The Coconino sun., 1920-11-26
GETTING U. 5. BACK
 TO NORMAL SLOW TASK

As measured by the terms of the republican platform and by the con- ditiOns which confront the nation, the task assumed by the republican party is by no means light one. The task would be difficult regardless of the party that assumed it or the pledges it had made. Following eight years of profigacy in federal administration and like period of development of bureaucracy, getting back to gov ernment by laws and government in accordance with sound economy will not be easy. To increase public ex- penditures is always easy; to curtail IS doubly difficult for the reason that people have become accustomed to certain government activities and ex- pect continuance even though the new activity may be duplication of work performed by another bureau.
 Getting back to government by law will be considerable undertaking, for officialdom at Washington has learned to look upon government as a delegation of almost unlimited author ity to exercise discretion in telling the American people what they may and may not do from time to time. The idea of putting regulations definitely and specifically upon the statute books so that citizen may put his finger upon the page and paragraph that es- tablishes his duties or limits his lib- erty, is repugnant to bureaucracy. A new postmaster general may ac- quiesce in such an innovation but all down the line of subordinates it will be difficult to get over the idea that the P. M. G. is little king. Yet, getting back to government by law was the first pledge of the republican platform, and it will be carried out.
 The subject of taxation is one that will require early attention. On this subject the republican platform did not undertake to deceive the people. The platform declares, "The burden of taxation imposed upon the Ameri- can people is staggering; but in pre- senting a true statement of the situ- ation 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 expected. The next re- publican administration will inherit from it's democratic predecessor a floating indebtedness of over three billion dollars, the prompt liquidation of which is demanded by sound finan- cial considerations. Moreover, the whole fiscal policy of the government must be deeply influenced by the ne- cessity of meeting obligations in ex- cess of five billion dollars which ma ture in 1923. But sound policy equal ly demands the early accomplishment of that real reduction of the tax bur den which may be accomplished by substituting simple for complex laws and procedure; prompt and certain determination of tax liability for de- lay and uncertainty; tax laws which do not for tax laws which do, excess lively mulct the consumer or needless ly express enterprise and thrift"
 | Needless and unjustified though they are, the debts created by the democratic administration are legal obligations of the government, and the republican administration has no choice but to provide means of pay ment. Moreover, the debts were ac- CulHuidteu III q pciiou VI ihAe@tioii oiio must be paid during period of de- flation. Debts accumulated with 4O cent dollars must be paid with 100 cent dollars.
 The republican platform promises maintenance of national honor and re. spect for the rights of American citi- zens abroad. Encouragement of az riculture; promotion of peaceful set tlement of industrial disputes; restor, ation of an efficient railroad system 4 upbuilding of the merchant marine; return to the protective principle ir tariff legislation; revision of the nat. uralization laws, and restoration of efficiency in the public service, arc other pledges which the republican platform made and which the party will proceed to fulfil. The job is big one, but the party is equal to the task l