Mexico Missouri message., 1917-11-15

sunk, and that the German claims at
to tonnage sunk by submarines are
grossly exaggerated. In the course OF
his address he said he could see NO
signs Of an early peace.
No news Of importance came from
the sector where General Pershing'B
men are on the front line. The first
member Of the expedition to be wound.
ed in t. e trenches was a lieutenant Of
the signal corps. His injuries were
not serious.
American War Taxes In Effect.
November brought to the Ameri~
can people a sharper realization of the
| financial burdens of the war, for on
that day the following war taxes be-
came effective:
On admissions to all places OF
amusement except religious and chari-
table entertainments and shows whose
maximum charge is cents and out
door shows in amusement parks charg-
ing 10 cents or less, 1 cent for each 10
| cents or fraction thereof. Children un-
der twelve charged fiat tax of 1 cent.
On dues of all clubs with dues OF
$12 per year or more, except fraternal
orders on the lodge system, 10 per
cent of amount of dues.
On all freight, per cent.
One cent for every 20 cents or frnc--
ton thereof for express packages.
Railroad and boat fares, except sea-
son and commutation tickets for SO
miles or less or individual fares Of 35
cents or less, 8 per cent of amount.
On seats, berths and staterooms on
cars or boats, 10 per cent.
On oil delivered by pipe line, s per
cent Of charge.
On telephone, telegraph or radio
message costing Is cents or more, 5
cents per message.
On all the insurance, 8 cents for
each 500 Of new insurance, except in
dustrial insurance for $500 or less,
which bears 40 per cent of the first
weekly premium. For each dollar or
fraction thereof Of fire, marine, inland
or casualty insurance, 1 cent.
On cigars, 25 cents to 81 per thou
sand; on cigarettes, so cents to $1.20
per thousand on tobacco and snuff, 8
cents per pound; ON cigarette papers,
one-half to 1 cent per hundred.
The increased postal rates went into
effect on November 2.
Food Prices Under Control.
On the other hand, Thursday was
welcomed by the consumer, for then
1t was that the licensing of wholesale
grocers and other food producers went
into effect. This is supposed to bring
about q considerable reduction in the
prices Of the nations food, for Mr..
Hoover and his aids fix the wholesale
prices, and then control the retailers
by not permitting wholesalers to sell
to those who seek to obtain extortion-
ate prices from the consumers. The
whole thing is very complicated and
will require several weeks to get into
smooth running order, but 1t promises
to be effective. All citizens are re-
quested to report any instances Of
"profteering," and these will be at
tended to promptly.
The licensing system was applied
also to the live stock and packing in
dustries, the government thus assum-.
ing control Of the nations meat busi-
ness with the intention Of reducing
prices and conserving supplies.
The nation has entered heartily into,
the spirit of meatless and wheatlesS
days, only pro-Germans and the almost
equally culpable selfish ones refusing
to deny themselves to that extent for
the benefit of the common cause Of civ
illzation.
Another good step taken by Mr.
Hoover was the closing of the Elgin
board of trade, which for half a CEN
fury has been arbitrarily fixing butter
prices for the country.
Another Luxburu Expose.
Secretary Lansing last week pub
lished two additional kilograms sent
by Count Luxburg to the German for
eign office, revealing plainly Ger
many's aims to overthrow the Monroe
doctrine and obtain a foothold in
South America, especially South Bra
I'll, as the first step in subjugating the.
entire continent. Luxburg alluded to.
the people of South America as ''Indi-
ans under thin veneer" Both Argen.
tina and Chile may now be forced to.
declare their attitude.
The federal trade commission has is
sued regulations under which enemy
owned patents and copyrights will be-
licensed for manufacture by citizens
Of the United States. The order af-
fects some 10000 articles, including
salvarsan and other drugs, dyestufe
formulas and important nachnnicnr