The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-05-14

Inc new aTltlmetlc WnlCn counts
with the billion as the unit is coming
TO crisis this week. The crisis be-
gan to come at the Capitol yester-
day-with a comparatively small fig
Urea matter of six billions more
estimated as needed for heavy ord
nance. When added to other totals,
it is something to think about"
This thinking must be done at once.
That Is the nature of the crisis
somebody must think: 1t must be
done now-before the week ends
If we suppose that great statesmen
can think in billions, the delusiOn
may be comforting to US. Suppose
we take L for granted. But it re-
mains absolutely certain that the
rest of US cannot-that unless great
statesmen can do it, no one can.
All we can do is to think around
the impossibility. We know nothing
about what a billion dollars or TWEEN
ty-five billions mean. But we can
know what a single family means
and what it can do in the way OF
7 supporting the country. A coIh-
trv of a hundred million people has
not over twenty-five million families
II we impose on that country respon-
sibility Tor meeting obligations OF
twenty-five billion dollars, it means
an average Of a thousand dollars a
family-or twenty-five thousand MIL
lion dollars to be met by twenty
five million families.
Perhaps this is as near as any OF
rs who are not Supermen can come
to making a start on me proDIeH'
which must be thought out IN some
vav nv somebody, as it Is proposed
m add billion 10 billion, until the
total must run far above twenty-five
billions.
One thing is clear. 1t is said that
SECRETARY Bakers estimates may be
revised until, as his totals with
otbers added for the new war pro
gram" now reach fifteen billions
This NAV be reduced to thirteen. II
is clear that as soon as a certain certain
line is crossed there will be no use
in cheese pairing" Cutting OIL TWO
billions will then be mere cheese
naring. Cross that line, and instead
Of cutting down two. we may as well
add ten. or for that matter twenty
Once across that line, all OF US
NAV as well rally to Colonel Roose-
Welt. read up. as he has done, on the
nronbecies OF "Armageddon' and
ston irving to think of consequences
for the rest of our natural lives.
In the meantime we may expect soon
some enlightenment from the con
ferences between Secretary McAdoo,
Mr. Eitchin of the House Ways and
Means Committee and Senator Sim
mons of the Senate Finance Commit
tee Their decision concerns the
need for a new revenue bill II
will differ from the new apprOprla-
ton bills~we have been passing with
such ease, as billions have been
added to tens of billions. The new
revenue bill will mean raisinE real
money by more real taxes, to make
good" for the billions appropriated.
The country will not shrink from
the attempt to make good" but
when it is said that "the final incl
dence of all taxation is on the earn
ings of labor" it means that no mat
ter who paws first, those who work
must pay finally.
If we cannot think it out-if there
is no stopping place-we can and
Tc will take the consequences like
Americans. That will mean that
VIC will want a grand total which
Sill hold the record for all ages to
ONE. II the last straw breaks the
amel's back" we are not the kind
If people who will draw the line
:gainst tons afterward. No matter
hat comes, the people of the United
'tates will do their utmost to make
God" to the utmost limit; but how
n the possible suffering of the peo-
10 of the limited States can he rom