East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-08-07

a base upon which agreement, with
out injury to the covenant, is now
of pressing Importance. 1t was the
desire to get things started, that
prompted some members of the senate
to vote for the Lodge reservations.
Those who conscientiously voted for
them in the final roll calls realized
however that they acted under duress.
in that a politically bigoted minority
was exercising the arbitrary power of
its position to enforce drastic condi-
tions. Happily the voters of the re-
public, under our system of govern
ment, can remedy that situation. and
1 have the faith that they will, at the
election this fall. Then organized gov
ernment will be enabled to combine
impulse and facility in the making of
better world conditions. The agencies
of exchange will automatically adj
just themselves to the opportunities of
commercial freedom. New life and re-
newed hope will take hold of every
nation. Mankind will press a resolute
shoulder to the task of reimbursement,
and new era. will have dawned upon
the earth.
Readjustments
We have domestic problems to be
settled. They are most pressing. Many
conditions growing out of the war will
not and should not continue. The
| work of readjustment will call for our
best energy, ingenuity unselfishness
| and devotion to the idea that it is
the general welfare we must promote.
| One of the first things to be done is
| the repeal of war taxes. The entry
| of America into the world war pro-
| jected our people into an unparalleled
| financial emergency. which was faced
with a determination to make every
sacrifice necessary to victory. Billions
| in liberty loans subscribed by patriots
regardless of their financial condi-
tions were instantly placed at the dis
posal of the government, and other
billions were gladly paid into the trea-
sury through many forms of taxations
To have paid by current taxes more
than one-third of the expense of the
greatest war in the history of man
kind, is a reflection on the high sense
OF national duty with which we of
America view the obligations of this
generation.
Tax Reform
Immediately following the armistice
measures to modify onerus nd nnoy-
ing taxation should have been taken
and the Republican congress in which
all tax laws must originate, and which
for almost two years has exclusively
held the power to ameliorate this con-
djtion, has not made single effort
or passed a single law to lift from the
American people a load of war taxa
ton that cannot be tolerated in a
time of peace. Federal taxation must
be heavily reduced, and it will be done
at once. if Democratic administra
tion is chosen in November. without
essential national adminis-
trative departments, by the elimation |
Of all others and strict economy every |
where, national taxes can be reduced |
in excess of two billion dollars yearly.
Annoying consumption taxes, once
borne. now unjustified, shall
De repealed. The incomes from war
made fortunes, those of non-produc-
,rs and those derived from industries
hat exist by unfair privilege may be
lble to carry their present load, but
axes on the earnings of the wage
arner, of the salaried and profession
Il man, of the agricultural producer
nd of the small tradesman should
,e sharply modified. 1 believe that a
allied excess profits tax may be found
nd L suggest small tax, probably
ne to one and one-half per cent on
he total business of every going con-
ern. 1t is to be understood that
ne term business" as used does not
lclude income received by wage-ear-
ers. salaried men. agriculturists and
ne small business man who should be
xempt from this tax. The profiteer
nd some of the highly capitalized
nits have used the excess profits tax
5 a favorite excuse for loading on the
1nsumer by means of highly inflated
.lling prices many times the amount
etually paid the government. A nee
,sary condition to the national con-
ntment and sound business is a Just
between fair profits to bus.