Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-27
Declares Body Must Re
main in Session and
Pass Revenue Act.

Washington, May 27-Presi-
dent Wilson personally took
charge OF the war tax legisIa-
ton tangle today, and appear
Ing Unexpectedly before a Joint
session OF congress. declared il
was necessary to proceed i'm
medialely with new war tax
laws.
Plans which might have de-
layed the work. but which in
IOITed a working agreement
by both parties. had fallen
through. the president told the
legislators and there WAS no
way to meet the problem OF
financing the war but 10 have
congress remain in session and
20 ahead at once.
The president called on con-
Tess to eliminate politics from the
consideration. Politics, he said, is
adjourned" The principal in
creases in taxation, the president
said, should be on incomes, war
profits and Iuxuries.
Il would be manifestly unfair,
The president said, to wait until
1913 before determining what the
new taxes would be. The presidents
address was comparatively brief,
taking less than Is minutes for de-
livery.
Warns Against Lobbying.
In specific terms, the president
gave distinct warning against
lobbying in connection with the
new bill.
There is indisputabIe evidence Of
profteering at present, the pres
ident said, and he declared it must
be reached by the legislation.
'Prohteering that cannot be got
al by restraints OF conscience" said
the president, can be got al by
taxation"
There need be no hesitance in
taxing the country" he president
told congress. ii it were taxed
Justly
Forget Political Consequences"
He appealed to congress to ap-
proach the great task without self
shness or fear Of political conse-
qRnces. "An intense and pitiless
Aght beats upon every man and
every action in the tragic part of
var that is now upon the stage"
said the president
The president concluded with an
appeal 10 congress TO do its work
Sngrudgingly and said he could not
Elarantee a proper administration
o. the treasury unless the question
vas settled at once.
Hears OF German Drive.
When he had concluded his ad- |
afess, the president Unexpectedly |
made a brief extemporaneous state
nent, In which he said that just .
as ne was leaving the White house .
.or the capitol he had heard that .
she new German drive apparently I
aaa Just begun and that it added to I
He solemnity OF his conception of
NE country's duty.
Break More Precedents.
The Presidents extemporaneous
saaress added another precedent
oleaAer y, to the long list he has es-
.aoiished in his dealing with con
gEess.
May have a word. gentlemen,
,l Seiq ne. Just as l was leaving the
ealte house I was told that the eX-
geCled drive on the western front
"a. "a apparently begun. You can
.eaiiAe how that s0iemHized NV
.es-4hg as came to you. ana how il
seAed 10 streng hen the purpose /
J. sllch | have tried TO express in /
aese lines.
nave admired the work of this /
ssslon. The way in which the two /
uses OF congress have cooper
- with the executive has been 1
seIerols aid and admirable and it
nol In any spirit Of suggesting /
-. -! neglected but only TO remind
- -. u the common cause and the
y...-on y.,--4on obligations that I have
"a 10 come to you today
Words Bring Cheers.
= me president was greeted with
es Ss.ls when il his speech ne init
- 80 almost at the outset that
~. -e'enue would be drawn from
n pfohts. incomes and Iuxuries.
- crowded galleries and the /
os9Is,, ana senate rose and Cheered
10y when he declared thar hum
Ileds Of thousands 9f American
sro.ts. 49, u the field and Ia ships are
Ae,, g 70 the front with regi-
gen,;, sater regiment 10 join them
Ia tue enemy shall be beaten
fsak.nd. . " g 1oi44As VIII