Peace, It's Wonderful

After three months of work, the House Ways & Means Committee had still not figured out any ways & means to get the last $1.8 billions of the $8.7 billions the Treasury needs this year.

Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr. went to tell the people about it, on the radio. He praised them for previous sacrifices, said they must make more. Said he: "The people . . . have shown in a thousand ways that they are not in a mood for half measures, either financial or military. They will be critical only if the burdens are unfairly distributed. They will be disappointed in their leaders only if these leaders fail to ask them for all-out effort. ... I hope it cannot be said of the new tax bill that it was too little and too late."

These remarks, and the fact that Mr. Morgenthau had spoken them over the heads of the Ways & Means Committee, set the committee boiling like so many kettles. The committee sent for Mr. Morgenthau. Before a secret session, he listened to a two-hour tongue-lashing as vigorous as it was profane. What purpled the committee's collective face was that Henry Morgenthau seemed to be shoving the blame for heavy taxes on it. Last to leave the meeting were Chairman Robert L. Doughton and Mr. Morgenthau. Few minutes later they handed reporters a sweet understatement: An informal conference. . . . The Secretary's remarks did not reflect on the committee. . . . Harmonious cooperation will continue. What had really happened was that the committee had bluntly told Henry Morgenthau to get ready for sales taxes.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.