The Washington herald., 1918-05-28

We have heard all kinds of sug-
gestions on the hill with reference
to the forthcoming war revenue bill
There seems to be an opinion. quite
prevalent among the members. that
so-called luxuEies will come in for
heavy taxes and 1t may be that some
phase OF this sort of taxation will
be worked out quite extensively when
that measure is shaped.
For instance. We have heard these
steps proposed:
Taxation of 100 per cent Of all
incomes OF more than 10000 per
year.
Flat tax on each gallon of gaso-
line used in pleasure vehicles of gas
propelled type.
Tax on each gallon of ice cream
Flat tax on theater tickets tin
crease) and on all amusement tick
cts as well as some of the classes
of food which we do not think of as
being included in an ordinary menu.
And so on and so on->everything
possible to propose will likely como
up during the consideration of the
bill. The chances are that many
more proposals will be made, to meet
the ideas of men seeking office, than
will be eventually be enacted into
law. This is quite natural, perhaps,
but the lawmakers will have to take
time and care in their consideration
of the measure for fear they will
do many injustices.
The situation, while everyone will
be wanting to get home as soon as
possible. calls for the utmost in
brains and industry. If the lawmakers
want to make food for their cam
paign they will do well to bend all
energies toward the thoughtful and
just consideration of the provisions
Of this measure. We hope there is
business sense a-plenty put into il
and no freakish provisions which
later will rise up to confront the
lamakers and do anything but call
them blessed"
DIR. Ralph A. Cram. whose life has
been spent in oblivion so far as real
politics is concerned, has written a
book in which he gives some atten-
tion to the worlds problems and lays
great blame on democracy for our
miserable lack Of leadership in many
lines.
An entertaining thought disserta-
tion we might be tempted to call
his work, but we fear DR.. Cram
has lost himself in a maze from
which he will suffer no early extrac-
tion. AS a matter of fact democracy
Is its own best friend. The doctor
may see this and he may not. He
might not agree with US on the point,
but IL his field of observation were
enlarged, down in the common stra-
tum of politics where most of us
have to operate, he would materially
alter his views. 1t is hard to con-
ceive of a man in the upper stratum
the impractical, too-ideal kind-try-
ing to get onto the common level But
1t has to be done il the higher-stra-
tum man is to understand the work.
ings of the stratum in which most
OF US exist. One cannot do him
SELF justice IL he maintains himself
on plane where he comes in con-
tact with only a few OF the people
he Is writing about.
DR.. Cram doubtless hits a popular
chord. however. when he rebels
against the constant tinkering with
laws of the. land. That is a step
which finds some opposition among
the conservative men of all parties
and it is a step which we think will
hnd more opposition in the future
when the country has settled down
to Its post-bellum condition.
Ralph Hayes, secretary to Secre-
tary of War Baker. has done two
things of real service to his country,
He has asked. as a result of his trfp
70 France, that he be given a higher
classification in the draft SO his
chances OF being called will be en-
hanced. and he has gathered the
speeches Of his chief into convenient
FORM under the title Frontiers Of
Freedom"
The latter step he took without
War.
Mr.. Hayes defines real young Amer
lean manhood in both steps He
shows that he has red blood and
that the future of the nation, left to
such as he is. will not be lost. Doubt
less he has been commended for his
part already, but we wish to add
the plaudits OF others our own com.
mendation Of, his initiative and pa
triotism,
The people are watching their law
makers. We say this adyisedly. We
think that at no time In the coun-
try's history. have people been more