Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-03


tention to the very PRACTICAL
plans which the secretary OF the
interior has Developed in his an
nuaI report and before your
committees for the reclamation
OF arid, cwamp. and cut-over
lands which might. IL the states
were willing and able 20 coop
acres OF lard for cultivation.
There are said TO be l5.uuu,uCa
or 100000 acres OF land I'm the
west. at present arid. for whose
reclamation water Is available,
IL properly conserved. There are
about eSO.0O0.O0O acres from
which the forests have been cut.
but which have never yet been
cleared Tor the plOw and Whlcn
lie waste and deSOlate. These
lie scattered all over the Union
And theer are nearly SU..0oO,uuU
acres OF land that lie under
swamps or subject 10 periodical
overflow or too wet for anything
but grazing. which l. IS perfectly
feasible TO drain and protect and
redeem. Congress can at once
direct thousands OF the return
ing soldiers TO the reclamation
fthe arid lands which u mas
already undertaken. fr IL will but
enlarge the plans and the apprO-
priations which IL has intrUsted
20 the department Of the int
terror. IL Is possible in delinS
with our unused land 10 effect
a great rural and agricultural
development which Will aIord
the best sort OF opportunity 10
men who want 10 help them
selves; and the secretary OF the
interior has thought the posi-
bic methods out in way which
is worthy OF your most friendly
attention.
BsIgiu maad France
/ have spoken OF the control
which must yet for a while, rer-
hapS for a long while. be eXer-
ciSed over shipping because OF
the priority OF service TO which
our forces overseas are entitled
and which should also be ac-
corded 10 the shipments which
are TO save recently liberated
peoples from starvation and
many devastated regions from
permanent ruin. May i not say
a special Word about the needs
OF Belgium and northern France?
No sums OF money paid by way
OF indemnify will serve CT
themselves TO save them from
hopeless disadvantage for years
10 come. Something more must
De N0AE IMAM AAAEAEAL AAAhA AAAE
money. If they had money and
raw materials in abundance to-
morrow, they could not resume
their place in the industry OF the
world tomorrOw-the very i'm
portant place they had before
the fame OF war swept across
them. Many Of their factories
are raZed TO the ground. Much
OF their machinery is destroyed
Hnc han - E-nrr Their
people are scattered and many
of their best workmen are dead.
Their markets will be taken by
others IL 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
vicissitudes OF the sharp COM
petition for materials and for
Industrial facilities which is now
TO set in
Much OF their machinery is
destroyed or has been taken
away. Their people are scat
tered and many OF their best
workmen are dead Their mar
Sets viii be taken oy 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
viciSsitudes OF the shar0 conf
petition for materials AT for
industrial facilities which IS now
70 set in I hope. therefore, thaS
the congress will not be unwil-
ling, II IL should become neces-
sGry. 20 grant to some such
agency as the war trade board
the right 10 establish priorIties
of export and supply for the
benefit OF these people whom we
havesbeen so happy 70 assist in
saving from the German terror
and whom we must not now
thoushtlessly leave 20 shift FOR
themselves in pitilcss competi-
tive market
Rovenus Program
For the steadying and facili-
tation Of our own domestic buSl-
ness readjustments nothing IS
more important than the imme-
date determination OF the taxes
that are 10 be levied for 1918.
1919 and 1929. As much of the
burden Of taxation must be lifted
from business as sound methods
Of financing the government VIII
permit and those who conduct
the great essential Industries OF
he cOuntry must be told as told
as exactly as possible what OBJ
legations 10 the government they
will be expected to meet in the
years Immediately ahead OF them.
II viii be OF serious consequence
to the country TO delay remoy-
ing all uncertainties in this mat
ter q single day longer than the
right processes of debate justify.
IL is idle 10 talk of successful
and confident business recon-
strupcrion before those uucer-
tanties are resolved.
II the war had continued Il
would have been necessary 10
raise at least eight billion dol
lars by taxation payable in the
year 1919: but the war has end
ed. and / agree with the secre-
tsry OF the treasury that 1t viii
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 treas
ury for the months just ahead
Of US. The maintenance OF our
forces on the other side of the
sea is still necessary = con-
siderable proportion of those
forces must remain in Europe
during the period OF occupation.
and those which are brought
home will be transported and
demobilized 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 obliga-
tfonS of the government which
represent IT But these demands
will. OF course. fall much below
what a continuation OF military
operations would have entailed,
and six billions should suffice TO
supply a sound foundation for
the financial operations OF the
year
Co-curs with McAdoo
I entirely concur with the sec
rotary OF the treasury IN recon-
20 mending that the two billions
needed in addition TO the four
billions provided by existing law
be obtained from the prontS
which have accrued and snail
accrue from war contracts ana
diStiuctiveIy war business. but
that these taxes be confined 10
the war profits accruing in 1918.
or in 1913. from business origi-
mating in war contracts urge
YOUR acceptance OF this recon-
~mz-HFwn that mwnNi~lnm Ue