East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1918-05-27

WASHINGTON May 27.-The
President called on congress today to
sacrifice political expedience and
drive through the tax bill. Appearing
before the joint session on Washing
toms hottest day he found an audience
of distinctly disgruntled solons with
prospects of perspiring over revenues.
The message was strictly business. He
said congress musV db its duty com
pletely before going before the peo-
pie in preparation for the fall cleo
tions. He said:
@Additional revenues must manifest
ly be provided. 1t is not unsound pol
icy to raise too large a proportion by
loans. He said we cannot in fairness
wait until the cpd of the fiscal year
to apprise people of the t3xes they
must pay on the earnings of the pres
ent fiscal year. 1t would not allow
the public to practice the necessary
to make taxes available.
'Definiteness, early definiteness is ne
for the successful administra-
ton Of the treasury
Take War Profits
The President said congress natur-
ally would turn for revenues to war !
profits and luXuries. ~
He said he was very reluctant to [
ask to. prolong the session through /
summer. He appreciated that con-
sress has had an arduous session. the |
abors severe and protracted. 1t has I
passed a long series of measures re- /
luiring debate on many doubtful sub .
ects.
The President linked his appeal I
With the resumption Of the German
irive on the west front He said:
Just as I was leaving the White
House l was brought the news that
Germany had apparently resumed her
ong expected drive on the west
ront. Surely YOU can realize how
hat solemnized by feelings as I come
o you and strengthens the purpose
hat I have tried to express in these
ines"
Not Fair TO Wait.
Concerning unfairness to wait, he :
aid: 1T might be difficult TO run a
nill with water already gone over the
Wheel. Moreover taxes of that sort
Won't be paid until June next year and
he treasury must anticipate them. II
must sell short time certificates of in
ebtedaess. What are bankers tn
hink of the certificates il they don't
certainly know where the money is !
oming from which is to take them y
p? How are investors to approach q
he purchase of these bonds with con-
idencc if they don't know what taxes
hey are to pay and what economies .
nd adjustments of their business they
must effect. l can't assure the coun-
ry OF a successful administration of
he treasury in 1915 il the question OF
urthcr taxation is left until 1919. The
consideration which dominates every
thcr nov, making every other trivial,
egligible. is the winning Of the war.
Nc are at the very peak and crisis OF q
he war. Hundreds of thousands of I
ur men carrying our hearts with I
hem. and our fortunes. are in field, ]
hips, Crowding faster and faster to the 7
.orts of France and England with !
thousands after sthousands to join
hem until the enemy shall be beaten
nd brought tu reckoning with man
ind. There can be no pause or inter
Mission. We must push our great en-
erprise with greater and greater en- Z
rgy. our final program must no =
more be left doubtful than the ord J
program. or the proposal to
lake millions Of men ready.
There's only one way to meet that {
uty. Meet it without selfishness. or I
ear OF the consequences. without eN-
lanations or excuses. with a plain
eeord OF duty faithfully and disin-
arestedly performed g