Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-28
PLACE TAX BURDEN
ON WAR PR0F|TEER
URGES Mr.. WILSON
President Appears Before
Congress and Calls for
Money.
RENEWAL OF OFFENSIVE
SHOWS NEED OF ACTION
Both Democratic and Republican
Leaders Express Determination
to Go Ahead With Task.
HEARINGS IN ABOUT TEN DAYS
November 1 Predicted as Earliest
Possible Date OF Passage of
Bill.
RENEWAL OF OFFENSIVE
SHOWS NEED OF ACTION
HEARINGS IN ABOUT TEN DAYS
Possible Date OF Passage of
Bill.

WASHINGTON. May 27-Presiden,
Wilson personally took charge Of the
war tax legislation tangle to-day, and.
appearing unexpectedly before a joint
session OF Congress. declared IL was
new war tax laws.
Republican and Democratic leaders
at once announced their cuppoyt ard
promised cooperation in all efforts at
speed. Chairman kitchin. uf the House
Ways and Means Committee. said he
would begin hearings "n abou, ten
days" during which the Treasury De-
partment will be compiling figures
which he has asked.
Chairman Simmons. OF the Senate F!-
nance Committee. plans TO hold sim
.lar hearings Just after the House
committee has begun. There viii! be
no Joint sessions because OF the
Houses stand upon its constitutional
right to initiate all revenue lcgisla-
ton.
1t is reported on the highes. author
i'y that the general plan of the bill
~ill be to provide 40 per cent of the
nations need by taxation The other
so per cent Will be met by bcnda
Chairrnen Simmons and kttchin agree
on November ] as tho earliest possible
oato Of passage. They expect the bill
10 be introduced IN the House August
! OF Is.
Plans which might have delayed the
work. but which involved 4 working
agreement between both parties, hav-
Ing fallen through. the President told
the legislators there was no way to
meet the problem OF financing the
war but to have Congress remain in
session and go ahead a; once.
The President called upon Congress
TO eliminate politics from the consid-
Grafton. Politics. he said is "ad-
journed." The principal increase in
taxation. the President said. should be
on incomes. war profits and luxurles
1t 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.
EVIDENCE OF PRoFITEERING
WHICH MUST BE REACHED
In specific terms, the President, gave
a distinct warning against lobbying in
COZ ms elton with the new bill.
There is indisputable evidence of
proEteer!nS at present. the President
said. and he declared II must be reached
by the new legislation.
Protiteering that cannot be got at
by restraints OF conscience" said the
President. can be got at By taxation"
There need be no hesitance in taxing
the country. the President told Com
Ertss. II II were taxed Justly. He ap-
p>aleG to Congress to approach the
great task without selfshness or fear
OF political consequences.
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 ap-
peal to Congress to do its work un-
grudgingly and said he could not
guarantee a proper administration OF
the Treasury unless the question were
settled at once.
ASKS FOR LONGER
SESSION RELUCTANTLY
The Presidents address follows:
'Geptlemen Of the Congress-:
1T Is with unaffected reluctance that
come to ask you 10 prolong your ses-
sion long enough TO provide more ade
duate resources for the Treasury for
the conduct of the war. / have reason
TO appreciate as fully you do how
arduous the session has been. Your
iabors nave been severe and protracted
You have passed long series of
measures which required the debate NJ
many doubtful questions OF Judgment
and many exceedingly difficult questions
of principle as we'll as of practice. The
summer is upon us in which labor and
counsel are twice arduous and are con-
stantly apt to be impaired by lassitude
and fatigue. The elections are at hand
and we ought Is soon as possible 10 90
and render an intimate account of our
trusteeship to the people who dele
gated US TO act for them in the weiphtv
and anxious matters that crowded unon
us in these days OF critical choice and
action. But we dare not go to the cleo
tions until we have done our dutv m
the full. These are days when dutv
stands stark and naked. and even win
closed eyes we know il Is there Ex-
cuses are unavailing. We have eithtr
done our duty or we have not Th.
fact Will be as gross and plain as the
duty itself In such a case lassitude
and fatigue seem negligible enough.
The facts are tonic and suffice to
freshen the labor
MUST RAISE LARGER
SUM BY TAXATION
And the facts are these: Additional
revenues must manifestly be provided
for. 1t would be a most unsound poIlcy
to raise too largo proportion of them
by loan. and it is evident that the |
four billions now provided for by tax
alton will not Of themselves sustain
the greatly enlarged budget to which
W, must Immediately look forward We
cannot In fairness walt until the end
CONTINUED on Fourth Page.)