Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-06-17

ment Of an impartial tribunal to make an
investigation Of tho facts and to render
decision to the end that there may be no
organized interruption If service to the
lives and health and welfare Of the people.
The decisions Of the tribunals to be NOR
ally but not legally binding and in
formed public sentiment be relied on to
cure their acceptance. The tribunal how
ever, should refuse to accept jurisdiction
except for the purpose Of investiga ton,
as long as the public service be interrupted.
For public utilities we favor the type Of
tribunal provided for in the transporta-
ton act Of 1920.
In private industries We do not advocate
the principle Of compulsory arbitration. but
we favor impartial commission and better
facilities for voluntary meditation, concili-
alton and arbitration supplemented by that
full publicity which will enlist the influence
Of aroused public opinion. The govern
ment should take the initiative in inviting
the establishment of tribunals or commits
sons for the purpose Of voluntary arbitra-
ton and investigation of this issue.
We demand the exclusion from interstate
commerce Of the products of convict labor.
NATIONAL ECONOMY
Republican Congress reduced the es-
Inmates submitted by the admnistra ton
for the fiscal year 1920 almost three billion
dollars and for the fiscal year 1921 over
a billion and quarter dollars. Greater
economies could have been effected had it
not been for the stubborn refusal Of the
administration to cooperate with Congress
in an economy program. The universal de-
mand for an executive budget is recogni
ton OF the incontrovertible fact that lead
ership and sincere assistance on the part
Of tho executive departments are essential
to effective economy and constructive re-
trenchment
The Overman act invested the President
Of tho United States with all the authori-
" and power sary to restore the feder-
al government tn normal peace basis and
IN re rpa nj OF
The dominant fact is that 1s months after
the armistice the United States govern
ment is still on a war time basis and the
expenditure program OF the executive re-
fleets war time extrava gance rather than
rigid peace time economy.
As an example of the failure to retrench
which has characterized the post war poll
cy NJ tho administration, we cite the fact
that not including the war and navy depart
ments, the executive departments and other
establishments at Washington actually re-
cord increase subsequent to the arms-
tice OF 21s4 employees. The net decrease
in pay roll costs contained in the 1921 de-
mands submitted by the administra ton Is
only one per cent under that Of 1920. The
be reduced hundreds OF millions Of dollars
without impairng the efficiency Of the pub
lie service,
We pledge ourselves to a carefully plan
ned and adjustment to peace time basis
and TO policy of rigid economy, to the
better coordination OF departmental activ-
tiles to the elimination Of unnecessary ohi-
oals and employees and to the raising OF the
standards Of individual efficiency.
THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET
We congratulate the Republican Congress
, on the enactment OF a law providing for the
| establishment of an executive budget as a
ne cessary instrument for sound and bus
| inesslike administration of the national An
ances and condemn the veto Of the
President which defeated this great fnanc-
ial reform.
EXPERIMENTATION OF FEDERAL DE-
PARTMENTs AND BUREAUS
We advocate a thorough investiga ton Of
the present organizatio OF the federal de-
partments and bureaus. with view to &C.
curing consolidation, a more buNnesslike
! distribution Of functions. the elimination
| of duplication. delays and overlapping of
work and the Establishment of an up to -da lie
and efficient administrative organization.
| WAR POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT
Tho president clings tenaciously to hts
| autocratc war time powers.
His veto Of the resolution declaring peace
| and his refusal to sign the bill repeating
war time legislation. no longer necessary,
| to the nation and to the states the form
! of government provided for by the consti-
tuition This usurpation is intolerable and
deserves the severest condemnation.
TAXATION
The burden Of taxation imposed upon the
| American people is staggering; but In pre-
| sentng true statement. OF the situation
we must face the fact that, while the
| character Of the taxes can and should h
| changed an early reduction of tie amount
| Of revenue tdHbe raised Is not to be. The
next Republican administration will inner
| 1t from its Democra tic predecessors a hoat
ing indebtedness of over So, 600, 900 600 thu
prompt liquidation of which is demanded
by sound financial considerations. More
| over. the whole fiscal policy of the govern
ment must be deeply influenced by thu
necessity OF meeting obligations In excesi
OF IS. 000. 600. 900 which mature N 1929 Blu
sound policy equally demands the early &C
complainant of that relief of the tax bur
den which may be achieved by substituting
simple for com pick tax laws.
We advocate the issuance of a simpli
ned form of income return the Gre
alton Of tax board consisting Of at leas
three representatives OF the taxpaying pub
Of the bureau of internal revenue.
BANKING AND CURRENCY
The fact is that the war to a great az
through certificate borrowing from tn
banks and bonds issued at artificial rate
sustained by the low discount rates estab
lished by the federal reserve board. Tn
continuance of this policy since the armia
tice lays the administration open to sever
! critisn.
As a matter OF public policy. We urg
sential industries.
The federal reserve system should be FIRE
| from political influence.
THE HIGH COST OF LIVING
Tho prime cause Of the high cost o
living has been first and foremost. a Mt
per cent depreciation in the purchasin
sAAaNfRnSc Of tho DOLLAR tdnur, To, essS1No.ca