Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-08-10

tHe league, the government OF the
United States must at all times act
in strict harmony with the terms and
intent of the United States constitu-
ton which cannot in any way be
altered by the treaty making power
Nothing Helpful Barred.
unquestioned friends of the league
have made other proposals. Our
platform clearly lays no bar against
any additions that will be helpful.
but it speaks in a firm resolution to
stand against anything that disturJs
the vital principle. We hear it said
that interpretations are unnecessary
That may be true, but they will at
least be reassuring to many of our
citizens, who feel that in signing the
treaty there should be no mental res
ervatiOns that are not expressed in
plain words, as matter of good
faith to our associates. Such inter
pretations possess the further virtue
of supplying base upon which
agreement can be reached, aud
agreement, without injury to the
covenant. is now of pressing impor-
lance. 1t was the desire to get
things started that prompted some
members Of the senate to vote for the
Lodge reservations. Those who con-
scientiously voted for them in the
final roll calls realized, however, that
they acted under duress, in that a
politically bigoted minority was ex-
ercising the arbitrary power of it's
position to enforce drastic coEdi-
tons.
Happily the voters of the republic,
under our system of government, can
remedy that situation, and have
the faith that they will, at the cleo
ton this fall. Then organized gov
eminent will be enabled to combine
impulse and facility in the making
of better world conditions. Tie
agencies of exchange will automat;
cally adjust themselves to the opror-
tunities of commercial freedom.
New life and renewed hope Will take
ho,d CT every nation. MaE.;iLG VII.
press a resolute shoulder to the task
of readjustment, and new era will
have dawned upon the earth.
Domestic Problems Press.
We have domestic problems to be
settled. They are most pressing
Many conditions growing out of the
war will not and should not con-
tinue. The work of readjustmept
will call for our best energy, inge-
nuity, unselfishness and devotion to
the idea that it is the general welfar.
we must promote. One of the first
things to be done is the repeal of
war taxes. The entry of America
into the world war projected our
people into an unparalleled financial
which was faced with
determination to make every sacri~
flee necessary to victory. Billions in
liberty loans subscribed by patriots
regardless of their financial condi-
ton were instantly placed at the dis-
posal of the government, and other
billions were gladly paid into the
treasury through many forms of tax.
alton. To have paid by current
taxes more than 0ne-third of the ex-
pense of the greatest war in the his
tory OF mankind, is q reflection on
the high sense of national duty with
which we of America view the obli-
cations of this generation.
Immediately following the armis-
tice measures to modify onerous and
annoying taxation should have been
taken and the republican congress in
which all tax laws must originate,
and which for almost two years has
held the power to ame-
ltorate this condition, has not made
a single effort or passed a single law
to lift from the American people
load of war taxation that cannot be
tolerated in time of peace. Fed
eral taxation must be heavily re-
duced and 1t will be done at once IL
a democratic administration ia
chosen in November. Without ham,
pering essential national administra-
tive departments, by the elimination
of all others and strict economy
national taxes can be
reduced in excess of two billion dol
lars yearly. Annoying consumption
taxes. once willingly borne, now un-
justified. should be repealed. Tie
incomes from war-made fortunes,
those of non-producers and those de.
rived from industries that exist by
unfair privilege may be able to carry
their present load, but taxes on the
of the wage-earner, Of the
and professional man. of
the agricultural producer and of the
small tradesman should be sharply
mod fed.
Business Tax Suggested.
l believe that better form of tax
alton than the so-called excess prof
it's tax may be found, and suggest
a small tax, probably one to one and
one-half percent on the total busi-
ness of every going concern. 1t is tc
be understood that the term 'busi
ness" as used does not include III
come received by wage-earners, sal
aried men. agriculturists and the
small business man, who should be
exempt from this tax. The profiteer
and some of the highly capitalized
units have used the excess profits tax
as favorite excuse for loading on
the consumer by means of highly in
flated selling prices many times the
actually paid the govern
ment. A necessary condition to the
contentment and sound
business is just proportion between
fair profits to business and fair
prices to the consumer.
1t is unquestioned that the encr
nous expansion OF public and private
credit made necessary as part of
wra financing, the diversion of the
products of many industries from
their usual channels, as well as the
n ict,p rh m hvc