Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 June 1917 — Page 8

IM EVERY MECHANIC ■whether a professional or« layman should visit our store and supply himself with a stock of tools. We also carry a full line of nuts, bolts, hingfes and other hardware. - C. W. EGER.

GOSSIP by OUR CORRESPONDENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT INTEREST YOU

VIRGIE Elsie' Zellers' spent Sunday with home folks. Mrs. Mathew Petty of Chicago is visiting friends here. “Buck” McCurtain and wife were fishing Monday, afternoon. Earl Wiseman attended the show at Demotte Wednesday night. Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Zellers were in Rensselaer Monday on business. Mrs? Thomas Florence called on Mrs. Demoss Wednesday afternoon. A. L. McCurtain and family attended the show at Demotte Wed•fiesday night. The Ladies’ Fortnightly society met with Mrs. Anna Middlecam]) Friday afternoon. Hazel and Vernon Hurley attended the Sunday school convention at Kniman Sunday. The young people met at the John Zellers home and practiced singing Wednesday evening. Mrs. Charles Malaney and son of Roselawn spent the day Sunday with George Cover and family. Mrs. Charles Harrington and daughter Gladys called* on Mrs. Thomas Mallatt Sunday evening.

Firman Pettit of Oak Grove was seen over in thqse /parts Sunday afternoon ex(corting) his best girl. Mr. and Mrs. John Reed visited several days with relatives at Goodland and Remington last week, returning Monday evening. Mr. Cook, manager of the pickle factory, was called to’his home in Chicago Tuesday on account of a sudden death in his family. 'There will be no church services after Sabbath school Sunday on account of Children’s day at Kniman. Sunday school at the usual time, 10:30 a. m. Everybody come. The daughter of Gideon Kauffman of near here, who had been poorly -bo long with consuinptipu, .passed away Saturday evening. She was taken to Mt. Ayr for burial.

ROSELAWN Otis Phillips was a Kankakee, Illinois, visitor Monday. C. T. Otis was a Chicago visitor Wednesday on business, Myrop Born of Cook spent the week visiting the Rice boys. Mr. and Mrs. Owen Brooke were in Roselawn shopping Wednesday. Several from here attended the commencement exercises at land last Thursday. Clarence Boyle is reported to be very low at this writing with little hopes of his recovery. Mrs. IHL H. Baxter returned to her home at Lacross after a two week’s visit here with friends. Mrs. J. W. Crooks and Miss Pearl Best attended the Children’s day program at Shelby Sunday evening. CBruce White of Rensselaer and Vance Collins have been working on the Sawyer home ranch this week. Calvin Parks of Hammond visited T. H. Gebhart and Earnest Parks and family from Saturday until Tuesday. The Children’s day exercises will be held at the M. E, church Sunday evening, June 17. Everyone welcome.

REMOVAL NOTICE You will find us in our new quarters in the White building formerly occupied by the Lange music store. Somers & Cornwell Plumber* and Sheet Metal Work of All Kinds. Hot Water, Steam, Vapor and Warm Air Heating. All wk guaranteed- Phone 57.

We had another heavy rain Wednesday" afternoon, and the farmers are , hoping for some warm and dry weather. J. J. Mulder and sister Maggie, Jeannette Crooks, Mary Jane Phillips, Zella Bess and Dorothy Rogers autoed to Demotte last Sunday. Earl Bruner of Morocco was up Wednesday helping Frank Garrard on the Roselawn switchboard. It was almost put out of commission by the last storm. The ladies and children of the Roselawn church and Sunday school are preparing a program for Children's day, to be observed at the M. E, church Sunday evening. All are requested to be present. Miss Iva Dunn of Thayer suffered a broken arm and was quite badly bruised up when a gasoline speeder on which she was- riding in com'pany with Section Foreman Charles Fuller of Fair Oaks and a young lady from the latter town jumped the track between Roselawn and Fair Oaks Sunday afternoon. Miss Dunn was taken home via automobile and Dr. Tate and a Lowell doctor were summoned to her home. Miss Iva is well known tp the young folks of Roselawn, who are very sorry to hear of her misfortune and hope for her early recovery.. : • „ ■ .

