The Washington times., 1918-06-12

lem the House Ways and Means Com
mittee is considering Of taxing the
people to pay for the logical results
of world politics" since 1898.
Meeting at 10 o'clock yesterday
with Mr. Kitchin in the chair, the
House Ways and Means Committee
worked laboriously to meet It's in
calculably great responsibilities.
Among the variety Of witnesses to
whom 1t listened, Mr. Philip n. Gads-
den was perhaps most impressive.
He appeared as chairman Of the
National Committee on Public Utili-
ties, representing the. combination
OF the principal street roads, trolley
roads, electric light companies and
gas companies. Personally cheerful
he was officially in the utmost depths
OF depression. He is an artist. He
carried the committee and even har-
dened newspaper men to the depths
with him. 1t was virtually impos-
sible to hear him and not feel with
him that the public utilities"
through no fault OF their own, are
now suffering the most unmerited
calamities because OF the fact that
their expenses continually increase
while their charges are publicly reg
ulated. He explained that they are
doing a greatly increased business,
but 1t is either below cost or so
nearly so that their losses are likely
to increase with the increase of bust
ness. They were not being helped byl
the revolving fund Of the war Cor
poration," and Ne entreated the COM
mittee to put them in a "class by
themselves" When it was suggested
that this might do them little good,
the practical purpose OF Mr.. Gads-
den's powers OF melancholy appeal
for sympathy developed. He said
that as it would show the sympathy I
OF the committee, it might be a pow
erful factor in helping them to get
their rates raised.
He was questioned by Mr.. Garner
on 'watered stock" and also on the !
case OF the St Louis Transit Com !
pany" which, holding a complete |
monopoly, was represented as in a !
combine" with the "Hydro-electric /
trust" 1t was also represented in |
the unique position OF the only com /
pany which had got its rates raised |
at home while securing help from /
the revolving fund OF the War Cor
poration in Washington This may
remain asmystery until "co-ordina- /
ton and unification" are better IN
derstood as they operate between ST. /
Louis. New York and Washington.
The st. Louis company is credited
with a powerful pull"
Among other witnesses who testi-
fled yesterday was Mr. S. c. Pfrie,
from Chicago. Carrying on an ex-
tensive wholesale business under
partnership, he convinced the COM
mittee that he had wrongs which
ought TO be set right. as in the pay
ment Of taxes. corporations now have
advantages which turn to disadvant-
ages for partnerships AS president
of "the American Constitutional al
lance" Judge John W. Batdorf, Of
New York, explained his plans for
"geometric taxation" to carry out
ideas he credited to Jefferson. Other
witnesses explained other plans. The
committee will have full explanations
on everything which leads up to the
original question Of the distinction
between statistical billions and ac-
tual cash, TO be finally deducted from
the earnings OF the uncspitalized.
The House devoted the day to the
District OF Columbia. The Johnson
bill. forfeiting the charter OF the
Market Company was
passed. tribute to Mr.. Johnson's
into Washington history
back to the times OF Boss" Shep-
herd. The House intended to re-
buke "profiteering" as the company
is charged with extorting more from
the Government for part OF its space
than il pays the city for all Of Il.
The weights and measures bill, which
was also passed, is intended to en-
force the sale OF ice by weight, to
standardize the loaf OF bread, to pre-
vent cheating in fruits and vege-
tables and to enforce fairness gener-
ally in all sales by weight and |
measure"
No billion dollar deficit came in
Yesterday Secretary McAdoo tooly