The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-27
Says There Is Indisputable
Evidence of Prof
. iteering
WARNS AGAINST
ANY LOBBYING
" Should Be No Hesitancy
About Taxing Country
IF Taxed Justly"

Washington, May 27. - President
Wilson personally took charge Of the
war tax legislation tangle today. and
appearing unexpectedly before joint
session of congress, declared it was
necessary to proceed Immediately
with new war tax laws.
Plans which might have delayed
the work, which involved a working
agreement between both parties have
fallen through. the president told the
Legislators, and there was no way to
meet the problem Of financing the
war but to have congress remain in
session and go ahead at once. .s ..
The president called upon congress
to eliminate politics from the consid-
GRAFTON. Politics" he said, "is ad-
journed." The principal increases in
taxation, the president said, should
be on incomes, war profits and luxu-
ries. s.
Unfair to Wait Until 1919.
It would be manifestly unfair, the
president said to wait until 1919 be-
fore determining what the new taxes
would be. The presidents address
was comparatively brief, taking less
than fifteen minutes for delivery.
In specific terms the president gave
a distinct warning against lobbying
in connection with the new bill.
Here is indisputable evidence of
prohteering at present. the president
said, and he declared it mush be
reached by the new legislation.
Prohteering that cannot be got at
by restraints of conscience" said the
upresident can be got at by taxa
ton"
There need be no hesitancy in tax
ing the country" the president told
congress, 'if it were taxed justly. He
appealed to congress to approach the
great task without selfiishness or fear
Of political consequences. .s..
AN intense and pitiless light beats
upon every man and every action in
the tragic part of war that is now
upon the stage said the president.
The president concluded with an
appeal 10 congress to do it's work
and said he could not
guarantee a proper administration
OF the treasury unless the question
were settled at once.
Breaks Another Precedent,
At the conclusion of his prepered
address the president, pausing, laid
his hand over his manuscript and
added another precedent breaker to
the long list he has established in
his dealings with congress. He ad-
dressed the assemblage extemporan-
epusly, speaking earnestly and force
fully. while his auditors sat in a
rapt and surprised silence.
May I add this word, gentle
men," said he. "Just as I was leav-
ing the White House was told that
the expected drive on the western
front had apparently begun. You
can realize how that solemnized my
feelings as came to you
The Address.
The President 9 address follows:
Gentlemen OF the congress, it Is
with unaffected reluctance that III
come to ask you to prolong your
session long enough to provide more
adequate resources for the treasury
for the conduct OF the war. / have
reason to appreciate as fully as you
do how arduous the session has been.
Your laboTs have been severe and
pfotracted. You have passed q, long
series OF measures which required
the debate OF many doubtful ques-
lions OF Judgment and many exceed
ingly difficult questions Of principle
as we'll as Of practice. The summer
Is upon us, in which labor and coun-
sci are twice ardlIous and are con-
stantly apt to be impaired by lassi-
tude and fatigue The elections are
at hand and we ought as soon as
possible to go and render an init
mate account of our trusteeship toll
the people who delegated us to act
for Them in the Weighty and anxiousl
matters that crowd upon us in these
days of critical choice and action.
But we dare not go to the elections
until we have done our duty to thaI
full. These ere days when dutyl
stands stark and naked and event
with closed eyes we know 1t is there
6ronfinnad on papa q