Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-05-29

which we were associated In the va,
and those loans will. of COURSE consti-
tute assets not liabilities, and viii. not
have to be taken care of by our tax
payers.
The main thing we shall have to
care for is that our taxation shall
rest as lightly as possible ON the pro-
ductive resources of the country, that
its rates shall be stable. and that 1t
shall be constant in its revenue-yield-
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 of the
war time, can hardly find sufficient
justification under the easier eircum-
stances of peace, and can now happily
be got rid of. Among these, l hope yoC
will agree, are the excuses upon vari-
u manufactures and the taxes upon
retail sales. They are unequal in the
incidence on different industries and
on different individuals. Their collec-
ton is difficult and expensive. Those
which are levied upon articles sold at
retail are largely evaded by the read
justment of retail prices. On the other
hand, 1 should assume that it is ex-
pedient to maintain a considerable
range of indirect taxes; and the fact
that alcoholic liquors will presently
no longer afford q source of revenue
by taxation makes it 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 flu
ture, any general revision of u sys-
tenn of import duties. No serious dan
ger of foreign competition now threat
ems American industries. Our country
has emerged from the war less dis
turbed and less weakened than any of
Tic Eur pGdl CUuIlllICo WI1SA L Jul
competitors in manufacture. So far
from there being any danger or need
Of accumulated 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 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 needed to supple
ment and enrich our W 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 house
of representatives at the last session
of the congress? 1t 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 this long-delayed ex-
tension of the suffrage is looked for.
"The telegraph and telephone lines
will, of course, be returned to their
owners so o o as the retransfer can
be effected without administrative
confusion; so soon that is, as the
change can be made with least pos
sible inconvenience to the public and
to the owners themselves. The rail
roads will be handed over to their
owners at the end of the calendar
year; if l were in immediate contact
with the administrative questions
which must govern the retransfer OF
the telegraph and telephone lines, ]
could lame the exact date for their re-
turn also. Until l am in direct con.
tact with the practical questions in.
volved l can only suggest in the case
of the t~elegraphs and telephones, as
in the ease of their railways, it is
clearly desirable in the public inter
est that some legislation should BIZ
considered which may tend to make
of these indispensable instrumental
tiles Of our modern life a uniform ant
co-ordinated system which will AFFORD
those who Use them a complete ant
certain means of communication.
"The rehabilitation of the militar,
forces of the country has progresses
TO such a point that it seems to me en-
tirely safe now to remove the ban up
on the manufacture and sale Of win,
and beers, but l am advised that with
| out further legislation l have not tn
| legal authority to remov the presen
: restrictions. l therefore recommen,
that the act approved November q
} 1918, entitled, AN act to entitle TIL
: secretary of agriculture to carry on
G during the fiscal year ending June &c
1919, the purposes of the act entitle
. IAN act to provide further for the nj
| tional security and defense by stimr
lating and facilitating the Distribute
Of agricultural products" and 70
t other purposes be amended or RI
pealed in so far as 1t applies to wine
and beers.
h II sincerely trust that l shall yer
soo be at my post in W~ashingto