The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-12-05

great undertaking. The patriotism,
the unselhshness, the thoroughgoing
devotion and distinguished capacity
that marked their toilsome labors, day
after day, month after month, have
made them fit mates and comrades of
the men in the trenches and on the
sea. And not the men here in Wash
ington only. They have but directed
the vast achievement.
Plan to Steady Business.
For the steadying and facilitation of
our own domestic business readiust-
ments nothing is more important than
the immediate determination of the
taxes that are to be levied for 1918,
! 1919 and 1920. As much as the burTen
Of taxation must be lifted from bust
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
| In the years Immediately ahead Of
them.
| II will be of serious consequence to
the country to delay removing all I'M
certanties In this matter single day
longer than the right processes of de-
bate Justify 1t is idle to talk Of sue
cessful and confident business recon-
struction before those uncertainties are
resolved
Troops Must Stay in Europe.
If the war had continued IL would
have been necessary 10 raise at least
! $1,000 100000 by taxation, payable In
the year 1919. hut the war has ended
and agree with the secretary of the
treasury that II will be safe to reduce
the amount to $4,000 100000 An i'm
mediate rapid decline in the expenses
of the government is not to he looked
| for. Contracts made for war supplies
will, indeed, be rapidly cancelled and
| iquidated but their immediate liqui-
dution will make heavy drains on the
| treasury for the months Just ahead OF
! us
The maintenance of our forces on
/
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 demohilized 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 II.
But these demands will, Of course.
! fall much below what continuation
Of military operations would have en-
tailed, and SG,OOO,OO0OOO should Suf-
flee to supply sound foundation for
the financial operations of the year.
entirely concur with the secretary
If the treasury in recommending that
| the 1000 100000 needed in addition
TO the 00O,OO000O provided by eX-
/ iSting law be obtained from the profits
| which have accrued and shall accrue
4 from war contracts and diStinctively
! war business, hut that these taxes be
confined to the war profits accruing in
! 1918, or In 1919 from business origi-
mating In 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
way of indemnity will serve of them.
selves to save them from hopeless
| disadvantage for years TO come. Some
! thing more must be done than merely
and raw materials in abundance to-
morrow they could not resume their
place in the industry Of the world to-
m0rrow-the very important place
! they held before the flame Of war
swept across them. Many of their
| factories nre RACED to the ground
| Much of their machinery is destroyed
or has been taken away, Their
people are scattered and many Of
| their markets will be taken by others.
! If they are not i'm some special way
! assisted 10 rebuild their factories and
| replace their lost instruments of man-
ulucmrc They should not he left to
| the yiciSStudes of the sharp compe-
rton for materials and for industrial
/ facilities which is now To set in.
! hope, therefore, that the congress will
not be- unwilling, if it should become
/ necessary 10 grant 10 some such
agency as the war trade board the
right to establish 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 them
selves in "A ptlless competitive market
Forces Needed Abroad
The maintenance OF our forces on
the other side Of the sea is stlll nee
essary 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 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 II.
But these demands win, of course.
fall much below what n continuation
of military operations would have en-
tailed and six billions should suffice
ia supply Il sound foundation for the
financial operations of the year.
nhnnt 500 MIR nnrn md thn ,,nlnInt I'M