Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-01-04
NEEDED in REIMBURSEMENT
BY Alfred /. Aikens

enue demands are encouraging signs
of a capacity for REIMBURSEMENT on the
part of the government. Further re-
auctions in the revenue bill may not
be made, however, and there is pos
sibility that the aggregate of our fed
eral, state and local tax levies may
prove a serious obstacle in the way Of
financing business in general.
Since the day the armistice was
signed, wage earners in munitions
plants have manifested their appre-
citation of the situation and have been
seeking more stable employment, thus
facilitating the work of liquidation
and distribution. Although the can
collation. of war contracts has neces-
STATED the liquidation of merchandise
and materials accumulated for war
purposes, it is being conducted with
out serious disturbance. Because the
demands of war have far outrun pro-
duction in many lines of raw mate
rial, it is not unreasonable to assume
that danger from this source is apt
to be exaggerated.
A certain proper caution is highly
desirable in view of all the circum-
stances connected with the period up
on which we are entering. 1t is pos
sible, however, to overestimate a dan
ger The task of providing for the
shift of industry to a peace basis has
not been so entirely neglected as SOME
appear to imagine. Bridgeport, ,since
the beginning of the war, has become
almost wholly a city of war activity.
Her industries have been entirely de-
voted to military uses. Yet in spite
of her activity in that direction, her
| future has been planned. A recent
| statement from her chamber of COM
merce announced that every industry
| in the city had completed prepare =
| tions for the transfer of its industrial
! output to meet peace demands. The
| industries of Detroit were similarly
! devoted to war activity. Yet, Detroit
/ is even looking forward to the earli-
| est possible resumption of her normal
| production. Not only are her plans
completed for REIMBURSEMENT to former
i lines, but her manufacturers look fol
! an even greater volume of business
(! to result from enormous demand fol
! motor trucks which has been created
| by the experience of the past two OF
| three years. A survey of the country
viii doubtless furnish ample evidence
that preparations for discounting the
coming Of peace have been under way
for several months in a number 0,
| our great industries.
It is true that many buyers are jus
now proceeding with EXTREMITY eau
tious steps. The visible facts do not
however, suggest cause for an exces
sive degree of apprehension. There il
no question that the world has beer
wearing out equipment rapidly during
the past four years, and that Their
has been little or no replacement u
many lines. 1t is equally true tina
there are few accumulated stocks. TIL
| world supply Of raw material ha
been depleted as a result of trans
portation, labor and other conditions
, The only large accommodations are o
, war material. There is good reaso-
to expect that the various industrie
from which these materials have bee,
! withheld will quickly absorb the sur
, plus. The removal of government re
| strictions is already aiding in this alb
sorption.
One of the greatest dangers of tn
: immediate future will be in the 0ireC
+ ! ton of government extravaganza.
: The war has taught US valuable les
7 sons of economy in many lines of pro