The Lamar register., 1917-02-21
WASHINGTON NOTES
Unfair Distribution of Taxes

prehensive speech during the debate
on the Revenue bill, Representative
Martin B. Madden of Illinois, summed
up the record of the democratic ad-
ministration in extravagant cxpendi-
ture of money and forcefully present
ed the unfairness of its schemes of
taxation. The following paragraph
shows the unfairness Of democratic
distribution of tax burdens:
"The northern -tates pay "a per
cent of the expenses of the govern
ment of the United States, and the
southern states pay 6 per cent. When
the democratic party is in power the
south is in control, and the people
who pay per cent of the bills have
the power to tax those who pay "a
per cent; and in the exercise Of that
power they never overlook chance
to tighten the burdens Of the people
of their own section, while they give
no consideration whatever to the
rights of those who live in other sec
tions of the country. Business eiiic-
iency is taxed by an inefficient major
ity in this House whose lack of knowl-
edge and reckless extravaganza have
run the finances of the country upon
the rock of bankruptcy, beyond the
hope of repair"
Every voter should write Congress-
man Madden for a copy Of the speech.
Republican Prosperity the Basrs
That the democrats are able TO de-
rive such large revenue from inter
nal taxation because of the carefully
nurtured prosperity which the repub-
licans left as a legacy to the demo-
cratic administration is the contention
of Congressman Henry W. Watson Of
Pennsylvania ''The republican pro-
tective tariff was the energy which
developed our great resources," as
serts Mr.. Watson, "and the demo-
cratic party depends upon that pros
perity from which to collect a revenue
TO meet incorporate democratic dis
bursements." Representative Watson
recognizes the right of the party in
control to impose their economic the
ories on the country but must deny
his support to a bill that will inevi-
ably reduce wages, further increase
the cost of living and add more bur
densome taxation.
Would Set Aside Washington's Policy
In their repeated explanations of
the presidents address TO the senate
on permanent peace the democrats Of
that body have found it necessary to
soft pedal when discussing the Wilson
proposition that our authority and
power should be added to the author
ity and force Of other nations TO
guarantee peace and justice through
out the world" Senator Henry F.
Lippitt of Rhode Island, asks the per
tinent question: Does not that ex-
preston force mean join the army
and navy of the United States to the
armies and navies of the other ma
tions ?" One of the administration
democrats hastily replied that "un-
doubtedly it means potential force"
The dictionary definition of "poten-
tial" is possible, as opposed to ac-
tual." The word effectively describes
not only the presidents peace address
but all of his note writing since he
entered the White House. He possess
es the potential power, because Of
his exalted position, of placing this
country in the front rank of nations, !
honored and respected by all, but the
actual" accomplishment has fallen
sadly short of that mark
Made in Japan"
The consul at Alden, Arabia, re-
ports that the Japanese are offering
in that locality for sale 10 pound
sheetings at a lower price than the
American 7 "a pound quality can be
sold for at a profit. "The situation
is one deserving serious consideration
in. the United States, as the main
tenance of American supremacy in
cottons has Il not-to-be-ignored bear
ing on the development of other lines
of American trade in this district, :"
says the consul. Japan has the freight
carriers, ours have been driven off
the Pacific by the seamcn's law. ia
pan has the cheap labor;our only hope