The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-06


BILE methods out in a way which Is worth,
OF your most friendly attention.
Control Of Shipping
! have spoken Of the control which mus
yet .or awhile. perhaps for long while.
exercised over shipping. because of the priorit,
Of service to which our forces overseas a.
entitled, and which should also be accorde,
the shipments which are to save recent,
liberated peoples from starvation and man,
devastated regions from permanent ruin. Ma,
I not say q special word about the needs q
Belgium and northern France? No sums o,
money paid by way Of indemnity will serv,
| of themselves to save them from hopeless
disadvantage for years to come. Somelh .ne
more must be done than merely find tn,
money. If they had money and raw ma
terials in abundance tomorrow they could moi
resume their place in the industry OF tn,
world tomorrow-the very important plae'
they held before the flame of war swept
| across them. Many Of their factories ars
RACED to the ground. Much of their machin
cry Is destroyed or has been taken away
Their people are scattered and many of theii
best workmen are dead. Their markets will
special way assisted to rebuild their factories
and replace their lost instruments of manu-.
facture. They should not be left to the
vicissitudes of the sharp competition for ma,
terials and for industrial facilities which is
now to set in. I hope therefore, thai the
become necessary, to grant to 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 30 happy to assist in saving from the
German terror. and whom we must not now
thoughtlessly leave to shift for themselves in
pitiless competitive market
Decide Taxes Now.
For the steadying and facitation of our
NUN rio hIci lire rs Lsrn
is more important than the immediate deter.
mination of the taxes that are to be levied
for 1918, 1919 and 1920. As much of the
burden of taxation must be lifted from bust.
ness a. sound methods of financing the gov.
eminent will permit and those who conduct
the great essential industries of the country
must be told as exactly as possible what OBJ.
legations to the government they will be ex,
pected to meet in the years Immediately
ahead of them. It will be of serious conse-
quence to the country to delay removing all
uncertainties in this matter for a single day
longer than the right processes of debate
justify. 1t is idle to talk of successful and
confident business reconstruction before those
uncertainties are resolved.
War Is Ended.
If the war had continued it would have
been necessary to raise at least eight billion
dollars by taxation payable in the year 1919
but the war has ended, and I agree with the
secretary Of the treasury that it will 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. Con-
tracts made for war supplies will. indeed. be
rapidly Cancelled and liquidated, but their i'm
mediate liquidation will make heavy drains on
the treasury for the months just ahead of U.S.
The maintenance of our forces on the other
side of the sea is still necessary A con-
siderable proportion of those forces must re-
main in Europe during the period of occupa-
tion, and those which are brought home will
be transported and demobilized at heavy ex-
pense for months to come. The interest on
our war debt must, of course be paid and
provision made for the retirement of the OBJ
legations Of the government which represent
1t. But these demands will. of course, fall
much below what continuation of military
operations would have entailed, and six bill
dation for the financial operations of the
year.
Tap War Profits
l entirely concur with the secretary of the
treasury in recommending that the $2,0OO,-
100000 needed in addition to the $4,000 OO0, 900
provided by existing law be obtained from the
profits which have accrued and shall accrue
from war contracts and distinctivey war
business but that these taxes be confined to
the war profits accruing in 1918, or in 1919
from business originating in war contracts.
urge your acceptance of his recommends
ton that provision be made now, not subse-
quently, that the taxes to be paid in 1920
should be reduced from $6.OO0 100000 to
$.000, 100000. Any arrangements less definite
than these would add elements of doubt and
confusion to the critical period of industrial
readjustment through which the country must
now Immediately pass and which no true
friend of the nations essential business in
terests can afford to be responsible for Gre
ating or prolonging. Clearly determined con-
INN oh I'D,
sable to the economic revival and rapid in
dustrial development which may confidently
be expected if we act now and sweep all in
terrogation points away.
About the Navy.
take it for granted that congress will
carry out the naval program which was un-
iertaken before we entered the war. The
Of the navy has submitted to your
for authorization that part of the
program which covers the building plans of
he next three years. These plans have been
prepared along the lines and in accordance
With the policy which the congress estab- |
ished, not under the exceptional conditions |
ng to definite method of development for |
he navy. / earnestly recommend the un-
Interrupted pursuit of that policy. It would |
learly be unwise for US to attempt to adjust |
'ur program to future world policy Is yet |
undetermined.
A1lnOaQ question.
The question which causes me the greatest
oncern is the question Of the policy to be |
dopted toward the railroads. l frankly turn |
o you for counsel upon it. have no con-
ident Judgment Of my own. do not see
low any thoughtful man can have who |
nows anything of the completely of the |
roblem. 1t is a problem which must be
tudied without bias or prejudice. Nothing
an be gained by becoming partisans of any
articular plan Of settlement.
Move Necessary.
It was necessary that the administration Of
he railways should be taken over hv the
overnment so long as the war lasted It
'ould have been impossible otherwise. to
stablish and carry through under q single
ERECTION the necessary priorities of ship
tents. It would have been impossible other
Use to combine maximum production at the
actories and mines and farms with the
Maximum possible car supply to take the
roducts to the ports and markets; Impossible
} route troop shipments and freight ship
isadvantage Of the roads employed; impos.
bic to subordinate. when necessary, all ques-
ons Of convenience to the public necessity;
npossible to give the necessary financial
lpport to the roads from the public treas
ry. But all these necessities have now been
rived, and the question is, what 10 best for
le railroads and for the public in the fu-
ire?
Exceptional circumstances and exceptional
ethods Of administration were not needed to
,nvince us that the railroads were not equal
,sed upon them by the rapid and continuous
svelopments Of the industries of the coun-
y. We knew that already And we knew
lat they were UNEQUAL to it partly because