Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-27
WHILE HUN GUNS
ROAR PRESIDENT
HOLDS CONGRESS
Politics Is Adjourned" Pres
ident Declares; Asks Legis-
lators to Eliminate
WAR PROFITS TO PAY
Increases in Taxation Should
Be on Incomes and Luxur-
les, Too, He Asserts
By Associated Press

Washington, May 27.-Just as the
German cannon were laundering
their herald of the renewed offensive
on the western battlefront, President
Wilson to-day appeared unexpected
ly before Congress and demanded
that, laying political considerations
and all others aside. it remain in
session until 1t has enacted new war
tax laws to finance the growing cost
Of the war and prepare the country
for the burden it must bear.
AT the conclusion of his prepared
address the President pausing. laid
his hand over his manuscript and
added another precedent breaker to
the long list he has established in
his dealings with Congress. He ad-
dressed the assemblage extemporan-
eously. speaking earnestly and force
fully, while his auditors sat in a rapt
and surprised silence.
Drive Spurs Wilson
May 1 add this word, gentleman" !"
he said. Just as 1 was leaving the
White House l was told that the ex-
pected drive on the west front had
apparently been begun. You ap-
parently realize how that solemnized
my Feeling as I came to you and
how it seemed to strengthen the
purpose which l have tried to ex-
press in these lines.
Il have admired the, work of this
session. The way in which the two
houses of Congress have co-operated
with the Executive has been gener-
Gus and admirable and it is not in
any spirit of suggesting duty neglect
| ed, but only to remind you of the
common cause and the common OBJ
| legations that / have ventured to
come to you to-day"
/ Unfair to Wait Till 1919
! 1t would be manifestly unfair, the
| President said TO wait until 191!
/ before determining what the new
! taxes would be. The Presidents ad
! dress was comparatively brief, tax
/ ing less than fifteen minutes for de-
| livery.
| In specific terIns the President
| gave a distinct warning agains
| lobbying in connection with the new
bill.
There is indisputable evidence Of
! protiteering at present, the president
said, and he declared it must be
| reached by the new legislation.
'Profiteering that cannot be go
| at by restraints of conscience" sait
the President, Can be got at by
| taxation"
Urges FearIessness on Congress
There need be no hesitancy in tax
| ing the country. the President tolC
| Congress, if it were taxed justly. HI
appealed to Congress to approach
the great task without selfishness o.
| fear of political consequences.
"An intense and pitiless light beat!
upon every man and every action in
| to the tragic plot of war that is nov
upon the stage" said the President
The President concluded with ai
| appeal to Congress to do its worl
ungrudgingly and said he could no
! guarantee a proper administration
| oe the Treasury unless the question
were settled at once.
| When he had concluded his ad
| dress the President unexptectedl!
! made a brief eXtemporaneous state
| ment, in which he said that just q;
! he was leaving the White House fol
| the Capitol he had heard that the
| new German drive apparently haC
| just begun and that it added to tho
| solemnity of his conception of the
| country's duty.
The Presidents Address
The Presidents address follows:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
| "It is with unaffected reluctance
that 1 come to ask you to prolong
your session long enough to provide
more ADEQUATE resources for the
treasury for the conduct of the war
I have reason to appreciate as fully
as you do how arduous the session
;. has been. Your labors have been
severe and protracted. You have
passed a long series of measures
which required the debate of many
doubtful questions of judgment and
many exceedingly difficult questions
OF principle as well as of practice
! The summer is upon US in which la
bor and counsel are twice arduous
and are constantly apt to be impair
ed by lassitude and fatigue.
"The elections are at hand and we
ought as soon as possible go and rem
der an intimate account of our trus-
teeship to the people who delegated
TC1nffnVPd ~ Da-z an