Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-02
TEXT OF The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

Il r '
Washington, Dec. 3.[President
Wilson's message to congress, de-
livered ct noon today, was o. fol-
lows:
To the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives:
I sincerely regret that I can not
be present at the opening Of this
session Of the congress. ! am thus
prevented from presenting in AZ
direct . way ~ I could wish the
many questions that are pressing
for solution 1T this time. Happily.
I have had the advantage Of the
advice Of the heads of the several
executive departments who have
kept in close touch with affairs In
their detail and whose Thoughtful
recommendations ! earnestly sec
ond.
In tho matter Of the railroads
and the readjustment Of their at
fairs growing out Of federal con-
troll. I shall take the liberty at
later day Of addressing you.
Need for Budget
I hope that congress will bring
to q conclusion at this session leg
tslation looking to the establish-
ment Of budget system. That
there should be one single author
ity responsible for the making Of
all appropriations and that appro-
priations should be made not in
dependently of each other. but with
reference to one single compre-
hensive plan Of expenditure prop
erly related to the nations income.
there can be no doubt. believe
the burden. Of preparing the budget
must, in the nature Of the case, II
the work IL to be properly done,
and responsibility concentrated in
stead of divided, rest upon the ex-
ecutive. The budget SO proposed
should be submitted to and ap-
proved or amended by = single
committee of each house Of con-
gress, and no single appropriation
should be made by congress. ex-
cept such as may have been includ-
ed in the budget prepared by the
executive or added by the particu-
lar committee Of congress charged
with the budget accomplishment.
Another and not less important
aspect of the problem IL the ascer-
tainment Of the economy and EN-
cheney with which the moneys ap-
propriated are expended. Under
existing law, the only audit il for
the purpose Of ascertaining wheth-
er expenditures have been lawful
ly made within the appropriation.
No one 10 authorized or equipped
to ascertain whether the money
has been spent wisely. economical
ly and effectively. The auditors
should be trained ofncials with per-
manent tenure in the treasury de-
partment, free Of obligations to or
motives Of consideration for this
or any subsequent administration,
and authorized and empowered to
examine into and make report upon
the methods employed and the re-
suits obtained by the executive de-
partments Of the government. Their
reports should be made to the con-
gress and to the secretary Of the
treasury.
Future Taxation.
I trust that the congress will
give its immediate consideration to
the problem Of future taxation.
Simplifcation Of the income and Of
the profit taxes has become an i'm
mediate necessity. These taxes per
formed indispensable service dur
ing the war. They must, however
be simplified, not only to save the
tax payer Inconvenience and ex'
pense, but in order that his liabil.
ity may be made certain and def
mite.
With reference to the details o
the revenue law, the secretary o
the treasury and the commissions
of internal revenue will lay befor'
you for your consideration certail
amendments necessary or desirable
in connection with the administra
ton of the INSTRUMENTATION
which have my approval and snip
port. 1t is Of the utmost impor
lance that in dealing with this mat
! ter the present law should not b
disturbed 30 far as regards take
for the calendar year 1920. payabl
| in the calendar year 1871. Tn
congress might we'll conside
whether the higher rates Of incom
and profits taxes can In peac
times be effectively productive o
revenue and whether they may moi
on the contrary. be destructive Q
business activity and productive
waste and ineficiency. There 10
point at which in peace times higl
rates Of income and profits take
discourage energy, remove the in
centive to new enterprises, encour
age extravagant expenditures an
produce Industrial stagnation Wit
consequent unemployment an
other attendant evils.
| New Tariff Needs.
| The problem is not an easy on'
Ia fundamental change has take
place with reference to the positio
i Of America in the worlds AFFAIR."
The prejudice and passions engen
dered by decades Of controvers
between two schools Of politics
and economic thought-the one be
levers in protection Of America
industries, the other believers 1
tariff for revenue only-must b
subordinated to the single consid
GRAFTON Of the public interest 1
the light Of utterly changed condi
tons.
Before the war America wa