PINE GROVE Roy Torbet went to the "doctor at Monon Monday. Grant Davisson is the purchaser of a new Oakland light six. Frank Britt spent Sunday afternoon with Robert and Kenneth Scott. Roy Torbet and family spent Sunday afternoon with John Dale and family. - . Mr. ■ and Mrs. Henry Ropp of near Aix spent Sunday with their son Dalton and family. Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Ritter and son Fred .were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Grant Davisson. Ocie Nicholson and family spent Sunday with his parents, Robert Nicholson and family, of Kniman. There will be Children’s day exercises at the Brushwood church Sunday evening, June 17. Everybody invited. Mr. and Mrs. James Britt attended the Children’s day exercises and Sunday school convention at the Barkley M. E. church Sunday.

McCOYSBURG

Ben Hensley spent Sunday with R. L. Bussell and family. Mrs. Levi Herr called on. Mrs. Charles Ferguson Monday. There will be Sunday school at 1.0 o’clock Sunday morning. Mrs. J. R. Phillips spent Wednesday with friends at Rensselaer. Elvin and Wilson Bussell were guests of home folks over Sunday. Orvel Hitchings and family spent Sunday with friends near Rensselaer. Mrs. Wilson Bussell is spending a few days with her folks at Terre Haute. Talk about cold weather, we are surely getting it for this time of the year. The Children’s day program was largely attended and the children all did fine. Van Wood and family of Rensselaer were guests of friends here over Sunday. James Jeffries and wife were at Logansport to ■ see the latter s mother Friday. There was a number from herd to attend the commencement at Milroy Saturday night. Mrs. Orvdl Hitchings and son, Miss May Thomas and Mrs. John Osborn called on Mrs. J. R. Phillips Tuesday. Charles Ferguson and family had for Sunday guests Mr. Beazy and wife and Bertha Campbell of Morocco, Al Campbell of Mt. Ayr and Ben Kesler and wife of Monon.

WHEATFIELD Mr.» and Mrs. Louis Grube and niece and Mr. Huber visited with George Heil and family Sunday. The Kniipan Ladies’. Aid society will serve refreshments . the third Thursday in June. Come out and help in the good work. C. M. Dewey and Charles, Hewett attended the better live stock meeting at Rensselaer Saturday. A county •organization was effected, whose motto is: “Swat the scrub.” Quite a few of the neighbors held a basket dinner in the McDaniel grove Sunday. All present had a fine time and they all decided to have a number of these during the summer. Lots of eats, you bet. , Louis Misch attended the St. Joe college commencement Tuesday evening. If Louis keeps up the pace that tie started with he ®rill- have to advertise next week for his Ford's shadow, for it couldn’t possibly keep up. James (’lark and son Presley, Mr. and MrS. Ira Clark and daughter Myrtle, Mrs. C. E. Bush and daughter Pauline of 1 " Kersey. Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Dewey and Mr. Hewett and son Charles of this place, and Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Bush and son William called on 'Bert iVandercar and family Sunday. By a mistake of some one, the names of Mr. and Mrs.. Lewis Grube were omitted from our last item' in last week’s department as among. those, who attended " the farmers’ club officers’ meeting from the Wheatfield club. Mr. Grube is our vice-president and Mrs. Grube is a -member of the program committee. We either failed to copy it when W made up our corrected report or else the linotype man failed to see it. No matter how it is, the guilty cuss ought to be kicked to death by an old-fashioned mule.

