Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-12-23
PRESS COMMENTS.
BUSINESS IN REIMBURSEMENT.

Long ago it was realized by oil business
interests that the unnatural situation
in which the country found itself follow
ing tho restoration of peace could not
last; that there must come period OF
readjustment. That process OF readlust-
ment is now in full swing. Merchants who
were in close touch with tho conditions
had prepared in the most painstaking
manner for what they recognized msst
inevitably come. They refused TO give
large orders TO the manufacturers. They
bought only what they knew they could
sell.
II is true that many an industrial plant
has closed or is working on part time. No
plant can go on unless it has orders, and
the orders were not forthcoming. because
of these Blessings, the impression has been
created upon the minds of the uniformed
that serious trouble was bound to come
and that retail establishments TINT
have been towers of financial strength
might find difficulty in carrying on.
Il is not much of n step between an
impression and the spreading of 1t in an
exaggerated form by word of mouth.
What begins ~ n mere rtImor frequently
ia passed around Ms a fact. Rumors that
have involved about ever retail merchant
in Philadelphia have been having their
ridiculous run, and IL might be well right
here and now to brand them for what
they are pure fiction. The great establish
ments of this CITY, there is every reason
to believe, are standing on very firm foun-
dAtions.
The mills will open again. They are
already beginning to resume, especially
in New England, where the employees
have discovered that the era of fictitious
wages has passed. Just rs the stores read
Just themselves 90 the purse of the public,
so are the manufacturers readiustlng
themselves 10 the retailers. That means
economy at the source.
The country is getting upon 'ts feet
again and gradually returning TO some
thing like ''normalcy" Producers and
retailers are doing what they can. II
remeins for Congress to do TIE rest
Business must be relieved of the ire
mendous incubus of discriminatory tax
alton The exceHs profits tax must GO
for IL strangles development OF enter,
prise and is direct factor IN maintaining
high prices The enormous surtax must
likewise 20, for it 10 driving capital INTO
retirement Men whose income Is taken
in large part by the government when II
Is turned into the channels Of trade buy
non taxable bonde.
VIC have got to have n Hensble revenue
law in place Of the deadly orc that WIS
patched together for war purposes Today
rs per cent Of the governments revenue
i raised from direct taxation and only
. per cent from indirect taxation. no
proportion il altogether too great
Congress can b. trusted 70 do its share
and industry and business are looking
ahead 70 the time when II viii sct- Mean
while tho vast retail trade is moving along
carefully and safely and the rcadlustnents
are taking place without that disturbance
that might have been anticipated. That
tho country il fundamentally sound is
proved hv tho fact that there are no fail
urcs of any moment anywhere. Phil
adelpbia business i. firmly entrcnohed and
is secure Philadelphia Inquirer