The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-05-31


range of indirect taxes and the fact that
alcoholic liquors will presently no longer
afford source of revenue by taxation
makes it the more necessary that the
field should be carefully restuded in
order that equivalent sources of revenue
may be found which it would be legiti-
mate and not burdensome to draw upon.
Let Duties Alone.
There is, fortunately, no occasion for
undertaking in the immediate future any
general revision of our system of import
duties. No serious danger of foreign COM
petition now threatens American indus
tries. Our country has emerged from the
less disturbed and less weakened
than any of the European countries which
are our competitors in manufacture Their
industrial establishments have been sub
jected to greater strains than ours. their
labor force to a more serious diSorganiza-
ton and this is clearly not the time to
seek an organized advantage. The work
of mere reconstruction WILL I am afraid,
tax the capacity and the resources of
their people for years to come. So far
from there being any danger or need of
accentuated foreign competition. it is
likely that the conditions of the next
few years will greatly facilitate the mar
keting of American manufacturers abroad.
Have Learned Lesson.
Nevertheless, there are parts of our tar
if system which need prompt attention.
The experiences of the war have made it
plain that in some cases too great rel
ance on foreign supply is dangerous. and
that in determining certain parts Ct our
tariff policy domestic considerations must
be borne in mind which are political as
well as economic. Among the industries
to which special consideration should he
SriS iS hat Oft hn ,,,oy ,fl rfJr of lSta-
stuffs and related chemicals. Our COM
plete dependence upon German supplies
before the made the interruption
of trade a cause of exceptional economic
disturbance. The close relation between
the manufacture of dyestuffs on the one
hand and of explosives and poisonous
gases on the other, moreover. has given
the industry an exceptional Significance
and value. Although the United States
will gladly and unhesitatingly join in the
program Of international disarmament, it
will. nevertheless. be policy of obvious
prudence to make certain of the sue
ceSsful maintenance of many strong and
well equipped chemical plants. The Ger
man chemical industry, with which we
will be brought mo competition. was.
and may well be again, a thoroughly
knit monopoly capable of exercising a
competition of a peculiarly insdious and
dangerous kind
Need Protection.
The United States should moreover,
have the means of properly protecting
itself whenever our trade is Disseminated
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. o." tariff laws,
as they now stand. provide no weapon
of retaliation in case other governments
To-, -,
bearing on our products as compared with
the products of other nations Though we
| are as far IS possible from desiring to
| enter upon any course of retaliation, we
| must frankly face the fact that hostile
| legislation by other nations is not beyond
| the range of possibility. and that it may
| have to be met by counter legislation.
This subject has fortunately been cX-
| haustively investigated by the United
States tariff commission. A recent re-
| port of that commission has shown very
| clearly that we lack. and that we ought
| to have, the Instruments necessary fol
! the assurance of equal and equitable
| treatment. The attention of the congress
J has been called to this matter on past
| occasions. and the measures which are
recommended by the tariff commission
are substantially the same that have beer
suggested by previous administrations.
| recommend that this phase of the tariff
question receive the early attention OF
| the congress.
Urges Suffrage.
Will you not permit me- turning from
these matters. to speak once more anf
| very earnestly, of the proposed amend
| ment to the constitution which would eX
tend the suffrage to women, and which
passed the house of representatives at tn,
last session of the congress? 1t seems t.
me that every consideration of justic,
and of public advantage calls for the i'm
mediate adoption of that amendment ant
the submission forthwith to the legisla
lures of the several states. Throughout
the world this long delayed extension o
the suffrage is looked for: in the Unite,
States longer, | believe. than anywhere
else, the necessity for it and the imme
date advantage of il to the national lif
has been urged and debated by womel
and men who saw the need for it an,
urged the policy of it when it require,
steadfast courage to be so much before
hand with the common convictions; and
for one, covet for our country this dis
tinction of being among the first to ac
in a very great reform.
The telegraph and telephone lines viii
of course be returned to their owners a
soon as the transfer can be effecte
without confusion so soon, that is. as tn
change can be made with least possibl
inconvenience to the public and to tn
owners themselves. The railroads wi
be handed over to their owners at tn
end of the calendar year; if We're i
immediate contact with the admnistra
tive questions which must govern the re
F transfer of the telegraph and telephon
lines l could name the exact date fC
their return also. Until I am in direc
, contact with the practical questions in
volved can only suggest that in the cas-
, of the teiegraphS and telephones, as
! the case of the railways, it is clearly de
! sirable in the public interest that som
legislation should be considered whic
, may tend to make of these indispensab
> instrumentalities of our modern life a un
, form and co-ordinated system which wi
afford those who use them as complet
. and certain means of communication wit
q all parts of the country as has so Ion
, been afforded by the postal system
the government and at rates as unifor
, end ineligible. Expert advice is of cours
7 available in this very practical matt,
. and the public interest is manifest. TT
= scientific means by which commune;
ton by instrumentalities can be rende
: ed more thorough and satisfactory h;
}, not been made full use Of
;. The rehabilitation of the miltal