Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-06-16
PLATFORM ON
WHICH c. 0. P.
MAKES STAND
Continued from page p
Public Utilities.

lCOntlnueu from page
r, Public Utilities.
In public utilities we favor the estab-
'1ishment of an impartial tribunal to
make an investigation of the facts and
to render a decision to the end that
there may be no organized interruption
of service necessary TO the lives and
health and welfare of the people The
decisions of the tribunals should be NOR
ally but not legally binding, and an in
formed public sentiment be relied on to
secure their acceptance. The tribunals,
however, should refuse to accept turis-
diction except for the purp6se of in
vestigaton, as long as the PUBLIC service
be interrupted. For public utilities we
favor the type OF tribunal provided for
in the transportation act of 1920
In private industries we do not advo-
cate the principle of compulsory arbi-
tration, but we favor impartial COM
missions and better FACILITIES for volgn-
traitor, Supplemented by that full pub.
llicity which will enlist the influence OF
an aroused public opinion. The govern
,ment should take the Initiative in invit-
ing the establishment of tribunals or
commissions for the purpose of voluntary
arbitration and Of investigation Of dis
Iputed issues.
We demand the exclusion from inter-
state commerce Of the products OF con-
~F's. "''''~ National Economy.
| A Republican congress reduced the
estimates submitted by the administra-
'tion for the fiscal year 1920 almost three
billion dollars, and for the fiscal year 1877
over billion and quarter dollars. Great
er economies could have been effected
had IL not been for the stubborn refusal
of the administration to cooperate with
congress in an economy program. me
universal demand for an executive bud
get is a recognition of the incontroverti-
far Of leadership and sincere as
sistance on the part of the executive
department are essential TO effective econ
omy and constructive getrenchment
The Overman act invested the presl-
dent of the United States with all the
authority and power necessary to re-
store the federal government to nor
NAL peace basis and TO reorganlze, re-
trench, and demobilize. The dominant
fact Is that eighteen months after the
armistiee the United States government
Is still on a wartime basis, and the ex-
penditure program Of the executive re-
fleets wartime extravaganza rather thah
rigid peace time economy.
Failure to Retreneh.
4 AS an example of the failure to re-
trench which has characterized the
postwar. policy Of the administration,
we cite the fact that, not including the
war and navy departments, the execu-
tive departments and other establish
ments at Washington actually record
an Increase subsequent TO the armlstlce
of 2,ls4 employees. The net decrease
in pay roll costs contained in the 1921
demands submitted by the administra-
ton is only ] per cent under that OF
1920. The annual expenses or federal
operation can be reduced hundreds OF
millions q dollars without impairing
the efficiency of the public service.
We pledge ourselves 10 carefully
planned readJustment TO peace-ume
basis and to a policy of rigid economy,
to the better coordination or Depart
mentaI activities, to the elimination OF
ns &c they ras6 Sa Of f the
ihai''au An Executive Budget.
We congratulate the Republican con-
gress on the enactment OF law pro-
Viding for the establishment OF an
like administration OF the national
finances, and we condemn the veto Of the
president which defeated this great
Reorganization Of Federal Depart
ments and Bureaus.
We advocate thorough lnvestiga-
ton of the present organization or the
federal departments and bureaus, with
a view to securing consolidation
more businesslike distribution OF func-
lions, the elimination of duplication.
delays, and overlapping of work. and
the establishing of an up to date and
efficient administrative organization.
War Powers Of the President.
The president, clings tenaciously to
his autocratic wartime powers. His
veto of the resolution declaring peace
and his refusal to sign the bill repeal
ing wartime legislation, no longer
necessary, evidence his determination
not to restore to the nation and to the
states the form of government provided
for by the Constitution. This usurpa-
ton Is intolerable and deserves the
severest condemnation.
Taxation.
The burden OF taxation imposed upon
the American people Is staggering
but in presenting a true statement OF
the situation we must face the fact that
while the character OF the taxes can
and should be changed, an early reduc-
tion OF the amount Of revenue to be
raised Is not to be expected. The next
Republican administration will inherit
from its Democratic predecessor a
floating Indebtedness Of over 100000
900, the prompt liquidation of which
is demanded by sound financial con-
siderations.
Reduction In Tax.
Moreover, the whole fiscal policy a
the government must be deeply inffu-
enced by the necessity of meeting obli-
cations In excess of $1,000 .000, 900 which
mature in 1928. But sound policy
equally demands the early accomplish
ment Of that real reduction of the tax
burden which may be achieved by sub
shutting simple for complex tax laws
and procedure, prompt and certain de-
termination of the tax liability for de-
not for tax laws which do excessively
mulct the consumer or needlessly repress
enterprise and thrift
We advocate the issuance OF a sim
plt1ed form OF income return; author