The Tomahawk., 1919-05-29

which we were associated in the war.
and those loans will. Of course. cOnstt-
tute assets not liabilities, anti will not
have to be taken care of by our tax.
payers.
"The main thing we shall have to
care for is that our taxation shall!
rest as lightly as possible on the pro
ductive resources of the country, that
its rates shall be stable, and that ii
shall be constant IN its revenue-yie}d'
ing power.
MANY of the minor faxes provided
for in the federal legislation of 1917
and 1918, though no douH made neces-
sary by the pressing necessities OF the
war time, can hardly find sufficient
justification under the easier circum-
stances of peace, and can now happily
be got rid of. Among these, ! hope you
will agree, are the excuses upon vari.
GUS manufactures and the taxes upon
retail sales. They are unequal in the
incidence on different industries and
on different Individuals. Thei. cOllec-
ton is difficult and expensive. Those
which are levied upon articles sold at
retail are largely evaded by the read
justment of retail prices. On the other
hand, I should assume that it Is ex-
pedient to maintain a considerable
range of indirect taxes; and the fact
that alcoholic liquors will presently
no longer afford source Of revenue
by taxation makes it the more neces-
sary that the field should be carefully
restudied in order that equivalent
sources Of revenue may be found
which OF will be legitimate and not
burdensome to draw upon.
Import Duties Correct.
"There is, fortunately, no occasion
for undertaking in the immediat, fu-
ture, any general revision Of ous sys'
tenn of import duties. No serious dan
ger of foreign competition now threat
ems American industries. Our country
has emerged from the war less dis
turbed and less weakened than any of
the European countries which are our
competitors in manufacture. So far
from there being any danger or need
of accentuated foreign competition, 1t
is likely that the conditions of the
next few years will greatly facilitate
the marketing of American manufac-
lures abroad. Least of all should we
depart from the policy adopted in the
tariff act Of 1913, of permitting the
free entry into the United States of
the raw materials needed to supple
ment and enrich our own abundant
supplies.
Asks Woman Suffrage.
"Will you not permit me, turning
from these matters, to speak once
more, and very earnestly, of the pro-"
posed amendment to the Constitution
which would extend the suffrage to
women and which passed the house
Of representatives at the last session
Of the congress? 1t seems to me that
every consideration of justice and Of
public advantage calls for the imme.
date adoption of that amendment and
it's submission forthwith to the legis-
latures of the several states. Througll<
out all the world this lOng-delayed ex-
tension Of the suffrage is looked for.
1.-THE telegraph and telephone lines
will, of course, be returned to their
owners so soon rs the retransfer cHn
be effected without administrative
confusion; so soon that is, as tile
change can be made with least pos
sible Inconvenience to the public and
to the owners themselves. The rail-
owners at the end Of the calendar
year; if I were in immediate contact
with the administrative questions
which must govern the retransfer Of
the telegraph and telephone lines.
could name the exact date for their re-
turn also. Until I am in direct con-
tact with the practical questions in
volved can only suggest in the case
of the telegraphs and telephones, as
in the case of their railways, it Is
clearly desirable in the public inter-
est that some legislation should be
considered which may tend to make
of these Indispensable instrumental
tiles of our modern life a uniform and
co-ordinated system which will afford
those who use them a complete and
certain means of communication.
1.-THE rehabilitation Of the military
forces of the country has progressed
to such point that it seems to me en-
tirely safe now to remove the ban up
on the manufacture and sale of wine
and beers, but am advised that with
out further legislation have not the
legal authority to remove the present
restrictions. therefore recommend
that the act approved November 81,
1918, entitled, An act to entitle the
secretary of agriculture to carry out
during the fiscal year ending June 30.
1919, the purposes of the act entitled
IAN act to provide further for the M
tional security and defense by stimu-
lating and facilitating the distribution
of agricultural products" and for
other purposes be amended or re-
pealed in so far as It applies to wines
ond hoorS 49,,