Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-05-27
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 1t
shall be constant In it's revmue-yield-
ing power. We have found the main
sources from which 1t must be drawn.
take 1t for granted that its mainstays
will henceforth be the income tax. the
excess profits tax, and the estate tax.
All these can so be adjusted to yield
constant and adequate returns and yet
not constitute a too grievOus burden
on the taxpayer. A revision of the IN
come tax has already been provided
for by the act of 1918, but think you
will find that further changes can be
made to advantage in the rates OF the
tax and In the method Of its collection.
The excess profits tax need not long
be maintained at the rates which were
necessary while the enormous expense
Of the war had to be borne; but II
should be made the basis Of perma-
nent system which will reach undue
profits without discouraging the enter
prise and activity of our business men.
The tax on inheritances ought, no
doubt, TO be reconsidered in its rela-
ton, to the fiscal systems of the sew
eral states, but it certainly ought to re-
main permanent part of the fiscal
system of the federal government also.
Nevertheless, there are parts OF our
tariff system which need prompt at
tention. The experiences of the war
have made it plain that in some cases
too great reliance on foreign supply
is dangerous, and that in determining
certain parts of our tariff policy, do
nestle considerations must be borne
in mind which are political as well as
economic. Among the industries to
which special consideration should be
given is that of the manufacture of
dyestuffs and related chemicals. Our
complete dependence upon German
supplies before the war made the in
depreciation of trade a cause of excep-
tional economic disturbance. The Ger
man chemical industry, with which we
will be brought into competition, was
and may well be again, a thoroughly
Knit monopoly capable of exercising
competition of peculiarly insiduous
and dangerous kind.
1.-THE United States should, moreover,
have the means of properly protecting
itself whenever our trade is discrim-
mated against by foreign nations, in
order that we may be assured of that
equality of treatment Which we hope
to accord and to promote the world
over. Our thrift laws as they now
stand provide no weapon of retalia-
ton in case other governments should
enact legislation unequal in its bear
ing on our products as compared with
the products of other countries.
'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
Its submission forthwith to the legis-
latires of the several states. Through
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 as the retransfer can
be effected without administrative
confusion; so soon that is, as the
change can be made with least pos
sible inconvenience to the public and
to the owners themselves. The rail-
roads will be handed over to their
| owners at the end of the calendar
year; if l were in immediate contact
with the administrative questions
which must govern the retransfer of
the telegraph and telephone lines, 1
could name the exact date for their re-
turn also. Until / am In direct con-
| tact with the practical questions in
volved I can only suggest in the case
of the telegraphs and telephones, as
|
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 as complete and
| certain means of communication with
| all parts of the country as has so
| long been afforded by the postal sys-
tenn of the government, and at rates
| as uniform and ineligible. Expert
| advice is, of course, available in this
very practical matter. and the pub
lie interest is manifest. Neither the
| telegraph nor the telephone service of
| the country can be said to in any
sense national system.
"The rehabilitation Of the military
/ forces of the country has progressed
| to such point that 1t seems to me en-
J tirely safe now to remove the ban up
| on the manufacture and sale of wine
and beers, but 1 am advised that with
out further legislation 1 have not the
| legal authority to remove the present
restrictions. I therefore recommend
! that the act approved November 81,
.91S. entitled, AN act to entitle the
secretary of agriculture to carry out
during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1919. the purposes of the act entitled
IAN act to provide further for the ma
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
| and beers.
81 sincerely trust that / shall very
| L. my most in HNnrh;.,