Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-12-09

| Wide open and our goods desired Such
/ situation In not to be endured IL in
OF capital Importance not only that the
| United States should be its own carrier
| on the seas and enjoy the economic In
| dependence which only an adequate mer-
chant marine would give 1t. but also that
| tbs American hemisphere as a whole
should enjoy like Independence and self
sufiicfency, III IL In not to be drawn into
| the tangie OF European affairs without
such independence the whole question of
our political unity and seif-determinatfo
~ very seriously eiouded and complicated
indeed.
Moreover. we can develop no true or Ell.
fective American policy without ships of
our own-~not ships OF war, but ships OF
peace, carrying goods and carrying much
more: creating friendships and render
ing indispensable services to all interests
on this side of the water. They must
move constantly back and forth between
tho Americas. They are the only shutties
that can weave the delicate fabric of
sympathy. comprehension. confidence and
mutual dependence In which we ciothe
our policy Of America for Americans.
Ships Are Needed.
The task of building up an adequate
merchant marine for America private
capital must ultimately undertake and
achieve. as ft has undertaken and
us In the past, with admirable enterprise
Intelligence and vigor: and II seems to
me manifest dictate of wisdom that we
should promptly remove every legal OBJ
staeie that may stand In the way OF this
much to be desired revival of our old In
| dependence and should facilitate In every
possible way the building. purchase and
American registration of ships. But cap
ital cannot accomplish this great task OF
| sudden. IL must embark upon II by de-
Erees. as the opportunities OF trade de-
velop. Something must be done at once:
done TO open routes and develop oppor-
tunities where they are as yet undevel~
oped. done to open the arteries of trade
where the currents have not yet learned
to run~especially between the two Ameri-
can continents. where they are. sngutarly
enough. yet To be created and auickened
and II 10 evident that only the govern
| ment can undertake such beginnings and
assume the initial financial risks. When
the risk has passed and private capital
begins to find Its way In sufficient abund-
anee into these new channels, the gov
eminent may withdraw. But II cannot
omit TO begin. 1t should take the first
steps and should take them at once Our
goods must not lie piled up at our ports
and stored upon sidetraeks In freight
cars which are daily needed on the roads:
must net be left without means OF
transport TO any foreign quarter. We
must not await the permission of foreign
ship owners and foreign governments to
send them where we will
With view TO meeting these pressing
necessities of cur commerce and awaiting
ourselves at the earliest possible moment
OF the present unparalleled opportunity of
linking the two Americas together In
bonds OF mutual interest and service, an
opportunity which may never return
again IL We miss Ii now, proposals win
be made to the present congress for the
purchase or construction of ships to be
owned and directed by the government
similar to those made to the last con-
gress. bat modified In some essential par
ttculars. l recommend these proposals
to you for your prompt acceptance with
the more confidence because every month
that has elapsed since the former pro-
posais were made has made the necessity
for such action more and more mani
testify imperative.
Question Of Finance.
The plans for the armed forces of the
nation which l have outlined. and for
the general policy Of adequate prepara-
ton for mobilization and defense, tn
volve of course very large additional ex-
penditures OF meuey~expenditares which
will considerably exceed the estimated
revenues OF the government II Is made
my duty by law, whenever ths estimates
OF expenditure exceed the estimates OF
revenue to call the attention OF tho con-
gress to the fact and suggest any means
of meeting the deficiency that IL may be
wise or possible fer me TO suggest. I am
ready to believe that it would be my duty
TO do so In any case. and feel particu-
larly bound to speak of the matter when
Ii appears that the deficiency win arise
directly out OF the adoption by the con-
gress OF measures which I myself urge
IL TO adopt Allow me. therefore. to
speak briefly OF the present state OF the
treasury and OF the fiscal problems
which the next year will probably dis
close.
On the thirtseth OF June last there was
an available balance tn the general fund
OF the treasury of sro4. ITO. ioS.7S. The to-
tai estimated receipts for The year 1916,
ON tho assumption that the emergency
revenue measure passed by the last con-
grcss will not be extended beyond It's
present limit. the thtrty~irst of Decem-
Der. 1915. and that the present duty OF
one cent per pound on sugar will be dis
continued after the first OF May. 1915.
will be sega. 800. The balance OF June
last and these estimated revenues come.
therefore. to a grand total OF STA. S3S. rs,
The total estimated disbursements for the
present fiscal year. Including SIS. 0oa.e0o
for the Panama canal. 900 for prob
able deficiency appropriations and $780,
COO for miscellaneous debt redemptsons.
win be ssA2. Sal. 600: and the balance In the
general fund OF the treasury will be re-
daced to SOL. 6s4, 6oA.TS. The emergency
revenue act. IL continued beyond it's pres
emit time limitation. woald produce. dur.
ing the half yaar then remaining, about
fnrty~one millions, The duty OF one cent
per pound on sugar. If continued would
produce during the two months of the
fiscal year remaining after the firss OF
May, about fifteen millions. These two
| sums. amounting. .osethar to s560on.oee
Ii added to the revenues OF the second
half OF tina fiscal year. would yield the
treasury at the end of the year an avail
able balance of s7s. ssa, 6Ns,TS
The additional revenues required to
| carry cut the program of military and
| naval preparation of which have spok-
| en-. would. as at present estimated. be
| for the FISCAL year 1917. sss s0a.noo Those
| figures. taken with the figures for the
| present fiscal year which have already
| given. disclose our financial problem for
| the year iatT.
| How shah we obtain the new rcvenues
\ Ii seems to ME a clear dictate Of pru-
/ dent statesmanshp and frank finance
/ that In what we are now, hope about
| to undertake should pay ms we go
| The people OF the country are entitled to-
| knew lust what burdens Of taxation they
| are to carry, and to know from tho outset.
now. The new balls should be paid by In
| ternal taxation