The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-12-10

| national efficiency and development that
| we should have a great merchant ma
| rine. The great merchant fleet we once
| used to make us rich, that great body of
| sturdy sailors who used to carry our flag
| into every sea, and who were the pride
| and often the bulwark of the nation, we
| have almost driven out of existence by
| inexcusable neglect and Indifference and
| by q hopelessly blind and provincial pol
| icy of so-called economic protection. 1t
| is high time we repaired our mistake and
resumed our commercial independence on
| the seas.
| For it is a question of independence
If other nations go to war or seek to
hamper each others commerce, our mer-
chants, 1t seems, are at their mercy,
to do with as they please. We must use
their ships, and use them as they deter
mine. We have not ships enough of our
own. We cannot handle our own COM
merce on the seas. Our independence is
provincial, and is only on land and with
in our own borders. We are not likely
to be permitted to use even the ships of
other nations in rivalry of their own
trade, and are without means to extend
our commerce even where the doors are
wide open and our goods desired. Such
a situation is not to be endured. 1t is
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 it, but also that
the American hemisphere as a whole
should enjoy a like independence and self
sufficiency, if 1t is not to be drawn into
the tangle of European affairs. Without
such independence the whole question of
our political unity and self-determination
Is very seriously clouded and complicated
indeed
Moreover, we can develop no true or eff
faofiua Anaripan nnlicV without ehinS nj
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
the Americas. They are the only shuttles
that can weave the delicate fabric of
sympathy, comprehension, confidence and
mutual dependence in which we clothe
our policy of America for Americans.
Ships ARE Needed.
With view to meeting these pressing |
necessities of our commerce and availing |
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 |
which may never return |
again If we miss IL now, proposals will /
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, but modified IN some essential par
-iculars. I recommend these proposals
to you for your prompt acceptance with
he more confidence because every month |
that has elapsed since the former pro-
,osals were made has made the necessity
'or such action more and more mani
estly imperative.
Question of Finance.
x11a Eos he ,al - |
lation which I have outlined. and for
he general policy of adequate prepara-
ion for mobilization and defense, in |
olive of course very large additional ex-
enditures of money-expenditures which |
will considerably exceed the estimated
evenues of the government. 1t is made
ny duty by law, whenever the estimates
evenue to call the attention of the cor
ress to the fact and suggest any means
f meeting the deficiency that it may be |
wise or possible for me to suggest I am
eady to believe that it would be my duty
0 do so in any case; and 1 feel particu-
arly bound to speak of the matter when |
appears that the deficiency will arise
irectly out of the adoption by the con-
ress of measures which / myself urge
to adopt. Allow me, therefore, to
peak briefly of the present state of the
reasury and of the fiscal problems /,
'nlCH llc nCAl yCdl Will pfODdDly | :
lose.
On the thirtieth of June last there was l
n available balance in the general fund |
the treasury of S104 40, 1057S The to- |
Il estimated receipts for tile year 1916,
n the assumption that the emergency / ..
,venue measure passed by the last con- :
ress will not be extended beyond it's :
resent limit, the thirty-f1rst of Deem :
er, 1915. and that the present duty of |
ne cent per pound on sugar will be dis |
,ntinued after the first of May, 1876 | l
ill be S670, 365, 500 The balance of June | o
st and these estimated revenues come, '
erefore, to a grand total of STA, 535, Coz. 49, d
he total estimated disbursements for the r
'esent fiscal year, including 81, 100000
It the Panama canal, s12.000,000 for prob "
de deficiency appropriations and $780, | "
D for miscellaneous debt redemptions, $
Ill be 1888, S91 900; and the balance in the u
.neral fund of the treasury will be re- p
iced to $50, 644, 6057S The emergency n
venue act If continued beyond its pres II
It time limitation, would produce, dur "
z the half year then remaining, about | e.
rty-one millions. The duty OF one cent | &c
IT pound on sugar, If continued. would u
oduce during the two months of the p
cal year remaining after the first of e
ay, about fifteen millions. These two
ms, amounting together to s56,OOO,OOO. n
added to the revenues of the second p
If of the fiscal year, would yield the L
sasury at the end of the year an avail m
lie balance of s76,644, COSTS. o.
The additional revenues required to a.
try out the program of military and u
val preparation of which 1 have spok- al
would, as at present estimated, be Il
r the fiscal year 1917, 1893, 100000. Those al
ures, taken with the figures for the
esent fiscal year which / have already
ven, disclose our financial problem for &C
e year 1917. &C
low shall we obtain the new revenue? OF
seems to me clear dictate of pru- | re-
Mt craftsmanship and frank finance &C
1T in what we are now, 1 hope, about | &c
undertake we should pay as we &c. | tn
e people of the country are entitled TO CO
ow just what burdens of taxation they | tn
to carry, and to know from the outset, w
W. The new bills should be paid by in ar
nal taxation. th
% what sources, then, shall we turn? | lei
would be following an almost uni at
sal example of modern governments as
we were to draw the greater part or DIR
IN the whole of the revenues we need w,
m the income taxes. BY somewhat al
Sering the present limits of exemption dc
the figure at which the surtax shall tic
rim to be imposed and by increasing,
D by step throughout the present grad m
ion, the surtax itself, the income taxes | IN
at present apportioned would yield GU
IL 1