Omaha daily bee., 1918-05-28
WILSON IN
CHARGE OF
WAR TAX
President Induces Congress to
Remain in Session and Pro-
vide Revenue for Carry.
! ing on War.

Washington, May 2.-President
Wilson today ended discussion over
whether congress shall remain in ses-
sion this summer to enact new revenue
legislation by appearing before the
house and senate i'll joint session and
calling upon members to put aside
politics ard all other considerations
to provide money for growing war
expenses and to advise the country in
advance Of the tax burdens it must
meet,
As President Wilson was leaving
for the capitol today word came that
the German drive against the west
front had been renewed. He gave his
visit a dramatic touch by announcing
this news as he concluded his pre-
pared speech, saying it strengthened
the purpose he had tried to express.
The demand that with the war at its
peak and crisis" congress do its
duty, "at home as the soldiers are do
ing their duty i'll the trenches over
seas" brought instant acquiescence.
No Summer Adjournment.
There still was reluctance i'll some
quarters to believe immediate leglsla-
ton imperative, but plans for mid
summer adjournment were abandoned
and both democratic and republican
leaders expressed their determination
to 60 at the task of passing a revenue
bill
A suggestion by the president that
most of the new taxes probably would
fall upon increment, excess protlts and
luxuries and that proflteers could be
reached in this way. was greeted with
cheers. Congressman said later that
the money needed would come FROM
those sources. r.;
To initiate the bill il. was an
nounced that public hearings would be
begun early in June by the house
wavs and means committee, to be toll
lowed by cooperation in its drafting
with the senate finance committee.
Presentation of the measure to the
house in July was regarded as as
sured.
Problems to be Worked Out.
One of the problems to be worked
out first is the proportion OF new
taxes to bond issue authorizations.
About $2O,000,000, 900 must be provld-
ed to meet expenses of the coming
wear. In memorandum recently
given to members of congress, the
president suggested that 40 per cent
should be raised by taxation. This
would mean bond issues for some
$l2,0O0,00O000, and doubling of the
approximately $4,000,000000 levied in
taxes this year.
Representative Kitchin,. chairman
of the ways and means committee,
the entire membership of which will
participate in the framing of the bill,
said the increases from the income
and excess and profits taxes will be
effected by readjusting excess prot
its and income surtaxes and that the
bill woull double the aggregate re-
ceived from these sources without
doubling the rates. He said there is
little room to lower the $1,000 and
$1,000 incomes now allowed single and
married persons, respectively. Those
who have made large profits as the
result of the war, he declared, will
be especially aimed at.
Public Hearings Planned.
At least weeks of public hear
ings are planned, and Mr.. Kitchin
said he did not see how the bill could
be law until November /.
Speaker Clark said that if there
were joint sessions of the house and
senate committees, congress could
get away by October. Committee
members said no Joint sessions were
contemplated.
Acting Republican Leader Cillet
announced that republicans of the
house had no idea of attempting par
tisan tactics.
Il have no idea" he said, that the
republicans will caucus on the bill or
attempt any partisan action. | wish
could feel that democrats will %"
as nonpartisan as the republicans will
be. l am sure we would have iaire:
bill if We passed it after election, be-
oause, now, inevitably, there will be
desire to avoid unpopular taxes
and the action of members will be
influenced-by the thought of their
reelection campaigns. / am fully ir
accord with what the president said
Appeal to Patriotism.
can intense and pitiless light beats
upon every man and every action III
the tragic part of war that is now
Upon the stage" said the president.
The president concluded with al
/. appeal to congress to do its work
ungrudgingly and said he could not
guarantee proper administration ot
the treasury unless the question were
settled at once
When he had finished his addres,
The present unexpectedly made brle
sxtemporaneous statement, in which
ne said that just as he was leaving
The White House for the capitol h.
had heard that the new German drive
apparently had just begun, and tina
it added to the solemnity of his con
ception OF the country's duty