Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-27
PRESIDENT WILSON
ASKS CONGRESS FOR
MORE TAXING LAWS.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE GOES BEFORE
JOINT SESSION TODAY AND
ISSUES APPEAL FOR iNCReAs.
Ed REVENUE TO WIN THE WAR.
by John E. Nevins,I

pelses were demanded from ION
gress today by President Wilson In
speech 10 a joint session he outlin-
ed the needs of the treasury and ask
ed action before adjournment It was
the first time since he became presi
dent that he has touched upon purely
an economic question etfecting the en-
tire country.
Paving tribute to the good work
which the present Congress already
has accomplished the chief executive
asked that the inequalities in the
present revenue law be remedied and
that new sources Of revenue be tap
ped.
Excuses are unavaling," he declar-
ed. Additional revenues must be
manifesily provided for Definite
ness as to what its parts are to be is
absolutely necessary for the success
fal administration of the treasury"
We are not only in the midst Of
the war We are at The peak and crisis
OF it." declared the president. Pay.
ing his tribute to the military forces
OF the nation the president insisted
mat Congress must forget politics"
and prepare an adequate financial pro,
gram that the economic situation shall
be as sound as is the military.
That the official information reach.
ing the government indicates that the
German drive. which started today,
may be the real thing was Indicated
by the president who added para
graph to his set speech saying may
| add n word gentlemen? Just as
was leaving the white house, was
told that the expected drive on the
western front has apparently begun
You can realize how that solemnized
my feelings as ! came TO you and how
II seems to strengthen the purpose
which have tried TO express in these
lines. | have admired the work of
this session. The way in which the
two houses Of the congress have CO.
operated with the executive was gen
erous and admirable. and II is not In
any spirit Of any suggesting duty.
neglected, but only 10 remind you Of
the common cause and the common
obligations that | have venrured To
come to YOU today
After thanking Congress for what
II has done the president speaking
on the revenue said
Additional revenue must manifest.
~ lie provided for Il would be a /
most unsound policy to raise a large
proportion Of them by loan and ii Is
evident that the four billions now pro.
tvlded for by taxation will not of them
selves sustain the greatly enlarged
budget to which we must Immediately |
look forward The present tax
laws are marred, moreover bv infant.
ties which ought TO he remedied In /
disputable facts, everyone: and we
cannot alter or blink them. To state
them is argument enough Only ,
fair equitahly distributed taxation of I
me widest incidence and growing /
chiefly from the sources which wonld /
be likely to demoralize credit bv
their very abundance. can prevent in !
hatlon and keep our industrial system !
tree OF speculation and waste f.
cannot assure he country of snr
eussful administration of the treasury
IN 1918 If the question OF further taxa.
ton Is left undecided until 1919
The consideration that dominates
every other now. and makes every
other seem trivial and negligible, is
the winning Of the war. We are not
only in the midst Of the war. we are
at the very peak and crisis of ii
Hundreds of thousands of our mon
carrying our hearts with them. and i
our fortunes, are In the field and
ships are crowdng faster and faster
to the ports Of France and England
with regiment after regiment, thous.
ands after thousands, to ioin them
until the enemy shall be beaten and
brought to reckoning with man.
kind
mere can be no pause or inter.
The great enterprise must.
on 'tne contrary, be pushed with great.
or and greater energy. The volume NJ
our might must steadily and rapldly {
be augmented until there can be M !
question Of resisting IT, II that is to y
be accomplished, gentlemen. money
must sustain It to the utmost Our
program must be left in J
doubt or suffered to lag than our ord. {
nance program or our ship program or y
our munitions program for making
millions Of men ready These others :
are no. programs, indeed. but mere y
plans upon paper unless there IL 10 u
De an unqnestonable supply of money d
y
i am advising you to take stems on
his matter now. Not because do .
lot know that you can see and IN.
erpret the facts aud the duties thew
impose Just as well and with as clear n
perception Of the obligations In. NJ
Owed, as can, but because there ia b
certain solemn satisfaction In shar- 81
mr. with unn fba rnnr..aiIlI.l- 4.