The Colorado statesman., 1918-12-07

/ which 1t has intrusted to the Depart
ment of the Interior. 1t Ii possible In
dealing with our unused land to effect
great rural and agricultural devel'
opment which will afford the best sort
of opportunity to men who want TO
help themselves, and the secretary OF
the Interior has thought the possible
methods cut In q way which Is worthy
OF your most friendly attention.
Il have spoken OF the control which
must yet for q while. perhaps for a
long while, be exercised over shipping
because of the priority of service to
which our forces overseas are en-
titled, and which should also be ac-
corded the shipments which are to
save recently liberated peoples from
starvation and many devastated re-
gions from permanent ruin.
May | not say a 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 save them from hope
less disadvantage for years to come.
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
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. l hope, there
fore. that the Congress will not be un-
willing, if 1t should become necessary,
to grant to some such agency as the
War Trade Board the right to estab-
lish 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.
Determination of Taxes Important.
For the steadying and facilitation
of our own 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-
tions to the government they will be
expected to meet in the years imme-
diately ahead of them. 1t will be OF
serious consequence to the country to
delay removing all uncertainties in
this matter single day longer than
the right processes OF debate justify.
It is idle to talk of successful and con-
fident business reconstruction before
those uncertainties are resolved.
"If the war had continued, it would
have been necessary to raise at least
50, 900, 100000 by taxation, payable in
the year 1919. but the war has ended,
and l agree with the secretary OF the
treasury that 1t will be safe to reduce
the amount to $6.000.0 100000. 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
liquidated, 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 are brought home
will be transported and demobilfzed
at 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 1t.
But these demands will. of course, fall
much below what continuation of
military operations would have en-
tailed, and $6,O00.O 900, 900 should suf-
flee to supply sound foundation for
the financial operations of the year.
Four-Billion Tax In 1920 Favored.
81 entirely concur with the secre-
tary of the treasury in recommend
ing that the $4,000, 100000 needed in
addition to the $4,000, 100000 provided
by existing law be obtained from the
profits which have accrued and which
will accrue from war contracts and
distinctively war business, and that
these taxes be confined to the war
profits accruing in 1918, or in 1913
from business originating in war con-
tracts urge vour acceptance of his