The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-21

be made the basis Of : permanent -
tenn which will reach undue profits
without discouraging the enterprise
and activity OF our business men. Tho
tax on inheritances ought. no doubt.
be reconsidered in It's relation to the
fiscal systems Of the several states, but
It certainly ought to remain perma-
nent part of the fiscal system OF the
FEDERAL government also.
Many of the minor taxes provided
Tor In the revenue legislation of 1917
and 1918, though. no doubt. made
necessary by the pressing necessities
OF the war time, can hardly find sufh-
cient justification under the easier
circumstances Of peace, and can now,
happily. be got rid of. Among these.
hope you will agree. are the excuses
upon various manufacturers and the
taxes upon retail sales. They are I'M
equal in the incidence on different in
dustries and on different individuals.
Their collection is difficult and ex-
pensive. Those which are levied upon
articles sold at retail are largely
exaded by the REIMBURSEMENT OF retail
prices. On the other hand, 1 should
assume that 1t is expedient to main
tain considerable range of indirect
taxes; and the fact that alcoholic
source of revenue by taxation makes
II the more necessary that the field
should be carefully re-studied in order
That equivalent sources of revenue
may be found which 1t will be iegiti-
mate, 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.
Import Duties.
There is fortunately, no occasion
for undertaking in the immediate
future any general revision of our sys-
tenn OF import duties. No serious
danger of foreign competition now
threatens American industries. Our
country has emerged from the war
less disturbed and less weakened than
any OF the European countries which
are our competitors in manufacture.
Their industrial establishments have
been subjected to greater strain than
ours, their labor force to more Sc
rious disorganization and this is
clearly not the time to seek an organ
lied advantage. The work OF mere
reconstruction will. / am afraid, tax
the capacity and the resurces of their
people for years TO come. So far from
there being any danger or need of
accentuated foreign competition, II Is
likely that the conditions Of the next
few years will greatly facilitate the
marketing of American manufactures
abroad. Least of all should we depart
from the policy adopted in the tariff
act OF 1918, OF permitting the free
entry into the Tinted States OF the
raw materials needed TO supplement
and enrich our own abundant sup
plies.
Nevertheless. there are parts of
our tariff system which need prompt
attention. The experiences of the war
have made IT plain -thas in certain
cases too great reliance on foreign
supply is dangerous and that in de-
termininE certain parts OF our tariff
policy domestic considerations must
be borne in mind which are political
as Wen as economic. Among the In
dustries to which special considera
ton should be given is that OF the
manufacture of dyestufts and related
chemicals. Our complete dependence
upon German supplies before the war
made the interruption of trade a cause
of exceptional economic disturbance
The close relation between the manu-
facture of dyestuffs. on the one hand.
and OF explosions and poisonous gases
on the other. moreover, has given the
industry an exceptional significance
and value. Although the United
States Will gladly and unhesitatingiy
join in the program OF disarmament.
1t WILL nevertheless. be a policy OF
obvious prudence ~ make certain of
the successful maintenance OF many
strong and well-equipped chemical
plants. The German chemical indus
try, with which we will be brought
into competition. was, and may we'll
be again. thoroughly knit monopoly
capable of exercising competition of
a peculiarly insidious and dangerous
kind.
Moreover. the United States should
have the means of properly protect
ing itself whenever our trade is dis l
crimfnated against by foreign nations,
in order that we may be assured of
that quality of treatment which we
nope To accord and to promote the
world over. Our tariff laws as they
now stand provide no weapon OF re-
taliation in case other governments
should enact legislation unequal in It's
bearing on our products as compared
with the products Of other countries
Though We are as far as possible from
desiring TO enter upon any course OF
retaliation. we must frankly face the
TACT that hostile legislation by other
nations Is not beyond the range OF
possibility and that it may have to be
met by counter legislation. This sub
ject has. fortunately. been exhaustive
ly investigated by the United States
tartfr commission. A recent report of
that commission has shown very
clearly that We lack and that we
oneht to have the instruments neces-
saFy Tor the assurance Of equal and
equitable treatment. The attention Of
the Congress has been called to this
matter on past occasions and the past
measures which are now recommen-
ded by the tariff commission are sub
stanually the same that have been
suggested by previous administrations
/ recommend that this phase Of the
question receive the early attention Of
the Congress
Suffrage OF Women.
VIII 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