Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-01-16
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.


tional income needed for the next ifs
cal year. Mr. McAdoo has set the sum
necessary in the balance figures
There seems 10 he little reason to
believe that the lawmakers intend to
revise. the taxation bill of last year to
any material degree, If they touch ii at
all. There has been good deal of
talk about the necessity of getting af-
ter the excess prorit faxes. as som, 9th
er matters, bul presumably the enor-
nous labor which would be involved TO
secure comparatively few changes will
operate TO prevent any reopening Of
On old question.
There is one taxation matter upon
which it probably will not be neces-
sary for congress to act, 1t will be re-
bembered that the senators and repre-
s"ntatives calmly exempted themselves
from the tax which would make their
Salaries subject to the excess profits
provision of The law. This provision
nit the salaries Of other men which
we're in excess Of certain amount,
but left congress foot-loose Of payment.
There has been great amount Of
criticism of this exemption action Ot
The members. A iocose one asked why
II was that the congressman exempted
themselves from this tax and he fur
nished his own answer when he said
because the hide of hippopotamus
is seyen-elghths Of an inch thick"
Their Expenses Are Heavy
Some persons seem TO think that the
personal experience Of one member
confronted with heavy expenses and
with the heavy labor of making both
ends meet with his salary. influenced
him to lend his pnquestionably able aid
In securing the exemption for himself
and his colleagues.
There is something TO he said in be-
half Of members OF congress In this
matter of exemption from the excess
tax a member is paid $500 a year
and this to a great many men looks
like big salary. hut senators and rep.
resentatives have To indulge in expen-
ditures which people do not know any
thing about and Of which they. Of
course. cannot properly speak.
Members of congress are marks
There is not charity going, good
charity. indifferent charity or bad char.
ity. which does not send its represen,
tatiyes TO ask contributions of mem
hers. They must buy tickets To this
and to that Thing and moreover, If the
personal "reminiscences Of all If them
| could he written and the account books
made public. Il would be shown that
| they contribute money out Of pocket
day In and day ont to the INDECENT
Representative John ]. Fitzgerald
| If brooklyn gave up his scat in the
house the other day because he could
not make both ends meet Here Is IL
man who ms chairman OF the commit
tee on appropriations has all the lime.
light that anyone could wish. who has
the respect of congress for his grasp
of financial matters and for his keen
| knowledge Of parliamentary affairs.
and yet he prefers TO give up public
life and the considerable honor which
has been accorded him in order that
he may make enough money. not only
20 care properly for his family. hut to
enable him to care for himself In the
future of old age.
Not EXEMPT, Says Green.
Representative William r. Green of
Iowa. member Of the ways and means
committee of the house. has written Il
letter TO the commissioner Of internal
revenue IN which he includes the ar
gumeut that members of congress are
not exempt from the ruling Of the in
come tax and he has asked the commits
! siOner to rule accordingly. II the rul-
ing that Representative Green asks Is
made. every senator and representative
IN congress must pay the 8 per cent
excess profits tax proposed at the last
session on provisional incomes and in
comes derived from business in which
there is no investlf mt of capital.
Representative Green IN his letter
TO the commissioner declares that
members Of congress are not officers
Of any state nor are they officers IN
der the United States within the mean
ing of the war revenue act He holds
that if a statute intends that the term
Officers Of the United States" should
include members Of the congress. there
must he something IN the statute to
show that fact.
There are other members Of congress
who believe that under the wording Of
the taxation bin they are not exempt
from this tax. Many Of them have suf
fered under the criticism which came
because of the self exemption.
National Press Clubs Officers.
The National Press club. with an
active membership which includes
virtually every newspaper man. au-
thor and magazine writer in this
town. is marching on in the old
successful way despite the war. which
has deprived il of active members. and
despite prohibition. which some an
unknowing person said would XIII the
club life in this city.
There never was much conviviality
About Advice.
The worst thing about advice, OBJ