The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1915-12-09

| 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 like independence and self
sufficiency, IL It 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
| 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
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.
The task OF building up an adequate
| merchant marine for America private
| capital must ultimately undertake and
| achieve. as 1t has undertaken and
| achieved every other like task amongst
| w IN IHf past WIN dNllllidDls tliltlp llS',
| intelligence and vigor; and 1t seems to
| me "A manifest dictate of wisdom that we
| should promptly remove every legal OBJ
| stacle 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
| a sudden. 1t must embark upon II by de-
| a e.
| velop. Something must be done at once;
done to open routes and develop oppor-
| tunlties where they are as yet undevel-
| Oped; done to open the arteries of trade
| where the currents have not yet learned
| to run-especialy between the two Ameri-
| can continents, where they are, singularly
| enough. yet to be created and quickened;
| and II Is 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 It's way in sufficient abund-
anCe into these new channels, the gov
eminent may withdraw. But 1t 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 sdetracks 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 to
send them where we will.
With a view to meeting these pressing
necessities of our 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 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-
posals 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 | have outlined. and for
the general policy Of adequate prepare
ton for mobilization and defense, In
volve OF course very large additional ex-
penditures of neutrality-suspicious. which
will considerably exceed the estimated
revenues OF the government. 1t 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 1t may be
wise or possible for me to suggest. | am
ready to believe that 1t would be my duty
to do so In any case and | feel particu-
larry bound to speak Of the matter when
II appears that the deficiency will arise
directly out OF the adoption by the con-
gress OF measures which | myself urge
It 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 thirteth OF June last there was
an available balance in the general fund
OF the treasury OF tlOi 40, l057S The to-
tai estimated receipts for the year 1916.
on the assumption that the emergency
revenue measure passed by the last con-
grcss will not be extended beyond its
present limit, the thirty-tirst 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, 800 The balance OF June
last and these estimated revenues come.
therefore, to a grand total OF STA 535 e05.7S.
The total estimated disbursements for the
present fiscal year. including s25. 900
for the Panama canal. 600 for prob
able deficiency appropriations and $50
900 for miscellaneous debt redemptiOns,
will be S753. S9l 0J0; and the balance In the
general fund of the treasury will be re-
duced to s2O64i, 6057S 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
per pound on sugar, II continued. would
produce during the two months Of the
fiscal year remaining after the first OF
May. about fifteen millions. These two
sums, amounting together TO &j6, 1900,
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 176. 6i4 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, 800, 100000. Those
figures, taken with the figures for the
present fiscal year which ] have already
given. disclose our financial problem for
the year 1917.
How shall we obtain tho new revenue?
II seems to me a clear dictate OF pru-
dent craftsmanship and frank finance
that in what we are now. | hope, about
TO undertake we should pay as we go
The people Of the country are entitled to
know Just what burdens OF taxation they
are to carry, and to know from the outset
now The new bills should be paid by in
ternal taxation.
To what sources then, shall we turn?
We wou'' be following almost uni
versal e. mple OF modern governments
II we wee to draw the greater part or
| even the whole OF the revenues we 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