The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-07-05

which we were associated in the war.
and those loans will. of course, constl-
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 snalE
rest as lightly as possible on the pro-
ductive resources of the country, that
It's rates shall be stable, and that It
shall IT, constant Ia its revenue-yleid-
ing power.
MANY OF the minor taxes provided
for in the federal legislation of 1917
and 1918, though no doubt made neces-
sary by the pressing necessities or the
war time, can hardly find sufficient
Justification under the easier circum-
stances Of peace. and can now happily
he got rid Of Among these, hope you
will agree are the excuses upon vari-
Gus manufactures and the taxes upon
retail sales. They are unequal In the
incidence on different industries and
on different Individuals Their coliec-
ton Is difficult and expensive. Those
which are levied upon articles sold az
retail are largely evaded by the read
justment Of retail prices. On the other
hand, I should assume that IL Is ex-
pedient to maintain consideraDie
range OF indirect taxes; and the fact
that alcoholic liquors will presently
no longer afford source OF revenue
by taxation makes 1t 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'
TEN Of import duties. No serious dam
ger Of foreign competition now threat
ems American Industries. Our country
has emerged from the war less dis
| turbed and less weakened than any or
| the European countries which are our
| competitors In manufacture. 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 marketing Of American manufac-
lures abroad. Least Of oil should We
depart from the policy adopted IN the
tariff act Of 1919 Of permitting the
free entry into the United States or
the raw materials needed to supple
ment and enrich our 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 houss
of representatives at the last session
Of the congress? It 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-
latures Of the several states. Through
out all the world tbs long-delayed eI.
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 tho
change can be made with least pos
sIble inconvenience to the public and
to the owners themselves. The raih
roads will be handed over to their
owners at the end of the calendar
year; il I 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 l can only suggest in the case
Of the telegraphs and telephones. Al
in the case of their railways. 1t in
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 uniform and
, co-ordinated system which will afford
those who use them complete and
certain means Of communication.
1.-THE rehabilitation Of the military
| forces of the country has progressed
to such point that 1t seems to me en-
tirely safe now to remove the ban up
m the manufacture and sale Of wine
and beers, but am advised that with
I out further legislation I have not the
I legal authority to remove the present
. restrictions. l therefore recommend
that the act approved November 81,
, 1918, entitled, AN act to entitle tho
secretary of agriculture to carry out
, during the fiscal year ending June 30
. 1919. the purposes Of the act entitled
, IAN act to provide further for the nj
I tional security and defense by stimu
, ,oting and facilitating the distribution
y Of agricultural products" and fol
+ other purposes be amended or re
, nealed In so far as It applies to wine.
, and beers.
, 81 sincerely trust that I shall verJ