El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-12-02

Z
/ it was desired. It is surprising how
7 fast the process Of return to a peace
footing has moved in the three weeks
since the fighting started None prom
I ises TO outrun any inquiry that may
be instituted and any aid that may be
offered. IL viii not be easy TO direct
4 IL any better than IL will direct itself.
The American businessman is OF quick
initiative.
Some May Not Find Work.
1.-The ordinary and normal process
es Of private initiative viii not. how
ever. provide Immediate employment
for all OF the men Of our returning
armies. Those who are OF trained
capacity, those who are skilled work
men, those who have acquired famil-
iarity with established businesses,
who are ready and willing to go to the
farms. all those whose aptitudes are
known or viii be sought out by EN-
ployers, viii find no difficulty. Il is
safe to say. in finding place and en-
ployment But there will be others
who will be at a loss where 10 gain a
livelihood. unless pains are given to
guide them and put them IN the way
OF work There will be large float
ing residium OF labor. which should
not be left wholly to shift for itself.
II seems 20 me important. therefore.
that the development OF public works
Of every sort should be promptly re-
sumed in order that opportunities
should be created for unskilled labor
in particular. and that plans should be
promptly resumed in order that op-
portunities should he created for I'M
skilled labor IN particular. and that
plans should be made for such de-
velopments Of our unused lands and
our natural resources as we have
hitherto lacked stimulation to under
take.
FavorS Reclamation Plans
ct particularly direct your attention
to the very practical plans, which the
secretary Of the interior has devel-
oped IN his annual report, and before j
your committees. for the reclamation ,
which might. il the states were will !
ing and able to cooperate. redeem ]
some 30O.O0o,000 acres of land for cul-
tivation. There are said to be 10000 /
00O or 10000. 900 acres OF land in the
west at present arid. FOR whose recla- !
nation water is available, II properly I
conserved There are about 100000 900 {
acres. from which the forests have I
been cut, but which have never vet {
been cleared for the DlOW and which {
lie waste and desolate. These lie seat 5
tered all over the union. And there s
are nearly 50, 900. 600 acres OF land that I
lie under swamps or subject to peri
odical overflow, or too wet for any s
thing but grazing, which It is per-
fectly feasible t. drain and protect
and redeem The congress can at once
direct thousands Of the returning sol
diers to the reclamation OF the arid 2
lands. which II has already under ,
taken. If it will but enlarge the plans
and the appropriations which il has /
entrusted to the department OF the in !
terror.
Projects Would Aid Men.
1T is possible. in dealing with our
unused land to effect a great rural X
and agricultural development. which p
will afford the best sort OF oppor- r
tunity to men who want 10 help them c
selves: and the secretary OF the IN i
terror has thourht the possible meth Z
ods out in way which is worthy OF c
your most friendly attention Il
Z have spoken OF the control when n
must yet for a while, perhaps for a
Ions while. be exercised over shipping
because Of the priority Of service TO Z.
which our forces overseas are entitled. =
and which should also be accorded the :
shipments which are 20 save recently y
liberated peoples from starvation ana .
many devastated regions from per- 2
nanent ruin. Nay not say a special !,
word about the needs Of Belgium and =
northern France? q
Must Aid InduStrially.
NO sums Of money paid by way OF II
indemnity VIII serve. Of themselves, .
to save them and their peoples from I
disadvantage for years to come Some u
thing more must be done than merely n
find the money. II they had money e.
morrow. they could not resume their Il
place IN the industry CT the world to- in
very important place "
they held before the flame OF war "a
swept across them Many OF their
are RACED to the ground
Much OF their machinery Is destroyed, 9,
D has been taken away. Their peo- :.
pie are scattered and many OF their a,
pest workmen are dead Their mar al
zets win be taken by others. II they -
ire not in some special way. assisted "
% rebuild their factories and replace Z ~
heir lost instruments OF manufac- o'
Of the sharp competition al
'or materials and for Industrial IA p'
,ilities, which is now to set in "a
Export PrIOrities Suggested. OF
Il hope. therefore, that the con- q
zress will not be unwilling, II IL pI
ihould become necessary to grant to QJ
iome such agency as the war trade be
,oard. the right to establish prlori- pe
les Of export and supply FOR the ben so
fit Of these people, whom We have Of
,eea so happy TO assist in saving lie
rom the German terror. and whom m
We must not now thoughtlessly leave A.
o shift for themselves in pitiless ve
market -
.sFor the steadyin= and faeilitn- ~
tIon of our own domestic business -
readJustments. nothing 4 more
Important than the Immediate de-
termination Of the taxes that are
to be levied for 1918, 1919 and ar
1920. A much OF the burden of pr
taxation must be lifted from bust co
ness rs sound methods of finan- BY
cling the government Will permit, .OT
and those who conduct the great an
essential Industries Of the country co
must be told rs exactly rs pos &C
sibIe what obligations 10 the ca
government they Will be expect m
ed TO meet in the years fmme- NJ
dlately ahead of them ttit
1T will be OF serious consequence Ia,
o the country to delay removal OF all N,
in this matter a single de
lay longer than the right processes. n,
T debate Justify, II IS idle 10 talk by
Z successful and confident business ~
construction before those uncer- -.
ainties are resolved. -
safe to Reduce Taxes &C
IF the war had continued. IL would
ave been necessary to raise at least
8 600, 600. 600 by taxation. payable in ie
he year 1919, but the war has ended, II
nd I agree with the secretary OF the &C
reasury that Il will be safe TO re- 70
uce the amount TO $4,000, 100000 An IN
Immediate rapid decline in the eN- re-
enses Of the government IS not TO be is
loked for Contracts made for war al
upplies viii, indeed be rapidly can ne
eled and liquidated. but their i'm No
rebate LIQUIDATION will make heavy -
rains on the treasury for the months -
1st ahead OF Us. The maintenance Of al
VI forces on the other side OF the q.
ca is still necessary. A consider lu'
BILE proportion Of those forces must sci
emain in Europe during the period tn
( occupation, and those which are ad
rought home will be transported sai
nd demobilized at heavy expense for Gu
lonths to come. be
war Debt Interest to BE Paid. /.