Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-05-30

which VIZ " ere associated III the war |
and thoaa loa:,s will. OF course consti
tute assets not liabilities, and 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 us lightly as possible on the pro-
ductive resources of the country, that
its rates shall be stable and that 1t
shall be constant in It's revenue-yield-
ing power
Many of the minor taxes provided
for in the federal legislation of '917
and 1918, though no doubt 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 excises upon varf-
GUS manufactures and the taxes upon
retail sales. They are unequal in the
incidence on different industries and
on different individuals Their 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, should assume that it is ex-
pedient to maintain considerable
range Of indirect taxes; and the fact
that alcoholic liquors will presently
no longer afford a 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 immediate fu-
ture, any general revision of our 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
|
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 or 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 tina!
every consideration of justice and OF
public advantage calls for the imme
date adoption of that amendment ant
its submission forthwith to the legis
latures of the several states Through
out all the world this long-delayed ex
tension of the suffrage is looked for.
/ "The telegraph and telephone line
will, of course, be returned to thei
owners so soon as the retranSfer cal
. be effected without administrativ
confusion so soon that is, as tn
char ge can be made with least pos
sible inconvenience to the public AM
to the owners themselves. The raj
roads will be handed over to thei
owners at the end of the calenda
year; if / were in immediate contac
with the administrative question
which must govern the retransfer o
e the telegraph and telephone lines,
: could name the exact date for their re
= turn also. Until I am in direct cor
tact with the practical questions ii
t volved I can only suggest in the cas-
0 Of the telegraphs and telephones, q
t in the cease of their railways, it /
e clearly desirable in the public intel
;, est that some legislation should b
: considered which may tend to max
e of these indispensable instrumental
l tiles Of our modern life a uniform an
e co-ordinated system which will affor
i those who use them a complete an
n certain means of communication.
d ''The rehabilitation of the militar
it forces of the country has M'ogresse
s to such a point that it seems to me el
: tirely safe now to remove the ban VI
on the manufacture and sale of wir
II and beers, but am advised that Wit
IL out further legislation 1 have not ii
I legal authority to remove the presel
s restrictions 1 therefore recommer
J. that the act approved November 2
10 1918, entitled, AN act to entitle IL
u secretary of agriculture to carry OF
le during the fiscal year ending June 8
le 1919, the purposes of the act entitlt
to ''an act osprovide further for the n
IL tional security and defense by stim
h lating and facilitating the distribute
" of agricultural products" and f
at other purposes be amended or I
to aealed in so far as it applies to win
in and beers.
III st sincerely trust that I shall We
e. soon be at my post in WaShiugt,
n, again to report upon the matte
We which made my presence at the pea
n table apparently imperative. and
BY put myself at the service of the CO
or gress in every matter of administr
ms ton or counsel that may seem to q
hit mand executive action or advice.
tn ''WOODROW WILSON, -