New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-12-06

which 1t has intrusted 10 the Depart
ment Of the Interior. II 10 possible II
dealing with our unused land TO effec
a great rural and agricultural dsveI
opmcnt which will afford the best s0r
OF opportunity to mon who want I,
help themselves. and the secretary o
the interior has thought the possible
methods out In . way which Is worthy
Of your most friendly attention.
Il have spoken Of the control which
must yet for . while, perhaps for /,
long while. be exercised over shipping
because OF the priority OF service t
which our forces overseas are en-
titled, and which should also be &C
corded the shipments which are L
save recently liberated peoples from
starva6s0n and many devastated re
gions from permanent ruin.
May ! not say q special word
about the needs Of Belgium and north
ern France? No sums Of money paid
by way OF indemnity will serve OF
themselves to a them from hope
less disadvantage for years to come
Something more must be done than
merely find the money. II they had
money and raw materials In abun'
dance tomorrow they could not re
sumo their place In the industry OF
the world tOmorrow-the very import.
ant 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 best
workers are dead. Their markets will
be taken by others, II they are not in
some special way assisted to rebuild
their factories and replace their lost
instruments Of manufacture.
They should not be left to the vi.
cissitudes of the sharp competition for
materials and for industrial facilities
which Is now to set In. | hope, there.
fore, that the Congress will not be I'M.
willing, If It should become necessary,
to grant to some such agency as the
Val Trade Board the right to estab-
fish priorities of export and supply
for the benefit of these people whom
We have been so happy to assist In
saving from the German terror and
whom we must not now thoughtlessly
leave to shift for themselves In a pitt
less competitive market.
Dissemination Of Taxes Important.
For the steadying and tacilitation
Of our W domestic business read
justments nothing Is more important
than the immediate determination OF
the taxes that are to be levied for
1918, 1919 and 1920. As much of the
burden of taxation must be lifted from
business as sound methods of financ.
ing the government will permit, and
those who conduct the great essential
industries OF the country must be told
as exactly as possible what obliga-
lions to the government they will be
expected to meet in the years imme
diately ahead Of them. It will be Of
serious consequence to the country to
uCiOy IClhOV lux al ulSCI tullllIC0 III
this matter a single day longer than
the right processes Of debate justify.
1t Is idle to talk of successful and con-
fident business reconstruction before
those uncertainties are resolved.
III the war had continued. 1t would
have been necessary to raise at least
$4,000. 900. 1000 by taxation. payable in
the year 1919, but the wal has ended,
and l agree with the secretary OF the
treasury that it will be safe to reduce
the amount to $6,OUO. 900. 900. An i'm
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
l%iQuidated. but their immediate liqui-
dation will make heavy drains on the
treasury for the months just ahead Of
us. The maintenance Of our forces
on the other side Of the sea is still
necessary. A considerable proportion
Of those forces must remain in Eu-
rope during the period Of occupation,
and those which arc brought home
will be transported and demObili2ed
at heavy expense for months to come.
The interest on our war debt must, of
be paid, and provision made
for the retirement of the obligations
Of the government which represent 1t.
But these demands will. Of course. fall
much below what a continuation OF
operations would have en-
and $4,000. OOO.O 0 should suf-
lice to supply q sound foundation for
he financial operations Of the year.
Four-eiiIlon Tax In 1920 Favored.
Il entirely concur with the secre-
AIRY Of the treasury In recommend.
ng that the $4,000. OOO. 900 needed In
to the 1000, 900. 900 provided
~ existing law be obtained from the
which have accrued and which
will accrue from war contracts and 4,
war business, and that
hese taxes be confined to the war
accruing In 1918. OF in 1919
rom business originating In war con-
racts. urge your acceptance of his T
recommendation that provision be /
made now. not subsequently. that the {
axes to be paid in 1920 should be re. ,
luced from $4,000. OOO. 900 to $4,000 =
90, 900. ,
ANY arrangements less definite q
han these would add elements OF r
oubt and confusion to the critical Pc 9
lod Of industrial readjustment {
which the country must now q
Immediately pass, and which no true {
lend Of the nations essential bust (
ess interests can afford to be respon- b
lble for creating or prolonging. Clear
determined conditions, clearly and
Lmnlu charfad are i~ndisnenaahla To