Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-12-13

OF the cGuuIF} must ue tplN 40 eA0S'3
ms possible what obligations to the gov
eminent they will be expected to meet
in the years Immediately ahead OF
them.
II will be ~ serious consequence to
the country to delay removing all IN
ccrtaInt!es in this matter a single day
longer than the right processes OF de
bate Justly. 1t Is idle to talk OF sue
cessful and confident business recon
structlon before those uncertainties
are resolved.
Troops Must Stay in Europe.
II the war had continued 1t would
have bee necessary to raise at least
S8,0OO,OO0,0O0 by taxation, payable In
the year 1919, but the war has ended
and | agree with the secretary OF the
treasury that It will be safe to reduce
the amount to S6,0O0,000,0OO. An I'M
mediate rapid decline In the expenses
OF the government Is not TO be looked
for. Contracts made for war supplies
will, indeed, be rapidly Cancelled n
| l~louIdated, but their immediate llqui-
dation will make heavy drains on the
treasury 70 rthc months Just ahead of
us.
The maintenance of our forces on
the other side o fthe sen Is still neces-
sary. A considerable proportion OF
these forces must remain In Europe
during the period of occupation, and
those which are brought home will be
transported and ~demobillzed at heavy
expense for months to come.
The interest on III var debt must,
Of course, be paid and provision made
! for the retirement of the obligations OF
the government which represent 1t.
But these demands, will, of course,
fall much below what a continuation
of military operations would have en-
TITLED, and $4,000, 100000 should suf-
flee to supply a sound %coundation for
the financial operations Of the year.
I entirely concur with the secretary
Of the treasuryin recommending that
the $4,000, 10000 NEEDED in addition
to the 100000 900 provided by eX-
listing law be obtained from the profits
which have accrued and shall accrue
from war contracts and distinctively
wal business, but that these taxes be
confined to the war profits accruing In
1913, or In 1919, from business origi-
mating In war contracts.
Asks Aid for Belgium.
May I not say a special word about
the needs Of Belgium and northern
France? No sums of money paid by
the way of indemnity will serve OF
themselves to save them from hopeless
disadvantage for years to come. Some
thing more must be done than merely
find the money. If they had money
and raw materials In abundance to-
morrow they could not resume their
place In the industry Of the world to-
morrow-the very important place
they held before the flame of wal
swept across them. Many of their
factories are RACED to the ground
Much of their machinery is destroyed
or has been taken away. Thell
people are scattered and many OF
their markets will be taken by others
If they are not in some special way
assisted to rebuild their factories an(
replace their lost instruments OF man
ufacture. They should not be left II
the viclssitudes of the sharp compe
tition for materials and for industrial
facilities which Is now to set In.
hone, therefore, that the congress VIII
: not be unwilling, If it should becom
necessary, to grant to some sue
. agenc as the war trade board tn
I right TO establish priority Of expor
p and supply for the benefit Of thes
people whom we have been so happ
= to assist in saving from the Germa
terror and whom W must not no
. thoughtlessly leave to shift for then
II selves in a p%itiless.% competitive marke
IL Forces Needed Abroad.
II The maintenance Of our forces {
Is the other side Of the sea is still ne
essary. A considerable proportion
these forces must remain In EurOl
III during the period of occupation. ar
those which are brought home will
III transported and d~emobilized at hea'
ne expense for months to come.
III The interest on our wa debt mu'
of course, be paid, and provision ma
III for the retirement Of the obligatio
ep of the government which represent
zee But these demands will, of c0ur'
TX fall much below what a continual
.yS Of military operations would have
lat tailed, and six billions should suff
IRE to supply n sound foundation for
res financial operations of the war.
U" Worried About Railroads.
The question which causes me
l"' greatest concern is the question
1T! the policy to be adopted toward
'i"' railroads. | frankly turn to you
,'' counsel upon It,, l have no co
w dent Judgment of my own. I do
'"' see how any thoughtful a can h
w who knows anything of the c.
p'! plexity of the problem, 1t is a pl
WIN lem which must be studied, studied
our mediately and studied without
leu' or prejudice. Nothing can he gal
NC by becoming partiSanS of any part
h"u lar plan of settlement,
lter- 1t was necessary that the ADM
hoie tration Of the railways should