Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1918-12-13

OF taxation must be lifted from BUSH
ness as sound methods Of financing the
government will permit, and those who
conduct the great essential industries
Of the country must be told as exactly
as possible what obligations to the gov
eminent they will be expected to meet
lip the years Immediately ahead Of
them.
It will be Of serious consequence to
the country to delay removing all I'M
certaintles in this matter single day
longer than the right processes Of de-
bate justly. 1t Is idle to talk Of sue
cessful and confident business recon-
struction before those uncertainties
are resolved.
Troops Must Stay in Europe.
II the war had continued it would
have bee necessary to raise at least
$8,0O0,000,000 by taxation, payable in
the year 1919, but the war has ended
and agree with the secretary of the
treasury that 1t viii be safe to reduce
the amount to S6,00o,00OOo0. An Inn
mediate rapid decline in the expenses
OF the government is not to be looked
for. Contracts made for war supplies
will, indeed, be rapidly Cancelled and
liquidated, but their immediate IiQui-
dation will make heavy drains on the
treasury 70 rthe months just ahead of
us.
The maintenance Of our forces on
the other side fthe sea is still neces-
sary. A considerable proportion Of
these forces must remain in Europe
during the period of occupation, and
those which are brought home will be
transported and demobillzed ut heavy
expense for months to come.
The interest on our war debt must,
Of course, be paid and provision made
for the retirement Of the obligations of
the government which represent It.
But these demands, will, of course,
fall much below what a continuation
of military operations would have en-
tailed, and $6000,000O00 should suf-
fee to supply sound foundation for
the financial operations of the year.
| entirely concur with the secretary
of the treasuryin recommending that
the S2,000,000,000 NEEDED in addition
to the S4000,000O00 provided by ex-
listing law be obtained from the profits
which have accrued and shall accrue
from war contracts and distinctively
war business, but that these taxes be
confined to the war profits accruing in
1918, or In 1919, from business orlgi-
mating lit war contracts.
Asks Aid for Belgium.
May / not say a special word about
the needs of Belgium and northern
France? No sums of money paid by
the way of indemnity will serve of
to save them from hopeless
for years to come. Some
thing more must be done than merely
find the money. If they had money
and raw materials In abundance to-
they could not resume their
place In the industry of the world to-
very important place
they held before the flame Of war
swept across them. Many of their
factories are RACED to the ground
Much of their machinery is destroyed
Or has been taken away, Their
people are scattered and many of
their markets viii be taken by others,
f they are not in some special way
assisted to rebuild their factories and
replace their lost instruments of man
lfacture. They should not be left to
he vicissitudes of the sharp compe-
-ition for materials and for industrial
which Is now to set in. !
nope, therefore, that the congress win
lot be unwilling, If 1t should become
necessary, to grant to some such
agency as the war trade board the
light to establish priority Of export
md supply for the benefit Of these
people whom we have been so happy
10 assist In saving from the German
error and whom we must not now
leave to shift for them
selves in a pitiless competitive market.
Forces Needed Abroad.
The maintenance Of our forces on
he other side of the sea Is still nee
essary. A considerable proportion of
hese forces must remain In Europe
Turing the period Of occupation, and
hose which are brought home will be
and demobilized at heavy
for months to come.
The interest on our war debt must,
If course, be paid, and provision made
or the retirement of the obligations
If the government which represent it.
But these demands will, of course,
all much below what a continuation
# military operations would have en-
allied, and six billions should suffice
o supply a sound foundation for the
financial operations Of the war.
Worried About Railroads.
The question which causes me the
greatest concern is the question Of
he policy to be adopted toward the
'ailroads. / frankly turn to you for
counsel upon it. / have no conf
lent Judgment Of my own. / do not
lee how any thoughtful man can have
Who knows anything of the COM
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