DEE Little Gefald Clark continues in very poor health. * Leroy Noland ate Sunday dinner

: COLUMBIA CALKS (Dedicated to the People of the United States) ■ Awake! ye men from dreams of peace— '■ Nor sleep when danger's near. But fling Old Glory to the breeze— There are no cowards here! Our fathers fought; like heroes died, For years their blood they gave. That honor, home and peace be ' ours: Awake! Thy country save! Our flag for honor ever stands. -To lift the weak, to lead the free. America, our blessed land, Is calling, calling thtee. From North to South; from sea to ■ . sea. I hear the answering cry: • “Thy sons forever shall be free For thee will live and die." Then fling Old Glory to the main Beneath her stars enroll. For cowardice shall never stain The glory of her folds. The Stars and Stripes shall lead us on ~ « A mighty host for right- j That peace shall. reign forevermore And war from earth take .flight, i F. E. HALSTEAD. •

with Harry Rishling and family. David Stewart of Ohio came Monday to visit his brother Joseph and wife. Our children's day Exercises will be held in the grove here Sunday. Everybody welcome. Omar Smith and family of near Francesville spent .Sunday afternoon with Harry Rishling and family. Most everyone from here attended Children's day exercises at Monon chapel Sunday afternoon and at McCoy sburg Sunday evening. Lonnie Noland went to Monticello Sunday evening to begin work for Mr. a stone road contractor. Joseph Stewart went to Lafayette Tuesday to consult a specialist. He has been in very poor health for so"me time.

STOCK BREEDERS ORGANIZED

Local Shows Will Probably Be Held in County This Fall. About forty-five livestock breeders met at the office of the county agent Saturday afternoon and organized the Jasper County Livestock Breeders’ Association which has for its object the improvement of the livestock of the county. The meeting was called to order by County Agent Learning, who stated the object of the meeting and called on Prof. J. W. Schwab who spoke at length on the Advantages and disadvantages of County Breeders’ Organizations. He stated that the day of the small livestock breeder had arrived and that it is now necessary for the men to co-operate to , more advantageously advertise and sell their surplus stock, control animal diseases, and furnish a means of exchange of desirable breeding stock. He spoke of the good work which is being done by the Huntertown and the Ft. Wayne District Breeders’ Associations and stated that he saw no reason why Jasper county breeders could not be equally successful if they were willing to work together. Fred Phillips stated that he had. been observing live stock sales for twenty years and has noticed the great difference in price between well bred and scrub stock. He stated that every farmer can well afford to have a pure-bred sire, at least, and that the day is . coming when there will be a great improvement throughout the country. He stated that he was a strong advocate of the proposed organization. W. C. Rose stated that an organization would be especially valuable in assisting the sales. A large number of breeders have but a few animals for sale each year and by holding a county sale these might be disposed of at a good priceO. S. Bell stated that he was familiar with the work of the Pulaski Association and felt that it was doing a thing sot the men who were m 1L He also spoke of work that lie knew was being done by Illinois tionsA number of other go"i talks were made by some of the men present and it was unanimously decided to form an organization at once. The foilowing officers were elected:

President—-Fred Phillips. Vice-president—H. J. Dexter. Secretary-treasurer, Chauncey H. Wood. Directors—George Putt, Russell Sage, Rolland Stewart, O. S. Bell, W. C. Rose, John R. Lewis, J. H. Guild, R. J. Yeoman, Chas. Lakin, Jess Austin, Russell Van Hook and V. M. Peer. It was decided that if possible stock shows would be held in the three leading towns of the county this fall. C. M. Dewey and M. J. Delehanty and John R. Lewis were placed—in charge of the show at Wheatfield. Chauncey Wood, Kenton Parkison and Henry Paulus were placed in charge of the show to be held in Rensselaer. _ A number of other plans for th? betterment of livestock conditions were discussed but it was decided to postpone final action on these masters until the next meeting, which Will be held in the county agent’s office Saturday afternoon, June 23, at 2 o’clock. Everyone interested is invited to attend.

Get a hot air furnace of the Watson Plumbing Co. ts If your Willys-Knight starts hard when It’s cold, take it to the Vesta station. They will dear up your trouble in albout one hour’s labor. —RENSSELAER GARAGE.

HOW SHAH WE PAY FOR THE WAR?

