The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-12-12
DIVERSIFIED LAWS
URGED IN MESSAGE
PRESIDENT WILSON RAPs PRO-
MoTERs OF VIOLENCE IN
THE NATION.
Tells Members Of Congress That Steps
Should be Taken to Reetify Labor
Conditions, Cut Cost Of Living
and Revise Taxation.


and the house ON Tuesday, December
z, follows:
To the senate and house of represen-
tatiyes:
| sincerely regret that i cannot be
present at the opening of this session
of the congress-. ! am thus prevented
from presenting In as direct way
as | could wish the many questions
that are pressing for solution ut this
time. Happily. have had the advan-
tage of the advice of the heads OF
the several executive departments,
who have kept in close touch with at-
fairs IN their detail and whose Thought
full recommendations l earnestly Sec
Ond.
In the matter of the railroads ana
the readjustment of their affairs grow
ing out of federal control shall take
the liberty at u later day Of address
ing you.
hope that congress will bring to
conclusion Mt this session legislation
looking to the establishment of bud
get system. That there should be one
single authority Responsible Tor the
making of all appropriations and that
appropriations should be made not IN
dependently of each oIner, but with
reference to one single comprehensive
plan of expenditure properly related
to the nations income, there can be
no doubt. believe the burden of pre-
pairing the budget must, in the nature
of the case, If the work is to be prop
erly done and responsibility concen-
trated instead of divided, rest upon
the executive. The budget so prepared
should be submitted to and approved
or amended by single committee OF
each house of congress and no single
appropriation should be made by the
congress except such as may have been
included in the budget prepared by the
executive or added by the particular
committee of congress charged with
the budget legislation.
Efficiency Sought
Another and not less important as
pect of the problem is me ascertain
ment of the economy and efficiency
with which the moneys appropriated
are eXpend. Under existing law the
only audit is for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning whether expenditures have
been lawfully made within the appro-
priations. No one is authorized or
equipped to ascertain whether the
money has been spent wisely, ecOnom-
icaily and effectively. The auditors
should be highly trained officials, with
permanent tenure In the treasury de
partment, free Of obligations to or mo-
tives of consideration for this or any
subsequent administration, and author
ssed and empowered to examine int
and to make report upon the methods
employed and the results obtained b!
the executive departments of the gov
ernment. Their reports should be made
to the congress and to the secretar.
of the treasury.
/ trust that the congress will Civ
its immediate consideration to tn
problem of future taxation. Simpliti
cation of the income and profits take
has become an immediate necessity
These taxes performed indispensable
service during the war. They must
however, be simplified, not only t
save the taxpayer Inconvenience ant
expense. but in order that his liabilit,
may be made certain and definite.
With reference to the details of tn
revenue law, the secretary of the treas
ury and the commissioner of interna
revenue will lay before you for you
consideration certain amendments nee
essary or desirable in connection wit
the administration Of the law-recOn
mendations which have my approva
and support. 1t lis of the utmost In
p0rtance that in dealing with this ma
ter the present law should not be di
turbed so far as regards taxes for til
calendar year 1920, payable in the Gu
endar year 1921. The congress migf
well consider whether the higher rate
of income and profits taxes can
peace times be effectively productiy
OF revenue and whether they may no
on the contrary, be destructive of bus
ness activity and productive Of was1
and inefticiency. There is a point
which In peace times high rates of l
come and profits taxes discourage e
ergy, remove the incentive to new e
terprise. encourage extravagant e
penditures and produce industrial sta
nation. with consequent ulempl0yme
and other attendant evils.
Conditions changed.
The problem Is not an easy one.
fundamental change has taken pla
with reference to the position Of amt
fca In the worlds affairs. The pref
dice and passions engendered by d.
adeS Of controversy between t,
schools Of political and ecOnon
thOught--the one believers in prot
tl0n OF American Industries, the 9th
believers In tariff for revenue only
must be subordinated to the SIM
consideration Of the public interest
che light Of utterly changed condition
Before the war, America was heav
he debtor Of the rest of the world, a
the interest payments she had to ma
20 foreign countries ON American
<uritIes held abroad, the expenditu
Of American travellers abroad and
ecean freight charges she had to |
10 others. about balanced the value
her prewar favorable balance Of ira
During the war, Americas expo
have been greatly stimulated. and
creased prices have increased II
value. On the other hand. she
purcnased a large proportion Of