The Raymer enterprise., 1919-12-11


rre pressing for solution at This time
Happily, ! have had the advantage 81
the aivice of the heads Of the several
executive departments who have kept
ia close touch with affairs In their de
tail and whose thoughtful recommend
stiuns I earnestly second
Ia the matter of the railroads. and
the rcadiusimeHt Of their affalrs grow.
iug ont NJ federal control, shall take
the liberty at later day OF address
lag you.
Urges National Budget
hope that Congress will bring 10 II
conclusion Mt this session legislation
ieoking to the establishment Of bud
srL system. That there should be one
singcl authority responsible for the
making Of all appropriations and that
appropriations should be made not in
,iependently of each other. but with
reference To enc single comprehensive
i,inn % expenditure properly related
10 the nations income, there can be no
Ionbt believe the burden of prcpar-
iHg the budget must. in the nature Of
lie case II the work Is to be properly
done and responsibility concentrated
instcad of divided. rest upon the cNecu-
alive.
The budget 50 prepared should be
submitted To aud approved or amend
I'd by single committee Of each housc
et Congress and no single approprH:
ton should he made by the Congress.
except such as may have been inelud
I'd In the budgst prepared hy the eS-
eeutiye Of added by the particular com
mlltee of Congress charged with the
budget legislation.
Permanent Tenure OF office.
Another aud not less important
aspect Of the problem Is the ascertain
mcRt OF the economy and efficiency
with which the moneys appropriated
are expended. Under existing law
The only audit Is for the purpose of
nscertainng whether expenditures
iaYe been lawfully made within the
appropriations. No one Is authorized
az equipped 10 ascertain whether the
money has been spent wisely, ceonom
really aud effectively,
The auditors should be highly
trained officials with permanent ten
are in the Treasury Department, free
NJ obligations to or motives Of consid-
GRAFTON for this or any subsequent add
ninistrn'lon and authorized and em-
covered To examine into and make re-
purt upon the methods employed and
the results obtained by the executive
departments Of the government Their
reports should be made to the Con
gross aud to the secretary of the
treasury.
trist that the Congress will give
is immediate consideration TO the
problem of future taxation. Simpll.
ficatiuu Of the income and profits
taxes bls become an immediate ncces-
siiy, These taxes performed indispen-
snbic service during the war. They
mnst, however, he simnllfled. not only
80 save The taxpayer Inconvenience
md expense. but in order That his LA
hllity may he made certain and def
nitp
Questions Of Tax in Peace Time.
Win reference TO the details OF the
setenur law. the secretary OF the
treasury and the commissioner Of in
tprnal revenue will lay before you for
your consideration certain amend
niehlS necessary or desirable In con.
uectioH with the administration OF the
iaw- recommendations which have my
approval and support.
II is Of the utmost Importance that
IN dealing with this matter the pres
eht law should not be disturbed 81
far rs regards taxes for the calendar
year ig20, payable In the calendar
year 1921
The Congress might well consider
whether the higher rates Of income
aud profits taxes can In peace times
ae effectively productive Of revenue
aud whether they may not. on the con
irary. be destructive Of business nc
iivity aud productive Of waste and in
efficiency.
There Is point at which In pence
times high rates OF income and prof
lfs taxes discourage energy. remove
the incentive to new enterprise, en
courage cxtravagant expenditures and
produce industrial siagnatlon with
consequent unemployment and other
Attendant evils.
Americas Position.
The problem is not an easy one. A
fundamental change has taken place
viii, reference to the position OF Amer
tea IN the worlds affairs. The preju-
dice and passions engendered by dec
AIDES OF controversy between two
schools OF political and economic