A Constructive Criticism on the H?use Revenue Bill. LOANS BETTER THAN TAXES Five Reasons Why Excessive Taxes at the Outset of War Are Disadvantageous^—Great Britain Example Worthy of Emulation —How the Taxes Should Be Apportioned.

By EDWIN R. A. SELIGMAN.

McVickar Professor of Political Econ- . omy, Cv'.umbia University. On May 23. 1917. the House of Representatives passed an act "to provide revenue to defray war expenses and •for other purposes.” In the original bill as presented by the Committee of Ways and Means, the additional revenue to be derived was estimated at 51,810.430,000. The amendment to the income tax, which was tacked on to the bill during the disc ussion in the House, was expected to yield another $40,000,000 or 530.(100,000. In discussing the House bill, two problems arise: L How much should be raised by taxation? * , 11. In what manner should this sum be raised? ■ ; ■ I. How Much Should Be Raised by Taxation? . How was the figure of $1,800,000,000 arrived at? The answer is simple. When the Secretary of the Treasury came to estimate the additional war expenses for the year 1917-18, he calculated that they would amount to some §6.600.ODO’OOO. of which S3.(OJ.(>jO.WO was to le allotted to the allies, and $3,600.. 000,000 was to be utilized for the domestic purposes. Thinking that it would be a fair proposition to divide this latter sum between loans and taxes, he concluded that the amount to be raised by taxes was $1,800,000.000.

There are two extreme theories, each of which may be dismissed with scant courtesy. The one is that all war expenditures should be defrayed by loans, and the other Is that all war expenditures should be defrayed by taxes. Each theory is untenable. It is indeed true that the burdens of the war should tie borne by the present rather than the future generation: but this does not mean that they should, be borne by this year's taxation. Meeting all war expenses by taxation makes the taxpayers in one or] two years bear the burden of benefits that ought to tip distributed at least over a decade within the same generation. In the second place, when expenditures approach the gigantic sums of present-day warfare, the tax-only policy would require more than the total surplus of social income. Were this absolutely necessary, the ensuing havoc in the economic life of the community would have to be endured. But where the disasters are so great and at the same time so unnecessary, the tax-only policy may be declared impracticable. Secretary, McAdoo had the right instinct and highly commendable Courage in deciding that a substantial portion, at least, of the revenues should be derived from taxation. But when he hit upon the plan of 50-50 per cent., that is, of raising one-half of all domestic war expenditures by taxes, the question arises whether he did not go too far. The relative proportion of loans to taxes is after all a purely business proposition. Not to rely to a large extent on loans at the outset of a war is a mistake.

Disadvantages of Excessive Taxes. The disadvantages of excessive taxes I at the outset of the war are as follows: I L Excessive taxes on consumption i will cause popular resentment ■ 2. Excessive taxes on industry will disarrange business. damp enthusiasm I and restrict the spirit of enterprise at ’ the very time when the opposite is needed. , 3. Excessive taxes on incomes will deplete the surplus available for invest- < ments and interfere with the placing of the enormous k>ans which will be necesi sary in any event 4. Excessive taxes on wealth will cause a serious diminution of the incomes which are at , present largely drawn upon for the support of educational and philanthropic enterprises. Moreover, tbese sources of support would be dried up precisely at the time when the need would be greatest 5. Excessive taxation at the outset of the war will reduce the elasticity available for the increasing demands that j are soon to come. Great Britain’s Policy. Take Great Britain as an example , During the first year of the war she I increased taxes only slightly, in order \ to keep industries going at top notch. ' During the second year she raised by ; new taxes only 9 per cent of her war . expenditures. During the third year j she levied by additional taxes (over and above the pre-war level) only slightly more than 17 per cent, of her war expenses. If we should attempt to do as much in the first year of the war as Great Britain did in the third year it would suffice to raise by taxation $1,250,000,000. If. in order to be absolutely on the safe side, it seemed advisable to increase the sum to $1,500,000,000, this should, in our opinion, be the maximum.

