Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-31
DEGREES
high TAX ON RICH
|ocript Wealth Only if
Necessary to Win, Says
Senator
NILS WAR UNPOPULAR
2fonna Insists Future Genera
Hons Should Not Be Burdened
" With Huge Bond Issues
WASHINGTON. Aug. 81.

d 4
>t Senator Warren @. Harding, of Ohio,
ma the Senate today that he would con-
4Utpt every dollar Of income Of more than
\ V6o00 to a family II necessary to win the
e var. He decried, however. proposals to
make wealth and capital bear the whole
unancial burden Of the war.
N'T1l assume" he said. that between ex-
1<emlsts and conservatives am ranking
With the latter But I want TO state how
\ t46Ical I can be. II II proves necessary
~ order to finance the war to triumphant
t4Qlng, would vote to conscript every
Collar Of income in excess Of $4,000 to the
1Atnily. II IL is proven the pending bill
- Insufficient to meet the national need
would add the burden TO incomes"
n Senator Harding attacked excessive levies
upon war profts and declared that wholly
wrong impression has been created through
cut the country on this question,
S III ye~ -.-"i' - that excess profit you
reduce the incomes wh ch are available for
taxation,' he said. "If you sire at *
ceases you are likely to hinder our indus
trial productiveness.
THE term seems to invite attack. but let
- reflect a moment. Only a relatively few
are connected directly with the war. Mo-
body sees a bloodstain on food. yet II is
IN enormous demand. A few munitions
shops are directly connected with the con-
fict. but the great bulk OF excess profits
0lo only lnQlreCtly associated WITH war
grim expenditure.
Senator Harding charged that the guar
artee Of 50 wheat has added ten times the
burden to the American home this measure
proposes"
why doesn't some one" he said. "er-
phaelze the fact that this bill proposes 10
take 1,25o, ,000, 900 from excess and super
normal profits and 5000, 900 from in
comes, and only $4,000, 900 is contemplated
for the great mass. rich and poor, to pay?'
Senator Harding declared that this Is not
= popular war and insisted the issue ought
70 be made clearer. but predicted America
would emerge triumphant.
There are a score OF contributing rea-
CONS. We are sincerely devoted to peace.
We had no military establishment. Peace
had been the campaign cry for the year be-
tore our involvement and was dwelt upon
IN studied oratory on every stump. Yes,
Ill add that we have not been clear about
cur reasons for making war. l have some
times though it would be we'll to say less
about worldwide democracy and let it ring
clear that we mean to hold America safe
Tor Americans"
Senator Gronna said America could af-
not burden future generations with interest
on huge bond issues. He advocated taking
The bulk OF the war chest from war profits.
Z, ANY other procedure would be funda-
nnsntally wrong and would receive from
shs people Of the country the resentment 1t
deserves" said Gronna.
Indications multiplied today that the
finance Committee through its surrender
- the sentiment for a heavier draft on war
pronts has swung to its support many
oenators who earlier were hostile to the
oommittee's bill
+ southern Senators who had allied them
eelves under Senator Underwood's leader. |
In Ggtv 80 - n t.L
u1ent are gradually returning to the COM
41tttess aid. Senator Underwood today pre-
1Icted the committee would win. defeating
ne Johnson-Borah wealth conscrption
gorces. Consumption taxes promise. how
over to raise a bitter contest.
. Senator johnson. of California. called up |
~ amendment to levy a total tax of so per |
pent on war profits this afternoon and pre-
cipitated sharp debate between Senators
moot, Of Utah, and Borah of Idaho.
. senator Smoot declared his belief that |
ne country strongly sympathized with the
.norts to conscrpt war wealth. He de-
ended the amendment recommended
Wednesday by the Finance Committee to |
evy heavier taxes upon concerns which !
made big profits before the war. He de. |
,lared that there should be big levies upon |
such men as Henry Ford, whose pre-war |
income was s24.0oo.000 a year he said
why didn't the committee discover that |
S II did discover it before" retorted SEN |
gtor Smoot.
This is the most remarkable debate II
sver heard" said Senator Borah. When |
he committee made It's hrs. report, any |
bne who opposed 1t was denounced as a |
friend CT the Kaiser. trying to make the |
var unpopular. Now the committee has |
rome back and brought out an amendment
,ontaining principles at war with every |
nature of the original report"
Senator Penrose criticized the Admins |
ration for constantly submitting new esti-
mates and upsetting the revenue program. |
de told the Senate that after the bill had |
'een completed the Secretary of the Treas
lry submitted new estimates on behalf Of |
he War Department calling for additional |
Of $500, oo0, 900. including
2 300. 900, 600 for fed artillery.
What the business world demands is |
hat the final estimates for the first year |
4 the war be known" said Senator Pen |
cse THE War Department did not wake |
'p to the fact that battles are fought with |
lftillery until August"