Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-12

The preliminary statement iu Thurs
days ncws from Washington that the
new tlr.n viii add four cents per
pound TO the tax on coffee and one
dollar per thousand feet to the tax
ON lumber is both cheering and dis
appointing.
To increase the tax on coffee ls a
reasonable thing Co do. The c1nse-
quent rise in the price OF this article
~ food win not work hardship COT
fee is q luxury. those who use lux
ur.cs expect 20 pay for them. Coffee
is not am essential food. and It's free
Ise is known o. Dc more or less in-
furious TO curtau Cts consumption by
Increasing its price would bc an act OF
wise statesmanshiD The weaker the
coffee is made the better It win De.
1n the average, for those who drink Il
ANA the effect OF an increase in its
price Is likely TO load 90 some degree
Of welkcning in tle making Of the
beverage as commonly served
Moreover. the tax ou coffee would
yield "a revenue. more or less certain.
ana not likely 20 nuctuate much from
year TO year. No coffee trust would be
likely 20 form because OF the tax on
'ofee. for the reason that. being for
ign product there are no home pro-
iuccrs 20 form combination or TO
'reate a monopoly in this product. Next
20 alcoholic liquors and tobacco. both
ca and coffee seem % be ideal sub
'ects for purposes OF national taxation.
In the case Of lumber. 81 IS far diff
'crent Lumber is an article Of prime
lecessity, especially In the oonstruc-
ion OF the smaller houses As build
ngs Increase In size, there IS a marked
endency 70 proportlonate decrease IN
he amount Of lumber used 60 them
For this reason, a tax on Lumbar Is
3 tax on the homes OF the poor rather
han on the mansions OF the rich. The
ueat stores depots bridges and the
'ostlier dwellings are now being con-
rructed on tho freproof plan. using
little or no lumber For this reason
alone, 30 would Dee bad policy and
Inferior craftsmanship 70 Increase the
nxes on lumber.
But there is another and stronger
'eason why the tax on lumber should
De- greatly reduced az still better. aboI-
shed. In no event should &c BE- In
creased The high price OF lumber. due
% the tarin tax is responsible for IN.
'apidly Increasing rate OF destruction
II the forests OF this country. History
utests TINT the practical disappear
lnco Of its forests o. one OF the grslt-
'st OF national calamiues. The Amer
can fonests are vanishing rapidly.
rheir conservation Is one of our most
argent needs But the tax on imported
lumber enormously stimulates the rate
f their destruction.
The present forest land cannot be
one held back from agricultural uses.
Raphael Zon has shown that Il would
D. shorisightad land policy 20 with
lold agricultural land for the growing
IF timber The fundamental principle
lpon which "a wise national land policy
mould rest Is that evey. acre OF land
ihould be- put 90 the use under which
Z win bring the highest returns. The
iimiuutIon of forest land ln new ana
growing country is am inevitable eco-
iomic fact and n accompanied by "a
lational forest policy which provides
or the proper care and protection OF
Dc remaining forests. is of bsneat 10
D. development of the country
Throughout the world the demand
or timber is constantly Increasing. tae
average yearly rate OF Increase being
ive per cent This means. of r1u...
nat finally each country maHt largely
3rIEil. lts own timber
Tho growing demand ur 1900. u..
erIu must Do. m.g before .ur .
5y au Increase of tHe forest aHI ..
1y depending uu ImlortH .rH ...
5ut ay an Increase DOB me r.......
less lf on. forest and
.he waste 90 uHl.U ..".. FL ... ..
uot Chat tae United sus. Ua. f.a
u.af..t pe. capita eau#Inpr.aH Ir t.e
world
f1r tHe present H SHOULD n.f HaH.
sn the destruction .I aur ..H ramH.H.
ue forests ly mM taxes aa import
a lumber
B. has b..a .euuat.I trlt Hg greater
economy boo tHe uH. af wood ta. u.i
uuIH consumption could easily D.,