In considering the apportionment oi the extraordinary burden of taxes in war times certain scientific principles are definitely established: \ How Taxes Should Be Apportioned. (1) The burden of taxes must be spread as far as possible over the whole community so as to cause each individual to share in the sacrifices according to his ability to pay and according to his share in the Government (2) Taxes on consumption, which are necessarily borne by the community at large, should be imposed as far as possible on articles of quasi-luxury rather than on those of necessity.

(3) Excises should be imposed‘as far as possible upon commodities in the i hands of the final consumer rather than upon the articles which! serve pri- ! marily as raw material for further I production. . . k (4) Taxes upon business should be imposed as far as possible upon met earnings rather than upon gross receipts or capital invested. (5) Taxes upon income which will necessarily be severe should be both differentiated and graduated. That is, there should be a distinction between earned and unearned incomes and there should be a higher rate upon the larger incomes. It is essential, however, not ’to matte the income rate so excessive as to lead to evasion, administrative difficulties, or to the more fundamental objections which have been urged above. ' (6> The excess profits which are due to the war constitute the most obvious and reasonable source of revenue during war times. But the principle upon which these war-profit taxes are laid must be equitable in theory and easily calculable in practice. The Proposed Income Tax. The additional incomlp tax as passed by the House runs up to a rate of 60 per cent This is a sum unheard of in the history of civilized society. It must be remembered that it was only after the first year of the war that Great Britain increased her income tax to the maximum of 34 per cent, and that even now in the fourth year of the war the income tax does not exceed 42% per cent It could easily be shown that a tax with rates on moderate incomes substantially less than in Great Britain, and on the larger incomes about as high, would yield only slightly less than the $532,000,000 originally estimated in the House bill.

It is to be hoped that the Senate will reduce the total rate on the highest incomes to 34 per cent, or at most to 40 per cent, and that at the same time it will reduce the rate on the smaller incomes derived from personal or professional earnings. If the war continues we shall have to depend more and more upon the income tax. By imposing excessive rates now we are not only endangering the future, but are inviting all manner of difficulties which eVen Great Britain has been to escape. Conclusion. The House bill contains other fundamental defects which may be summed up as follows: (1) It pursues- an erroneous principle in imposing retroactive taxes. (2) It selects an unjust and unworkable criterion for the excess-profits tax. (3) It proceeds to an unheard-of height in the income tax. (4) It imposes unwarranted burdens upon the consumption of the community. (5) It is calculated to throw business into confusion by levying taxes on gross receipts instead of upon commodities. (6) It fails to make a proper use of stamp taxes. (7) It follows an unscientific system in its flat rate on imports. (8) It includes a multiplicity of petty and unlucrative taxes, the vexatiousness of which is out of all proportion to the revenue they produce.

The fundamental lines on which the House bill should be modified are summed up herewith: - (1) The amount of new taxation should be limited to $1.250,000.000—0r at the outset to $1,500,000,000. To do more than this would be as unwise as it is unnecessary. To do even this would be to do more than has ever been done by any civilized Government in time of stress. (2) The excess-profits tax based upon a sound system ought to yield about $500,000,000. (3) The income-tax schedule ought to be revised with a lowering of the rates on earned incomes below SIO,OOO. and with an analogous lowering of the rates on the higher incomes, so as not to exceed 34 per cent. A careful calculation shows that an income tax of this kind would yield some $450,000,000 additional. (4) The tax on whisky and tobacco ought to remain approximately as it is, with a yield of about $230,000,000. These three taxes, together with the stamp tax at even the low rate of the House bill, and with an improved automobile tax, will yield oyer $1,250,i 000,000, which is the amount' of money thought desirable. The above program would be in harmony with an approved scientific system. It will do away with almost all of the complaints that are being urged against the present. It will refrain from taxing the consumption of the poor. ■ ' It will throw a far heavier burden upon the rich, but will not go to the extremes of confiscation. It will obviate interference with "business and will keep unimpaired the social productivity of the community. It will establish a just balance between loans and taxes and will not succumb to the danger of approaching either the tax-only policy or the loanonly policy. Above all, it will keep an undisturbed elastic margin, which must be more and more heavily drawn upon as the war proceeds.

