The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-12-11


wide open and our goods desired Such
a situation is not to be endured It 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 1t. but also that
the American hemisphere as a whole
should enjoy like independence and self
sufhciency, if It is not to be drawn into
the tangle OF European affairs Without
such independence the whole question Of
our political unity and 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
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, 1t has undertaken and
achieved every other like task amongst
US in the past, with admirable enterprise.
intelligence and vigor; and IL seems to
me manifest dictate OF wisdom that we
should promptly remove every legal OBJ
stacie 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 1t must embark upon IL by de-
grees, 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-especiaIly between the two Ameri-
can continents, where they are, singularly
enough, yet to be created and Quickened;
and It 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 its way N sufficient abund
ance into these new channels, the gov
eminent may withdraw. But it cannot
omit to begin It 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 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,
| opportunity which may never return
| again If we miss IT 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
| ticulars. I 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 I 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-expenditure which
| will considerably exceed the estimated
revenues Of the government It 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 It may be
| wise or possible for me to suggest I am
| ready to believe that il would be my duty
| to do so in any case; and 1 feel partcu-
| larly bound to speak of the matter when
| IL appears that the deficiency viii arise
| directly out of the adoption by the con-
| gress of measures which I 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 thirtieth Of June last there was
an available balance in the general fund
of the treasury Of 800, no, 1878 The to-
tai estimated receipts for the year 1916
revenue measure passed by the last con-
gress will not be extended beyond its
present limit. the thirty-first of Deem
Der, 1915, and that the present duty OF
one cent per pound on sugar viii be dis
continued after the first of Nay. 1916
will be $3.50, 365, 800. The balance Of june
last and these estimated revenues come
therefore, to a grand total OF STA. 535, COS. IS
The total estimated disbursements for the
| present fiscal year, including SZ5,o0O00
for the Panama canal, $4,000. 600 for prob
able deficiency appropriations and $50,
600 for miscellaneous debt redemptions
will be s75S. S91. coo; and the balance in TIT
general fund Of the treasury will be re
| duced to 81. 644, 6O57S The emergenc,
revenue act. if continued beyond its pres
ent time Limitation, would produce, dur
ing the half year then remaining, abou
forty-one millions The duty Of one cen
per pound sugar. If continued. would
produce during the two months Of tn
fiscal year remaining after the first o
May, about fifteen millions These twl
sums. amounting together to $5s 600. OOI
| If added to the revenues OF the secon'
half of the fiscal year. would yield tn
treasury at the end of the year an avail
able balance OF SIC, ga. 6O5.7s.
The additional revenues required Z
carry out the program Of military an
naval preparation of which I have spok
en-, would, as at present estimated. b
for the fiscal year 1917. $685. 600 Thos
figures, taken with the figures for tn
present fiscal year which I have aIread
given, disclose our financial problem 70
the year 1917.
How shall we obtain the new revenue
1t seems to me a clear dictate OF pru
dent craftsmanship and frank financ
that in what we are now. hope, abou
to undertake we should pay as we e
The people of the country are entitled {
know just what burdens OF taxation the
are to carry. and to know from the outse
now The new bills should be paid by in
ternaI taxation
To what sources. then. shall We turn
We would be following an almost uni
versaI example Of modern government
IL We were to draw the greater part c
even the whole Of the revenues We nee
from the income taxes By someEhs
lowering the present limits of exemptio
| and the figure at which the surtax aha