The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-06-11

dent of the United States with all
the authority and power necessary to
restore the federal government to
normal peace basis and to reorganize,
retrench and mobilize. The dominant
fact is that eighteen months after the
armistice the United States govern
ment is still on a war time basis, and
the expenditure program of the exc
cutfve reflects war time extravaganza
rather than rigid peace time economy.
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
executive departments and other es-
tablisments at Washington actually
record an increase subsequent to the
armistice of 2,1S4 employees. The
net decrease in payroll costs con-
tanned in the 1921 demands submitted
by the administration is only one per
cent under that of 1920. The annual
expenses of federal operation can be
reduced hundreds of millions of dol
lars without impairing the efficiency
of the public service. We pledge our
selves to carefully planned readjust-
ment. to a peace time basis and to
policy of rigid economy, to better
coordination of department activities;
Ito the elimination of unnecessary Off
Gals, and to the raising of standard
individual efficiency.
We congratulate the republican
congress on the enactment of a law
providing for the establishment of an
executive budget as a necessary in
strument for a sound and business
like administration of the national
finances, and we condemn the veto
of the president, which defeated this
great financial reform.
Reorganization.
Reorganization of federal depart
ments and bureaus: We advocate
thorough Investigation of the pres
ent organization of the federal depart
merts and bureaus, with view to
securing consolidation more business
like distribution of functions, the elm
nation of duplication, delays, and
other tapping of work and the estab-
fishing of an up-to-date and efficient
administrative organization.
War Powers of the President.
The president clings tenaciously to
his autocratic war time powers. His
veto of the resolutions declaring
peace, and his refusal to sign the bill,
repeating war time legislation, no
longer necessary, evidences his deter
min alton not to restore to the ma
ton, and to the states the form of
government provided for by the con-
stiution. This usurpation is intol-
cradle and deserves the severest con
domination.
Taxation.
The burden of taxation imposed
upon the American people is stagger-
ing; but in presenting a true state
ment of the situation we must face
the fact that while the character OF
the taxes can and should be changed,
an early reduction Of the amount OF
revenue to be raised is not to be ex-
pected. The next republican admin
Iistration will inherit from its demo-
cratic predecessor floating indebt-
ednecs of over s3,0o0,0oo,0o0, the
prompt liquidation of which 1sNvde-
manded by sound financial considera-
tions. .. .-...... ........
Moreover the whole fiscal policy of
the government must be deeply IN
fiuenced by the necessity OF meeting
obligations in excess of $5,OOO,OO0, oo0,
which natures in 1923. But sound
policy equally demands the early &C
complishment of that. real reduction
of the tax burden, which may be
achieved by substituting simple for
complex tax laws and procedure,
prompt and certain determination Of
the tax liability for delay and uncer-
-, 70 Hrrhi n NOT excess
lively mulct the consumer or needles
lily repress enterprise and thrift.
We advocate the issuance of SIM
plified form of income return, author
izing the treasury department to
make changes in regulations effective
only from the date of their approval;
empowering the commissioner of in
ternal revenue with the consent of the
tax payer, to make final and conclus-
| i've settlements of tax claims and as
sessments barring fraud and the crea-
| ton of a tax board, consisting of at
least three representatives of the tax
paying public and the heads of the
principal divisions of the bureau OF
internal revenue to act as stand
| ing committee on the simplifcation
| of forms, procedure and law, and to
make recommendations to the con-
gress.
| Banking and Currency.
| The fact is that the war. to great
extent, was financed by policy of
! initiation through certificate borrow
| ing from the banks and bonds issued
at artificial rates, sustained by the
low discount rates established by the
! federal reserve board. The continu-
ance Of this policy since the armls-
tice lays the administration open to
severe criticism. Almost up to the
present time the practices of the
| federal reserve board as to credit
! control have been frankly dominated
by the conveniences of the treasury.
| The results have been greatly
increased war cost, a serious loss to
the millions of people who in good
faith bought Liberty bonds and Vic