The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-05
Utilities Commission Head Says
He Won't "keep Quiet"
He Reiterates Charges of s.Grab
and Plumber"
MAKES REPLY TO HELVERING
Says the Rich Are DOdging
Hardships of the War.
Plans Are to Increase Poor
Mans Burdens, He Asserts.

In detailed complaint, Joseph L.
Bristow. chairman of the public uti1-
tiles commission. renews and extends
his remarks against the war program
of President Wilson and congress in
an editorial published Monday even
ing in H. Salina Evening Journal
BristOw's editorial is directed as an
answer 10 the demand of Congress
man Guy T. HeIvering that Bristow
be discharged from his place at the
head of the state utilities commission.
Every word in Bristow's so called
reasonable editorial against the gov
ernment war policy is reiterated in the
editorial statement directed TO Con-
gresham Helvering. Charges of
graft, OF excessive contract prices for
munitions and environments, favorit-
ism in favor of wealth in the draft of
the war tax bill, advance decisions in
distribution of commissions TO army
men, are some Of the indictments
which Bristow hurIs at his government
IN the present crisis He says;
Bristow's second Offense
Now, my dear Mr. HeIveri,,g. for
your information we beg to advise you
that thos.s statements are true
You know, or ought to know, hat
1t is common rumor in Washington
that congressman and other influential
army for relatives, said commissions
have been dated before the parties
were sent to the training camps or
mad taken any exa ANIMATION This was
done, so We were informed, that said
faVorites might have seniority in rank
over thousands of other worthy young
men, who were in the camps workin;,
| honestly ror the rank to which they
I aspired, believing that they would be
given square deal if they Garnet it
Z M L-r.r rL-r
/ at hearings of the house and senate
committees charges have oeen made
/ that contra actors are being pait, a per
| cent of the cost of construction OF
army caEtonments- That these con-
tractors were paying 81 day for
| labor thai could be obtained for 81
/ That they were paying excessive prices
I fo- materials, thereby Initiating thu
cost OF the work, so as to get a larger
| commission for construction.
| You know. or ought to know that
4 it is openly alleged that such methods
| and blunderings have resulted in an
/ Increase in the estimated cost of the
| construction of these cantonments
from s75-ooo.000 to s15O.000, 900
/ Munitions Lobby.
You know, or ought to know, that
the LOBBY of the nutrition makers was
strong enough with the senate com
J mittee on finance to have the tax on
+ munitions removed from the revenue
| bill ard tax on tea, coffee and other
! articles of universal consumption sub
stituted therefor
You know, or ought to know, that
| the Hobbies that now swarm the CORR
| doris of the capitol have induced the
| senate committee on fina nce to re-
move from the revenue bill the in
! creased Surtax on excessive incomes of
more than $4,000 a year. that was
put in the bill on the floor of the
/ mouse. on motion of Mr. Lenroot of
| Wisconsin and that, as the bill now
/ stands. the tax on great incomes will
I Great Britain.
II You know, or ought to know. that
under pressure from innum era BILE
lobbyists this revenue bill is being 50
shaped thai great corporations with
Watered stock will practically esca ne
taxation. and that large Industrial
concerns are going to be permitted to
pass the tax on TO the consumer.
You know, or ought to know, that
there Is low a powerful lobby O.
metropolis newspapers and raaga-
zine publishers in Washington de-
handing that the increased posyare
rates recon, uended by the Dostma ster
general he not adopted. nut that a
gross tax r advertising be substituted
| therefor and that these Iobb isl.
state that they want that kind of taZ
because they can pass it on to the
advertiser and thereby get out of .lav.
Ing 1t themselves, while they could MOI
pass on the postal tax
Burden on Poor Man.
You k1row, or ought to know, Lha
th@ amount OF money to be raised BY
taxes on wealth and income is to b.
DEDUCTED and the amount obtained by
the sale OF bonds increased so ,ha
the poor man will not only carry tn,
burden OF this war on the field O
battle, but also carry the lad n
m
You &" know that thousands n
1 men have flocked 10 Washington ant
4 are using every device known to tn
ingenuity of man 70 obtain and ar
obtaining soft berths for themselves
their relatives and political friends
4 fe@ becarse the editor of this name
4 calls the attention of the country an,
the administration to this condition
you pronounce him a traitor. AID
II pa1 emily instead of irving 70 cor-ac
i However, your blatant babbIfngs vii
not 1901 the people long, If at all
further beg leave to suggest t
you that men will not be deferred h
4 vltuperatlon and abuse from Stain
4 the truth about the manner of con
4 Quoting the public business This is
country where free speech has not We
been denied The facts as to the ex
q / penditure of the s7.000.00G.0O will b
q known and further Mr. HeIvarirr
] beg TO advise you that the traitor
a rot he who exposes graft, but one VIII
81 covers it up.
You may think it patriotic to drav
q the youth of this land to die in tn
b trenches of Europe, and to permit tn
bloated munitfon maker to escap
proper taxation and keep his blood
! stained gold, but we do not. And re
8 gardless of the brazen effrontery wit
q which you seek to intinidate me
8 from the expression of facts we prc
f. To he
81 tons as they are Not as a traitor I
q his country, but as q patriot. who ha
81 contempt for a congressional triume
n and hatred for q public thief"
q Chicago May Have Car Strike
f-hfea- Tune will