The Raymer enterprise., 1918-12-05

- 0(2Xlx91
which Il has intrusted To the Dspart-
mont Of the Interior. It y possible In
dealing with our unused land to effect
: great rural and agricultural dsvsl-
opment which viii afford the best sort
Of opportunity to men who want to
help themselves, and the secretary Of
the interior has thought the possible
methods out q . way which is worthy
Of your most friendly attention.
y have spoken Of the control which
must yet for . while, perhaps for =
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 &C
corded the shipments which are to
save recently liberated peoples from
starvation and many devastated re-
gions from permanent ruin.
May not say 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.
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 fame
Of war swept across them. Many Of
their factories are razed 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 un
willing, II 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 . 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 ol
the taxes that are to be levied fol
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, ant
those who conduct the great essentia
Industries of the country must be tolt
AZ exactly as possible what obliga
tions to the government they will b.
expected to meet In the years imme
diately ahead OF them. 1t will be o
serious consequence to the country Il
delay removing all uncertainties II
this matter a single day longer thar
the right processes Of debate justify
It is idle ID talk of successful and con
fident business reconstruction befor'
those uncertainties are resolved.
III the war had continued, II woult
have been necessary to raise at leas
$4,000. 100000 by taxation, payable IL
the year 1918, but the war has ended
and | agree with the secretary OF thu
treasury that 1t will be safe to reduc'
the amount to $6.000,000,000. An i'm
mediate rapid decline In the expenses
of the government is not to be lQpket
for. Contracts made for war supple!
will, indeed, be rapidly cancelled ant
liquidated, but their immediate liqui
dation will make heavy drains on thu
treasury for the months just ahead o
US. The maintenance Of our forcei
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 homt
will be transported and demobilizet
at heavy expense for months to come
The interest on our war debt must, o
course, be paid, and provision mad'
for the retirement OF the obligations
OF the government which represent II
But these demands will, Of course. fal
much below what a continuation o
military operations would have en-
tailed, and 5000, 100000 should sui
flee to supply a sound foundation TO
the financial operations Of the year
Four.eiIIion Tax In 1870 Favored.
81 entirely concur with the secre
tary of the treasury in recommend
ing that the $4,000. 100000 needed II
addition to the $4,000, 100000 provides
by existing law be obtained from th'
profits which have accrued and whicl
will accrue from war contracts AM
distinctively war business. and tina
these taxes be confined to the wa
profits accruing in 1918, or in 1911
from business originating in war con
tracts. I urge your acceptance Of hi