Evening journal., 1918-12-03
Wilson Says Ii Is His
Duly To 60 To Europe

mediate liquidation will have heavy
drains on the Treasury for the months
Just ahead Of us. The maintenance OF
our forces on the other side OF the sea
| is still necessary. A considerable pro-
portion OF those forces must remain In
Europe during the period OF occupa-
ton and those which are brought home
Will be transported and demobillzed
at heavy expense for months to come.
The interest Of our war debt must OF
course be paid and provision made for
the retirement OF the obligations Of the
governmenb which represent Il. But
these demands win fall much below
what q continuation OF military opera
tiorr> would have entailed and six bill
lions should suffice 10 supply a founda-
tion fer the financial operations OF the
year.
II entirely concur with the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury In recommending
that the two billions needed In addi-
tlon TO the four billions provided by
existing law be obtained from the
profits which have accrued and shall
accrue from war contracts and dis
tlnctly war business, but that these
taxes be confined TO the war profits ac-
cruing in 1918 or 1919 from business
originating I'm war contracts. / urge
your acceptance Of his recommendation
that provision be made now not sub
sequently, that the taxes 20 be paid in
1920 should be reduced from six TO
four billions. Any arrangements less
definite than these would add elements
Of debate and confusion TO the critical
a Id Nrlr 4 4nFIN
through which the country must now
Immediately pass and which no true
friend of the nations essential busi-
ness intrest can afford 20 be re-
sponsible for creating or prolonging.
Clearly determined conditions, clearly
and simply chartered are Indispensable
TO the economic revival and rapid in
dustrial development which may con-
fldently be expected II we act now
and sweep all interrogation points
away.
81 take 70 for granted that the Con-
gress will carry out the naval program
which was undertaken before we en-
tered the war. The Secretary Of the
Navy has submitted 10 your commit
tees for authorization that part OF the
program which covers the building
plans Of the next three years. These
plans have been prepared along the
lines and In accordance with the policy
which the Congress established, not
under the exceptional conditions OF the
war, but with the Intention OF adher-
Ing to- definite method OF development
of the navy ] earnestly decommend
the uninterrupted pursuit OF that
policy. 10 would clearly be unwlse
for us 10 attempt 10 adjust our pro-
grams 10 a future world policy as yet
Railroad Problem Confuses President. !
"The question which causes me the
greatest concern Is the question Of the
policy TO be adopted towards the rail-
roads. ! frankly turn to you for
counsel upon IL. have no confident /
Judgment OF my own. ! do not sec
how any thoughtful man can have who
knows anything OF the complexity Of
the problem. tI is a problem which
must be studied. studied Immediately,
and studied without bias or prejudice.
Nothing can be gained by becoming
partlsans Of any particular plan OF set
tlement.
1T was necessary that the admins
tartlon Of the railways should be taken
over by the Government so long as the
war lasted. 10 would have been impos-
sible otherwise 10 establish and carry
through under a single direction the
necessary prlorites OF shipment.
ut would have been otherwise 20
combine maximum productions with |
he possible car supply TO take pro-
iucts to the ports and make this: i'm |
possible TO route troop shipments and |
freight shipments without regard TO /
he advantage or disadvantage Of the |
'osds employed; impossible to subordl-
lste, when necessary all questions OF |
10 the public necessity; |
impossible TO give the necessary flnan-
,lal support TO the roads from the
public treasury. But all these neces- |
sites have now been served and the
question. is. what is best for the rail
roads and for the public in the fu-
ture.
Exceptional circumstances and ex-
oeptlonal methods OF administration /
were not needed 10 convince us that |
the railroads were not equal TO the |
immense tasks OF transportation I'M