The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-20

PRllALR EPEAL
l.. OF PROHIBITION
Continued From Eleventh Page.)
are levied upon articles sold al retail
are largely evaded by the readjust-
ment Of retail prices. on the other
hand l should assume that/it Is ex-
fpedient to maintain a considerable
range OF indirect taxes; and the fact
that alcoholic liquors viii presently no
longer afford q source OF revenue by
taxation makes It the more necessary
that the field should be carefully stud
led In order that equivalent sources OF
revenue may be found which II will
be legitimate, and not ~burdensome, to
draw upon. But you have at hand In
the treasury department many experts
who can advise you upon the matters
much better than / can. can only
suggest the lines Of a permanent and
workable system, and the placing Of
the taxes where they will least ham,
per the life Of the people.
No Change Needed.
There is, fortunately, no occasion
for undertaking in the immediate fu-
ture any general revision OF our sys-
tenn Of import duties. No serious dan
ger Of foreign competition now threat
ems American industries. Our country
mas emerged from the war less dis
turbed and less weakened than n Of
the European countries which are our
competitors in manufacture. Their In
dustrial establishments have been sub
tected to greater strain than ours, their
labor force to a more serious disorgani-
zation. and this is clearly not the time
to seek an organized advantage. The
work Of mere reconstruction viii, l am
afraid, tax the capacity M the re-
sources OF their people for years to
come, So far from there being any
danger or need OF accumulated foreign
oompetition, 1t is likely that the con-
greatly facilitate the marketing Of
American manufacturers abroad. Least
OF all should we depart from the policy
adopted in the tariff act Of 1918, OF
permitting the free entry into the
United States OF the raw materials
own abundant supplies.
Nevertheless, there are parts of our
tariff system which need prompt at
tention. The experiences Of the war
have made 1t 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 sup
1 nliha hnfArn 49, ,a1- ..n1z 49,. 49,
fuptlon OF trade a cause OF exceptional
economic disturbance, The close rela-
ten between the manufacturer Of dye
stuffs, on the n hand, and of ex-
plosives and poisonous gases, on the
other, moreover, has given the indus.
try an exceptional significance and
value. Although the United States will
gladly and unhesitatingly join in the
program Of international disarmament,
IT. viii, nevertheless, be a policy Of OBJ
vious prudence to make certain Of the
successful maintenance or many strong
and weA-equipped chemical plants. The
German chemical industry, with which
we will be brought into competition.
was n may well be again, a thorough
~ KNIT monopoly capable of exercising
a competition OF peculiarly inslduous
and dangerous kind.
The United States should, moreover.
have the means Of properly protecting
itself whenever our trade Is discrimi-
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 tariff laws as they now
stand provide no weapon of retaliation
in case other governments should en-
act legislation unequal in Its bearing on
our products as compared with the
products OF other countries. Though
we are as far as possible from desir.
ing TO enter upon any course OF re-
taliation, we must frankly face the
fact that hostile Hesitation BY othel
possibility. %nd that 1t may have to b,
met by counter-legislatlon. This sub
ject, has, fortunately, been exhaustive
" investigated byN the United State.
tariff commission. A recent report o.
that commission has shown very clear.
ly that we lack and that we ought tt
have the instruments necessary for thu
assurance CT equal ard equitable treat.
ment. The attention Of the congress:
has been called to this matter OF pas
occasions, and the past measures which
are now recommended by the tariff
commission are substantially the sam
that have been suggested by previous
administrations. | recommend that thii
phase of the tariff question receiv,
the early attention Of the congress.
Woman Suffrage.
will you not permit me, turning
from these matters, to speak once NOR,
and very earnestly OF the propose
amendment tc the constitution whicl
would extend the suffrage Of womel
and which passed the house of repre-
sentatives at the last session of tn
congress? 1t seems to me that ever,
consideration Of justice and OF publ
advantage calls for the immediate adop
ton OF that amendment and its sub
mission forthwith to the legislature
Of the several states. Throughout al
OF the suffrage is looked for; In tn
United States, longer, / believe, tina
: anywhere else, the necessity for Il
and the immense advantage of It I
the national life, has been urged an
debated, by women and men who sa,
! the need for It aud urged the polio
! Of 1t when It required steadfast courag
to be so much beforehand with the com
8 mon conviction; n /, for one, cove
y for our country the distinction Of be
ing among the first to act In a grea
: 1.-THE telegraph and telephone line
y will, of course, be returned to the
: owners as soon as the transfer can /
d made without administrative confusion
so soon, that Is, as the change ca
be made with the least possible in
owners themselves. The railroads wi
It be handed back to their owners at II
end Of the calendar year; II | were
immediate contact with the ADMINISTERS
tive questions which must govern III
r~etransfer Of this telegraph and tel,
phone lines. I could name the exa.
date for their return also. Until | al
In direct contact with the practic
"A questions involved, l., can only suggei
that in the case of the telegraphs ar
telephones, as In the case Of the raj
ways, 1t Is clearly desirable in the pull
lie interest that some legislation shou
be considered which may tend to NAL
a Of these indispensable instrumentaliti,
= of our modern life a uniform and CO
ordinated system which will affoi
r those who use them as complete al
certain mean of communication wit
all parts Of the country as has so lor
z been afforded by the postal system
the government, and at rates as un
g form and Ineligible. Expert advice /
OF courses available In this very pract
cal matter, and the public interest
manifest.