The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-12-02
Complete Test OF Address BY President Wilson

49, ~ " " y - ~ ~ ~ -
place their lost instruments of man
ufacture.
Priorisies to Aid Them.
They should not be left to the
vicissitudes OF the sharp competition
for materials and for industrial fac
nities which is now to set in. /
hope therefore, that the congress will
not be unwilling, If it should become
necessary, to grant to some such
agency as the war trade board the
right to establish priorities of ex-
port and supply for the benefit OF
these people. whom we have been 80
happy to assist in saving from the
German terror and whom we must
not now .thoughtlessly leave to shift
for themselves in a pitiless competi-
tive market. -r~.
Must Know Tax Burdens.
For the steadying and facilita-
ton Of our own domestic bust,
ness readjustments nothing is
more important than the irnmed-
late 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 financing the government will !
permit, and those who conduct
the great essential industries OF
the country must be told as ex-
actly as possible what obHga-
tions to the government they
will be expected to meet in the
years Immediately ahead Of
them, it will be Of serious con-
sequence to the country to delay
removing all uncertainties in
this matter a single day longer
than the right processes of de-
bate justify. It is idle to talk
of successful and confident busi-
ness reconstruction before those
uncertainties are resolved.
II the war had continued it would
have been necessary to raise at least
eight billion dollars by taxation pay
able in the year 1919; but war has
ended and agree with the secretary
Of the treasury that it will be safe
to reduce the amount to six billions.
An immediate 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 liquidation will make
heavy drains on the treasury for the
months. just ahead of us.
War Expenses Decreased.
The maintenance of our forces on
the other side Of the sea is still
necessary. A considerable proper
ton Of those forces must remain in
during the period Of occupa-
ton, and those which are brought
home will be transported and de-
modified at heavy expense for
months to come. The interest on
our war debt must of course be paid
and provision made for the retire
ment of the obligations Of the gov
eminent which represent it. But
these demands viii, of course, fall
much below what continuation Of
military operations would have en-
to supply a sound foundation for the
financial operation Of the year.
Two Billion From War Profits.
I am in entire accord with the Sec
in his view that the two bill
lion needed, in addition to the four
billions provided by existing law, be
obtained from the profits which have
accrued and shall accrue from war
contracts and distinctly war bust
ness, but that these taxes be con-
fined to the war profits accruing in
1918 or in 1919 from business origin
ating in war contracts. l urge your
acceptance of his resolution that
provision be made now, not subse-
quently, that the taxes to he paid in
1920 should be reduced from six to
four billions Any arrangements
less definite than these would add
elements Of doubt and confusion to
the critical period of industrial re-
through which the
country must now Immediately pass,
and which no true friend Of the ma
TONS essential business interests
can afford to be responsible for
termined conditions, clearly and
simply charted, are indispensable to
the economic revival and rapid in
dustrial development which may
be expected if we act now
and sweep all Interrogation points
away. =
Naval Program.
take it for granted that the con-
gress will carry out the naval pro-
gram which was undertaken before
we entered the war. The secretary
Of the navy has submitted to your
committees for authorization that
part of the program which covers
the building plans of the next three
years. These plans have been pre-
pared along the lines and in accord
ance with the policy which the con-
gress establishedA not under the excep-
tional conditions of the war, but
with the intention Of adhering to
a. definite method of development
for the navy. I earnestly recon-
mend the uninterrupted pursuit Of
that policy. 1t would clearly be I'M
wise for US to attempt to adjust our
programs to a future world policy
as yet undetermined.
The Railroad Problem.
The question which causes me the
greatest concern is the question of
the policy to be adopted towards the
railroads. I frankly turn to you for
counsel upon it. I have no conf
dent Judgment of my own. do not
see how any thoughtful man can
have who knows anything of the
compIexity of the problem. 1t is a
problem which must be studied,
Immediately and studied
without bias or prejudice. Nothing
can be gained by becoming partisan
or any particulars of settlement.
Had to Take Them Over
It was necessary that the admine-
istration of the railways should be
taken over by the government SO
long as the war lasted. 1t would
have been impossible otherwise to
and carry through under a
single direction the necessary pri-
critics of shipments. It would have
been impossible to otherwise COM