Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-28
Appearing Unexpectedly
Before Congress In Joint
Session, Executive De
mands Immediate Reve-
nue. Legislation; @.Get
Profiteers," His Advice.
G. O. P. BEATS PLAN
FOR DELAYING VOTE

sons address to congress appears on
page 81
Washington, D. c., May q
President Wilson personally took
charge OF the war tax legislation
tangle today, and appearing unexpect-
edly before Joint session Of congress,
declared 1t is necessary to proceed
Immediately with new war tax laws.
Plans which might have delayed the
work. but which involved working
agreement between both parties, have
fallen through, the president told the
legislators, and there is no way 20
meet the problem of financing the war
but to have congress remain in session
and 60 ahead at once.
| DEMANDS EARLY ACTION
| The president called on congress- to
eliminate politics from the considers
ton. Politics. he said, is adjourned"
The principal increases In taxation.
the president said, should be on iE.
comes, war profits and luxuries.
| 1t would be manifestly unfair. the
president said, to wait until 1918 be-
fore determining what the new taxes
K would be. The psosIdtni SGtressgs
was comparatively Srfef.s taking lesss
than fifteen minutes for delivery.
DECLARES WAR ON PRoFlrEERS
In specific terms, the president eavs
distinct warning against lobbying in
connection with the new bill
There is indisputable evidence OF
profteering at present, the president
! said, and he declared it must be
oyan ndS S>1ya In
"Profteering that cannot be got ~
by restraints of conscience" said thu,
president, ,"can be got at by taxation"
There need be no hesitance in tax
ing the country the president told
congress, 'if it were taxed Justly .
ASKS UNsELFIsH LOYALTY
He appealed to congress- to approach
the great task without sel6shness of
fear of political consequences.
can intense and pitiless light beats
upon every man and every aaCtjon In
the tragic part Of war that 10 now up
on the stage" he said. !
The president concluded with an ap-
peal to congress to do its work un.s
grudgingly and said he could not guar
antee A proper administration of the
treasury unless the legislation shall
be settled at once.
FIGHT POINTS U. s. DUTY
When he had concluded his addresS
the president unexpectedly made
brief extemporaneous statement, In
which he said that Just as he was leov-
ing the white house for the capitol he
had heard that the new German drive
apparently had just begun and that
it added to the solemnity Of his con-
contiOn ~ fhA cOuntrY'a dllfy
TRIBUTE TO CONGRESS.
The presidents extemporaneous ad-
dress added another precedent breaker
to the long list he has established IN
his dealings with congress.
"May add a word, gentlemen" said
he. "Just as I was leaving tho white
house I was told that the expected
drive on the western front apparent
" had begun. You can realize how
that solemnized my feeling ~ came
to you. and how it seemed to strength
en- the purpose which have tried to
express in these lines. %
II have admired the work Of this
session. The way in which tie two
houses Of congress have cooperatfS
with the executive has been generous
aid and admirable, and 1t Is not In any
Splr1t OF suggesting uuIy A06AcCISA UO-sS
only to remind you Of the common
! cause and the common obligations that
have ventured to come to you today.
CHEERS INTERRUPT SPEEcH.
The president was greeted with
cheers when in his speech he 5ntimAt-
ed almost at the outset that new rey-
enue would be drawn from war rrohts.
incomes and luxuries.
The crowded galleries and tha house
and senate rose and cheered loudly
when he declared that hundreds OF
thousands of American troops, in the
field and in ships. are crowding to the
| front with regiment after regiment tss
/ ioin them until the enemy shall be
beaten and brought to reckoning
with mankind"
| His hearers lauded his declaration
that profiteering should be reached
/ by taxation and that the country 10
ready for any necessary sacrifcc.
! Majority Leader Kitchin IS chair
| man of the house ways and means
committee, which will Immediately
begin plans for the revenue legislar