Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-07


OF this amount $4,000. .o0o, 900 are float
notes and war savings certificates.
The fiscal program OF the government
must be determined with reference to
these maturities. Sound policy de-
mands that the government expendi-
lures be reduced to the lowest amount
which will permit the VI rious serv-
ices to operate efficiently, and that
government receipts from taxes and
salvage be maintained sufficiently high
to provide for current requirements,
including interest and sinking fund
charges on the public debt, and at the
same time retire the floating debt and
part OF the victory loan before matur-
ity. With rigid economy, vigorous
salvage operations and adequate
revenues fro m taxation, sur
plus Of current receipts over current
expenditures can be realized and
should be applied to the floating debt
All branches OF the government should
cooperate to see that this program
is realized.
Economy Urged.
II cannot over emphasize the ne
cessity of economy in government
appropriations and expenditures, and
the avoidance by the congress of
practices which take money from the
treasury by indefinite or revolving
fund appropriations. The estimates
for the present year show that over Il
billion dollars of expenditures were
authorized by the last congress in ad-
dition to the amounts shown in the
usual compiled statements of appro-
priations. This strikingly illustrates
the Importance OF, making direct and
specific appropriations. The relations
between the current receipts and cur
rent expenditures of the government
during the present fiscal year as we'll
as during the last half OF the last
fiscal year. have been disturbed by the
extraordinary burdens thrown upon
the treasury by the transportation act
in connection with the return of the
railroads TO private control. Over $780,
000,060 has already been paid to the
railroads under this act--$350, 600, 900
during the present fiscal year: and it
Is estimated That further payments
aggregating possibly $3.50 200, 900 must
s.all be made to the railroads during
the current year. 1t is obvious that
these large paym/ats have already
seriously limited the governments
progress in retiring the floating debt.
Tax Laws Need Revision.
Closely connected with this, II
seems to nle. is the necessity for an
immediate consideration of the re-
vision of our tax laws. Simplification
OF the income and profits taxes has
become an immediate necessity.
These taxes performed an indespens-
able service during the war. The need
for their simplification, however. is
very great, in order to save the tax
payer Inconvenience and expense and
in order to make his liability more
certain and definite. Other and more
detailed recsnlmendasio ions with re-
gard to taxes will no doubt be laid
treasury and the commissioner of in
ternal revenue.
Plea For Disabled Soldiers.
It Is my privilege to draw the at
tention of congress for very sympa-
thetic consideration OF the problem
OF providing adequate facilities for
the care and treatment of former
members of the military and naval
forces who are sick or disabled as the
result of their participation in the
war. These heroic men can never be
paid In money for the service they
patrioticaliy rendered the nation.
Their reward will lie rather in reali-
zation Of the fact that they vindi-
Gated the rights CT their country and
aided In Safeguarding civilization.
The nations gratitude must be ef-
fectively revealed to them by the
most ample provision for their medi-
cal care and treatment as well as for
their vocational training and replace
ment. The time has come when a
more complete program can be for
mulated and more satisfactorily ad-
m1nistered for their treatment and
training, and I earnestly urge that
the congress give the matter its early
considerations The secretary OF the
treasury and the board for vocational
education will outline in their annual
reports proposals covering medical
care and rehabilitation, which, am
sure, will engage your earnest study
and command your most generous
support.
Reiterates Former Recon- mendations.
Permit me to emphasize once
more the need for action upon GER
tain matters upon which 1 dwelt at
length IN my message to the second
session of the Sixty Sixth congress-
the necessity, for example, of en-
couraging the manufacture Of dive
stuffs and related chemicals: the
importance OF doing everything pos
slble TO promote agricultural produc-
ton along economic lines, to improve
agricultural marketing and to make
rural life more attractive and health.
ful; the need for law reeula ting
cold storage in such way as to lin
1t the time during which goods NAV
be kept in storage, prescribing the
method of disposing of them If kent
beyond the permitted period, and re-
curing goods released from stora 90
In all cases to bear the date of their
receipt.
1T would also be most serviceable
if 1t were provided that all goods re-
leased from cold storage for inter-
state shipment should have plainly
marked upon each package the SELL
ing or market price at which they
went into storage, in order that the
purchaser might be able to learn
what profits stood between him and
the producer or the wholesale dealer.
Indeed, 1t would be very serviceabIe
to the public If all goods destined for
interstate commerce were made to
carry upon every packing ca 60 whosa