The Washington times., 1919-12-05

figures and data. Then he became
clerk of the House Ways and
Means Committee, where figures
and laws are always in vogue.
Then he became Assistant Post
master General, leaving that posi-
ton in 1916 to aid in re-electing
President Wilson. Then in April,
1917, he was placed upon the
Tariff Commission, which he LEFT
to become Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue.
Now, at fifty-three, he is at the
head of an establishment whose
figures run to billions of dollars,
and which collects practically all
the money that is spent by the
Secretary of the Treasury for run
ming the United States Govern
ment. He rakes in the money and
the Secretary spends it
Fifteen years ago the bulk Of the
revenues of the United States were
from customs receipts, with whis-
key and tobacco trailing Now
these sources OF revenue are in
significant, with whiskey con-
t-ibuting mighty little of the total.
Some Bothersome Questions.
My notebook has contained some
questions for years that l feared
would not be answered in Wash
fngton because there is no Govern
ment agency charged with col
lecting the data. So | Vent to this
man Of figures and found him sup
piled with information entirely
outside his official sphere.
Here were two of the questions
asked him when / was granted a
most pleasant interview:
What is the total gross income
of the United States and all of
our people? What is this country
worth? Suppose some unknown
Croesus of the East should sud-
denly appear and offer to buy all
of our wealth."
Consulting memoranda in his
desk he quickly answered:
The total gross income of the
United States for 1919 is conserv-
atively estimated at s15O,OOO, ,OOO,-
900. The taxable net income for
the same year is estimated as fol-
lows: Individuals, s12, ZOO, 900 900;
corporations, $4,000, 100000; a
total of s21 500, ,0OO. 900.
"The wealth of the United
States is estimated at $3.50, ,0OO,-
0O0,000."
Cost of Enforcing Prohibition.
Then / wanted to know what it
will cost to enforce prohibition,
and whether. in his opinion, it can
be enforced.
He readily and most interest
ingly answered:
1T viii be impossible to enforce
prohibition exclusively through
Federal facilities. Our plan. there
fore. is to so spread the load so as
to charge every law-abiding citi-
zen in the country with RESPONSE
bllty. We are appealing to the
governors, and through them to
the sherlffs, to all mayors, and
through them, to their officers, to
cooperate in enforcing the law
and encouraging the observance
Of 1T IN their respective communi-
tics.
eve are also appealing to all
agencies of a civic, religious
and law enforcement character
throughout the country to Cooper
ate with US. The success of this
pian, we believe, will make it nos.
sible to enforce prohibition for tbe
balance Of this fiscal wear without
exceeding the relatively small sum
of s2,0O0,000 which Congress- has
appropriated. Our estimate of
100000 for the fiscal wear 1921
which has just been sent in. is
predicated on my confident belief
that the people themselves will NOT
tolerate any serious laxity in TIE
observance or enforcement of the
law"
Rewards for Spying Not Encourage
That naturally brought up the
question whether enforcement
could be made easier by paving
rewards to those who buy whis-
key and inform the Government
on the understanding that they
are to be shielded. The answer
was equally prompt:
az do not believe that the en-
forcement Of prohibition should