GERMANS RETREAT AS BRITISH WIN

Drive in Flanders Forces Teutons to Abandon Positions From St. Yves to Lys. OFFENSIVE IS BIG SUCCESS Major General Maurice, Chief Director of Military Operations at War Office, Says Messines Battle Was Great Victory. London, June 15.—Important sections of the German front between the Lys river and St. 4 Yves have been abandoned by the Germans, it is an-, nounced officially. British troops are reported as following the retreating Germans closely and have made considerable progresseast of Ploegsteert wood. The statement is as follows : • “Our further advance east of Messines, combined with the pressure of our troops south of the front of our attack, has compelled the enemy to abandon important sections of his first line defensive system in the (area between the River Lys and St. Yves. Our troops have followed up the enemy closely , and have made considerable progress east of Ploegsteert tvood. We also gained ground during the night in the neighborhood of Gaspard. German Trenches Are Raided. “We raided enemy trenches during the night north of Bullecourt and south of Hooge and captured a few prisoners in each case.” [The retirement indicates that theBritish are bringing great pressure to bear on the German line at Warneton, as St. Yves lies near the captured ridge at Messines and the Lys is a few miles farther south.] Calls Offensive Big Success. The Messines offensive was the most successful attack which the British have vet made, every single objectlvethat Ws marked in the preliminary; plans having been attained, said Maj., Gen. F. B. Maurice, chief director of military operations at the war office/ in his weekly talk. French Front Reported Quiet. Sris, June 15. —No Important enments are reported in the official! statement. The Germans violently bombarded French positions at vari-, ous points.

CUT WAR TAX BILL $9,000,000

Senate Body Takes Tariff Off Athletic Goods. Washington, June 15. —The house war tax bill was decreased about $9?000,000 more when the senate finance committee decided to reduce the manufacturer’s tax on athletic goods, patent medicines, perfumeries and cosmetics from 5 to 2 per cent. Rates on distilled spirits, malt liquors, wines and soft drinks, raising an aggregate of about $166,000,000, were approved virtually as drafted by the house. The committee-also ratified its former tentative approval of amendments by Senator Gore of Oklahoma placing prohibitory taxes upon cereals used in manufacturing distilled spirits foe beverage purposes and prohibiting importation of such beverages. Reduction of the tax on patent medicines involves a revenue loss of more than $5:000,000 and at the new rate of 2 per cent will include about $3,400,000 instead of $8,500,000. The reduction in the rate on athletic goods will reduce prospective revenues from that .source from $2,000,000 to SBOO,OOO. ’

ILLINOIS BEATS NEW YORK

State Ahead of Its Army Quota —Enlistments Total 115,537. Washington, June 15.—Illinois has more than made good with the regular army, for yesterday its enrollment of recruits since April 1 reached 11,316. 40 more than its quota of 11,276 fixed by the war department. Illinois won a spirited race against New York and Pennsylvania, both of which are behind their allotments. New York, with a quota of 18,226, has enlisted 11,445, and Pennsylvania has enrolled 13,012 of its quota of 15,330. Enlistments for the country since April 1 now aggregate 115,437. There are 68,461 more recruits needed to bring the regular army to full war strength.

LA PORTE HAS REAL PATRIOT

Printer Invests Life’s Savings in Liberty Bonds. Laporte, Ind., June 15. —Here’s the 100 per cent patriot! John Eldred, printer, is the heaviest subscriber to the Liberty > loan in all the United States, a greater contributor than John D. Rockefeller or Andrew Carnegie and the rest of the multimillionaires, for Eldred has sold all he has and given it to Uncle Sam. All his life Eldred has been a printer on the Laporte Herald, By industry, frugality and self-denial he saved and scraped, together SIO,OOO. He has put every, cent into the Liberty loan.

Chinese Parliament Dismissed.

London, June 15, —The Chinese par-i liament has been “unceremoniously dismissed,” according to a Tientsin dis-, patch received by. the Exchange Telegraph company. J