The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-06-07
PRESIDENT URGES
|. REVENUE MEASURE
TAXES MUST BE INCREASED TO
FINANCE GROWING COST
OF THE WAR
APPEARANCE is UNEXPECTED
House and Senate Leaders Confer I'M
mediateIy After Conclusion of
Speech and Agree to Start
Hearings in June.
APPEARANCE is UNEXPECTED

Washington, May 2S-Just as the
German cannon were laundering their
herald of the renewed offensive on the
western battle front, President Wilson
yesterday appeared unexpectedly be-
fore congress and demanded that, lay
ing political considerations and all
others aside ii remain in session until
it has enacted new war tax laws to
finance the growing cost of the war
and prepare the country for the burden
it must bear
At the conclusion of his prepared
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 addressed the as
semblage extemporaneously, speaking
earnestly and forcefully while his au-
ditors sat in rapt and surprised ST.
| lence.
MAY l add this word, gentlemeng'
said he. Just as | was leaving the
White house was told that the ex-
pected drive Oh the western front had
apparently begun You can realize how
that solemnized my feeling as | came
to you, and how ii seemed TO strength
en- the purpose which | have tried to
express in these lines.
Il have admired the work of this
session. The way in which the houses
of congress have cO-operated with the
executive has been generous aid and
admirable, and it is not in any spirit
of suggesting duty neglected but only
to remind you of the common cause :
The president called upon congress
to eliminate politics from the consider
alton. Politics, he said, is adjourn
ed" The principal increases in taxa-
ton, the president said, should be on
incomes, war profits and Injuries.
II 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 10 minutes for delivery.
In specific terms the president gave
a distinct warning against lobbying in
with the new bill.
There is indisputable evidence of
at present, the president
said, and he declared it must be reach
ed by the new legislation.
"Profiteering that cannot be got at
by restraints of conscience" said the
president, "can be got at b. taxation
"There need be no hesitancy in tax
ng the country" the president told
congress, IF it were taxed justly"
He appealed TO congress to approach
he great task without selfishness or
ear of political consequences.
IAN intense and pitiless light beats
lpon every man and every action in
he tragic plot of war that is now upon
he stage" said the president.
The president concluded with an an
zeal to congress to do its work I'M
and said he could not guar
ntee proper administration of the
reasury unless the question were set
led at once.
The president was greeted with
beers when in his speech he minated
lmost at the outset that new revenue
'ould be drawn from war profits, in
ONES and luXuries.
The crowded galleries and the house
nd senate rose and cheered Loudly.
hen he declared that hundreds #
iousands of American troops in the
cid and lin ships are crowding to the
ont with regiment after regiment to
lin them until the enemy shall be
'aten and brought to reckoning with
ankind."
Majority Leader Kitchin as chairman
the house ways and means commit
e, which will immediately begin
ans for the revenue legislation, and
lairman Simmons of the senate
nance committee, held conference
after the speech.