New Britain herald., 1918-07-13
AMERICA MUST 10
 ID RUSSIANS AID
Henry CleWS ReViVeWS lDterDa- tionaI SituatiOn- Talks on Taxes
Especial to Hcrald.D

[ 1 monism, so far as the map is con- cerned. has come nearer realization than anticipated Naturally the Ger man people are encouraged, despite the failure of the last big drive. and her militory leaders use the situation l for all it is worth keeping their peo- pie ignorant of the one great fact: that the military power of the Gen. tral Powers is fast declining, while ! that of the Allies is as rapidly rising. At the moment the outlook is prob atky for a longer struggle, because German power of endurance has been increased by use of Russian resources, while our own army, which must off set these gain. will require enlarge ment to meet the full strength that may. be required. We are making efforts commensurate with our powers as nation, and there is no doubt whatever of the result Our govern mcnt Is now considering a change of pohcy towards Russia Thus far we have done little beyond offering moral and financial support It is evident that Russia cannot recover without some strong central leadership. either from within or without Leadership from within is not yet forthcoming Encouragement from without is the only apparent way of preventing Ger many from permanently holding Rus sia in it's talons Russia is evidently backward in calling for Japan's aid and she seems to feOr the selfiShneSS of other nations There is no coun- try which can offer disinterested as sistance so completely as the United States; and ii force is needed as seems Likely, active participation of the United States would reassure Russian sensibilities and be an important fac- tor toward bringing Russio back into ] the war on the Eastern front
 The subject of taxation is now ab- Sorbing public attention and congress will be obliged to give it close at tention in spite of the recess. Many
 extreme and impractical suggestions are being offered for raising the enormous amount required for con- duct of the war. President Wilson has signed an army appropriation bill of S12,000, 100000 for the current fiscal year. and Secretary McAdoo an- nounced a programme still larger, the , latter presumably including loans to our Allies. It is also expected that about one-third Of the later sum will
 
 loans When it is remembered that the last revenue bill raised over $4- 000,000,00 it is evident that taxes must be increased, and that Liberty loans will make much larger demands upon our financial resources than 1 ever. There is not the slightest doubt but that the counry will meet the strain with comparative ease and chcerfulnesS. This genera ton is per fectly ready to pay the price for mal1 ing the world a free and decent nJace in which to live. Congres. however. 1 has a difficult task ahead. and it's greatest danger lies in the mass of confusing and incompetent advice. ; Perhaps the best suggestions that can be made are CD simplicity of plan , avoiding the confusion of the last tax law; CD a just distribution Of the load, refusing favor to any class and placing the heaviest taxes upon the largest incomes. and (3) a care ful avoidance of any taxes which dis courage necessary production or threaten to exhaust sources of revenue or the public there is only one course to adopt; that is economy in both essentials and non- essentials, particu- larly the latter; also the turning of all energy available in money and
 muscle toward helping the govern ment win the war. Industry must be stimulated at home to afford this aid but strictcr discrmiination is required as to what is necessary and what is not There is a great deal of shallow criticism concerning prof. tecring--a term which has not yet been satisfactorily defined and which 1 ! is both n moral and economic issue, ! and it is frequently impossible to draw the line That any concern or individual should exact cxorbitant profits out of war transactions. or take unscrupuloous advantage of the nations need. or exploit food. cloth ing or ther public necessities, when hundreds of thousands are making evry possible sacri1ice even to offering their lives, is abhorrent to every fQir- minded and patriotic impulse, Such conduct depends mainly upon the in dividual, and is fortunately rare It is difficult to decide where proti- teering begins and ends. much de- pending upon circumstances For unusual profits during the war there is often ample defense. Risks arc un- usually great; heavy temporary eX- penscs are often incurred; plant de- preciation is excessive: quantities of equipment are quickly scrapped; , ] great waste ds often inevitable and inducements must be made to stimu- : late enterprise; aiI of which tends to demands for high profits if such industries are to he adequately main l taincd. There is another justif1Ca- 1 tion of high profits, and that is their l source of public revenue through tax atiOn In no better way can the