The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-12-10

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used to make us rich, that great body of
sturdy sailors who used to carry our Nag
into every sea, and who were the pride
and often the bulwark of the nation. we
have almost driven out of existence by
neglect and indifference and
by hopelessly blind and provincial pol
icy of so-cailed economic protection. IL
is high time we repaired our mistake and
our commercial independence on
the seas.
For it is a question Of Independence
IL other nations go to war or seek to
hamper each others commerce, our mer-
chants, ii 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. II IS
of capital Importance not only that the
United States should be it's 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 whole
should enjoy 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-determinatton
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.
With a 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
| 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. l 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 l 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. 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 it would be my duty
to do so in any case; and I feel particu-
larly bound to speak of the matter when
it appears that the deficiency will arise
directly out of the adoption by the con-
gress of measures which / myself urge
I 1t to adopt. Allow me, therefore. tc
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 s104.170, 105.7s. The to-
. tai estimated receipts for the year 1916
on the assumption that the emergency
revenue measure passed by the last con
gress will not be extended beyond its
, present limit, the thirty-first of Decem
. Der, 1915, and that the present duty o.
one cent per pound on sugar will be dis
continued after the first of May, 1916
/, will be $670, 365, 500. The balance of Jun'
last and these estimated revenues come
therefore, to a grand total of STA. 535. sos. Is
: The total estimated disbursements for tn,
= present fiscal year, including SIS 90
for the Panama canal, s12000,600 for prob
able deficiency appropriations and $50,
: 600 for miscellaneous debt redemptions
will be 1858, S91 ,00o: and the balance in tn
general fund of the treasury will be re
duced to $50. ga, e05.7s. The emergenc,
revenue act if continued beyond its pres
ent time limitation, would produce, dur
! ing the half year then remaining, ahou
: forty-one millions. The duty of one cen
= per pound on sugar, If continued, woul'
produce during the two months of tn
: fiscal year remaining after the first o
= May, about fifteen millions. These tw
sums, amounting together to .o0l
= 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 $685., 6O57s.
The additional revenues required I
: carry out the program of military an
naval preparation of which | have spok
. en-, would, as at present estimated, b
; for the fiscal year 1917. 500, s0O.0o0. Thos
> figures, taken with the figures for tn
!, present fiscal year which I have alread
Il given, disclose our financial problem 70
: the year 1917.
How shall we obtain the new revenue
!" 1t seems to me clear dictate of prr
!, dent craftsmanship and frank tinanc
! that in what we are now. l hope, abor
: to undertake we should pay as we g
The people of the country are entitled I
p know just what burdens of taxation the
] are to carry. and to know from the outse
: now. The new bills should be paid by il
!, ternal taxation.
To what sources. them shall we turn
= We would be following an almost un
. versal example of modern government
II we were To draw the greater part {
2 even the whole of the revenues we nee
= from the income taxes. BY somewhs
> lowering the present limits of exemptiQ
a and the figure at which the surtax sha
begin to be imposed, and by increasing
step by step throughout the present graf
re uation the surtax itself the income take
ID as at present apportioned would vie
er sums sufficient TO balance the books