The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1936-03-05
Thursday, March 5, 1886.
Observations From
Washington
Where VIII We Get It?
(By Congressman Harold Knutson)

1t Is hard TO describe the SenSa-
tions of members Of Congress over
! the Presidents pronouncement
that an additional 1,137 million dol
lars in taxes will have to be raised
to meet the ever-growing needs Of
the Federal government. That Is a
lot of money. Indeed, 1t Is about
S1.10 for every minute since the
dawn of the Christian era.
Where are We going to raise that
stupendous sum? A manufacturers
sales tax is proposed by some;
others favor a general sales tax,
but my guess Is that much of 1t
will be raised by increasing the in
come tax in the lower brackets and
lowering exemptions. Everything
but air and water Is now taxed and
the tragic part Of it Is that the tax
Is being passed on to the consum-
err. AS this tax becomes heavier
and more burdensome it naturally
follows that 1t will leave less and
less money for necessities Of life
and that in turn will result in low
ering the living standard Of all.
About the only ones who CLEAN
any satisfaction from the situation
are the inflationists who see in it
a possibility to start the printing
presses going. was in Europe the
year initiation over there was at its
worst and I hope may never live
to see another stark tragedy like
that enacted anywhere. more es-
pecially In our own country. Bust
ness men, big and small, were wip-
ed out and about the only ones
who survived were the very rich,
who sent their wealth to England
and the Scandinavian countries
where they knew it would be safe.
When the initiation had spent its
force they brought their wealth
back in the form Of money from
the countries that had escaped ex-
pansion and proceeded to buy
farms, factories, businesses, hotels,
apartments and dwellings at a very
small fraction of their trne worth.
This was really tthscforerunner Of
Hitler and his repressive policies.
He gained power largely by promis-
ing to restore to the German people
much Of what they had lost thru
initiation.
Instead of proposing new and
burdensome taxes that will have to
be paid by the masses the Roose-
welt Administration should go in
for a policy Of most rigid economy
The pruning knife should be sub
stituted for the scoop shovel and
we should cut to the bone. Every
member Of the Senate and House
knows of hundreds of millions, nay,
was going to say billions. that
can be cut off governmental oper-
ating expenses without sacrificing
national security and governing eff
ficiency.
We have now reached another
all-time peak in our national debt
and it Is growing apace. Letters
from back home, and they come
from all walks of life, express
great alarm and all are wondering
where we will finally land.
The only remedy that I can see
lies with the American voter. An
other four years of such reckless
and needless spending can only end
in national bankruptcy and ruin
for all.
My readers will recall that back
in 1894 the shelter belt tree plant
ing project was launched by execu-
tive order and the plan was to plant
1926 miles Of trees that would serve
as wind-break and moisture con-
server in a number of semi-arid
Western states. Elaborate plans
were prepared by the forestry peo-
pie and a handsome prospectus is
sued at a cost of several thousand
dollars. The House on Thursday
last knocked the whole thing into
appropriation for one million dol
lars to carry on the project, which
was conceived by some crack-pot
who probably couldn't tell the diff
ference between a cottonwood and
cactus. Indeed, the House went
further and wrote a provision into
the agricultural appropriation bill
prohibiting any money carried in
the measure from being spent on
this wild, visionary and cock-eyed
project.
The Wronk Kind of Criticism
Several years ago we were told
that criticism would be welcomed
and some there were who foolishly
took such statements at face val
ue. Among the number may men
ton Major General Johnson Ha-
good, a fine soldier and able adj
ministrator. Then there Is Con-
gresham Hoeppel, Democrat,
and war veteran from California,
who was convicted of selling a
West Point Academy appointment,
of which he was innocent, several
bureau chiefs, and others too num-
erous to mention. Well, all of them
are now out or on the way out.
This administration can stand just
about anything but honest and con-
structive criticism. There is only
one way to be a patriot these days
and that is by saying amen" to
everything that is being done.
MY Country 'Tis of Thee, Land
of the noble free,
OF thee I sing"
Unfortunately, very few feel like