Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1915-12-11

move constantly back and forth between
the Americas. They are the only shuuleS
that can weave the delicate fabric OF
sympathy. comprehension. confidence ana
mutual dependence in which we clothe
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 anu
achieve. az IL has Sndertaken anu
achieved every other like task amongst
us I'm the past. with admirable enterprise,
Intelligence and vigor. and II seems l"
me manifest dictate OF wisdom that we
should promptly remove every Legal Oh
staCle that may stand i'm the way or TINS
much TO he desired revival of our ola IN
dependence and should facilitate in every
possible way the building. purchase and
American registration Of ships Eut cap
ital cannot accomplish this great task OF
sudden. II must embark upon II 10y De
grccs. rs the opportunities Of trade de-
vclop. Something must be- don" NJ once
done TO open routes and develop oppor-
tunitics where they are AS yet undeNel-
opcd. done To- open the arteries OF trade
where the cur, nts have not yet learned
to ruu-espscially between the two Amerl-
can continents where they are. slngularly
enough. vet to be created and qulckehed'
and Il f. evident that only the govern
mcnt can undertake such beginnings ana
assume the initial financial risks. Nhen
the risk has passed and private capital
begins to find its way I'm sufficient abund-
anCe 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 sidetraCks In freight
cars which are daily needed on the ROADS.
must not be left without means OF
transport to any foreign quarter we
must not await the permission of foreign
ship owners and foreign governments 10
send them where we will.
With view to meeting these pressing
necessities Of our commerce and aValllhH
ourselves at the earliest possible moment
Of the present unparalleled opportunity or
linking the two Americas together In
bonds OF mutual interest and service an
opportunity which may never return
again II we miss II now. proposals VIII
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
ticulars | recommend these proposals
to you for your prompt acceptance with
the more confidence because every month
that has elapsed since the former pro-
for such action more and more mani
testify Imperative.
Question Of Finance.
The plans for the armed forces Of the
nation which have outlined. and for
the general policy OF adequate prepara-
ton for mobilization and defense. in
volve of course very large additional ex-
penditures of mOney-expenditures which
will considerably exceed the estimated
revenues Of the government. II is made
my duty by law. whenever the estimates
OF expenditure exceed the estimates OF
revenue to call the attention of the con-
gress to the fact and suggest any means
OF meeting the deficiency that II may be
wise or possible for me to suggest.
On the thirtieth Of June last there was
an available balance in the general fund
of the treasury OF tl04.17O. 1O57S The to-
tai estimated receipts for the year 1915.
on the assumption that the emergency
revenue measure passed by the last con-
gress will not be extended beyond it's
present limit. the thirty-first 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. 1916.
will be 500. 365. 500. The balance OF June
last and these estimated revenues come.
therefore. to a grand total OF y774. 595 605.7S
The total estimated disbursements for the
present fiscal year. including SIS. 0oo6 CO..
for the Panama canal. $4,000. 900 for prob
able deficiency appropriations and $50
900 for miscellaneous debt redemptions.
will be 1891 900; and the balance in the
general fund OF the treasury will be re-
duced to 80. 644. s05.7s. The emergency
revenue act. II continued beyond Its pres
ent time Limitation. would produce. dur
ing the half year then remaining. about
forty-one millions. The duty OF one cent
md 4 a
produce during the two months of the
fiscal year remaining after the first OF
May. about fifteen millions. These two
sums. amounting together to $50. 900.
II added TO the revenues OF the second
half OF the fiscal year. would yield the
treasury at the end OF the year an avail
able balance OF SIC COSTS.
The additional revenues required TO
carry out the program OF military and
naval preparation OF which I have spok-
en-. would, as at present estimated. be
for the fiscal year 1917. s93. 10000 Those
figures. taken with the figures for the
present fiscal year which l have already
given. disclose our financial problem for
the year 1917.
How shall we obtain the new revenue?
II seems to me a clear dictate OF pru-
dent craftsmanship and frank finance
that in what we are now. 1 hope. about
to undertake We should pay as go.
To what sources. then, shall we turn?
We would be following an almost uni
versal example OF modern governments
II we were to draw the greater part or
even the whole OF the revenues need
from the income taxes. BY somewhat
lowering the present limits OF exemption
and the figure at which the surtax shall
begin to be imposed. and by increasing.
step by step throughout the present grad
uation. the surtax itself. the income taxes
as at present apportioned would yield
sums sufficient to balance the books OF
the treasury at the end OF the fiscal year
1917 without anywhere making the bur-
den unreasonably or oppressively heavy.
The precise reckonings are fully and ac-
curately set out in the report of the sec
rotary OF the treasury. which will be i'm
mediately laid before you.
And there are many additional sources
Of revenue which can Justly be resorted
to without hampering the industries OF
the country or putting any too great
charge upon individual expenditure.
one per cent tax per gallon on gasoline