tention of those who were
primarily in charge of framing that program was punitive and corrective
and that they were influenced--though I am willing to believe
unconsciously--by sectional and vocational partiality.

The fact that the revenue bill was passed in the House by a unanimous
vote does not mean, of course, that it met with unanimous approval on
the part of Congressmen. The debate shows this. The bill, as reported
after months of labor, either had to be approved practically as it stood
or rejected and returned to the Committee. It is not possible for a body
of 400 men to deal in a detailed manner with a subject so complex as a
taxation measure of the magnitude of the present one.

The bill could not be made over or materially amended in the House. In
view of the urgency of the emergency and the vital need to raise the sum
asked for by the Treasury, no patriotic course was open to the House but
to accept the bill and pass it up to the Senate.

I know it is not popular to say things in criticism of war burdens of a
financial nature. One's motives are liable to be misunderstood or
misinterpreted and he is very apt to have it scornfully pointed out to
him how small relatively is the sacrifice asked of him, compared with
the sacrifice of position, prospects, and life itself, so willingly and
proudly offered by the young manhood of the land.

It is a natural and effective rejoinder, but it is not a sound or
logical one. Heaven knows, my heart goes out to our splendid boys, and
my admiration for their conduct and achievements and my reverence for
the spirit which animates them knows no bounds. But I am acquainted
with hundreds of business men who bemoan their gray hair and their
responsibilities, which prevent them from having the privilege of
fighting our foe arms in hand.

And I know no American business man worthy of the name, who would not
willingly give his life and all his possessions if the country's safety
and honor required that sacrifice.

Transcriber's Notes:
Passages in italics indicated by underscore _italics_.

Additional spacing after the block quotes is intentional to indicate
both the end of a quotation and the beginning of a new paragraph as
presented in the original text.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Government Ownership of Railroads, and
War Taxation, by Otto H. Kahn

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP ***

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