The Washington herald., 1918-07-01
SENATORS WILL
FIGHT AGAINST
PROFITEERING
Radicals in Upper House to
Press Federal Trade Body
Disclosures.

One immediate effect of the disclo-
sures Of profiteering made in the re-
port of the Federal Trade Commission
viii be to stimulate the group Of Sem
ators who last year demanded taxing
50 per cent of war profits. Senator
Borah. author of the resolution which
called forth the report, indicated this
yesterday.
Last year Borah, johnson. Of Cali
fornis: kenyon, -sIss Fo'lette s;zd
others begged the senate 70 tax cor
poration incomes so that profiteering
would not ensue. They argued the
British system as an example of how
the huge industries should be forced
to bear their share Of the wars bur-
den.
Fight to Conscript PROFIT.
Now that this report has been pup
lished, including as II does statements
that i've great packers have made
profits Of $140,0O0.000 from 1915 to 1917.
there Is no question but that q vigor-
Gus fight will be made by this "radi-
caf' Senatorial group for conscription
~ AoA oS RoAN VI NAC NhOA nlOno
profits
Senator Borah was asked yesterday
whether he Considered prosecution of
the industries should follow the reve-
lations in the report. He replied thai
the report might foreshadow prose.
cution, but that II would first be nec-
essary to obtain more facts and see
whether fraud had been committee.
1t was not yet certain. he said,
whether taxation or the courts should
be the remedy.
L notice by today's papers" said
Senator Borah, that some of the
companies mentioned in the report
upon big business and that It Is un-
say that 1t is simply another attack
fortunate coming at this time.
AS this report was made in re-
sponse to a resolution introduced by
me think may be permitted to say
mat 1t Is in no sense an attack upon
Dig business. No man in his right
mind would desire to assail big bust
ness because it Is big.
But we do desire to get at the real
tacts In reference to the profits made
oS the companies so as to enable us
70 frame a revenue law which will
De JUST 10 business and at the same
time deal honorably and fairly with
sity.
Moderate Profits Only.
No man IN these times, or 10
business should desire mora than
moderate profit and all over and
above moderate profit every true
patriot will willingly donate to his
country, either in the way of taxes
or bonds.
Last year a few Senators mad. :,
determined effort to frame a revenue
bill. based upon the principle of war
profits and we insisted then unon
taking 30 per cent OF all profits which
could properly be designated as war
profits, We were charged with the
desire to break down the industries
Of the country and to embarrass the
prosecution of the war.
"A year has passed since that time
and now we are trying to go at the
real facts 30 as to find out just what
can be done without breaking down
business and at the same time take
care OF the needs OF the government.
hundreds Of thousands Of people
IN tnis country are denying them
selves the comforts Of life and even
deprivfng themselves of what would
De necessary in ordinary times, In
order to aid the government.
Under such circumstances any man
or any business which would conn
plain because Of being called upon to
give up war profits has not yet come
In touch with the true spirit of sac
rince with which all Of US must be-
come acquainted before we win the
war.
We are not fighting big business
or anybody except the Central Pow
ers We art simply calling. upon
tnose VINO claim protection under the
ability. -
That's the whole fight, and we
viii fight IT out along that line II n
takes all sumner"