clerk, which
is $4,000 year and pay for an adj
ditional month In the year is voted.
The mileage for railroad travel to
and from Washington, given to mem