The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-01
Wheeling Citizens Voice.
Vigorous Protest to the:
Proposed Gas Rate Jump
Sharp Criticism of
Action of Allies In
Manner Of Indemnity
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The Intellsssncer

Washington. Jan. 3l.--Wh!ie there =
general approval here OF the tde<, OF fix
In. definitely the sum the Germans must
pay rdS Nar -eparatson, there IS conS!a-
..r;lh,c murmur!ae and indeed diSsat!S-
faction over what amounts 70 an at
tempt to make the American people pay
= part Of the German inds smn!ty.
The section OF the Allied proposal
which IS coming in for severe criticism
n congressional circles Is tina: which
would levy = twelve and I half per cent
TAX on the exports OF Germany IRIS
means that the american purchaser o.
German goods nuuId have 10 pay the tax
and that the mua,$. would go into the
pockets OF ~. N...,.~ Indeed. the tariff
experts he~- ,.,..J'aIc that the twelve
and Il ua,t ,u~ .o"rt taS on German eN-
ports VIII -. RAJ as :. protective tariff
would upcro', n imposed 2t this end-it
will k~c3 90; ,'"rtain German goods alto
Scthc- A"J Will let in other kinds that
must hc bought. BV, i will be with
tA:s difference: WheE the American con-
g-eSS imposes protective tariff on for
r:Eu goods, the money. goes into the
Nme-.cap treasury and helps pay gov
o"um"nt bills and reduces the amounts
La, must be raised by direct taxation.
rae action OF the allies IN imposing an
Export tax simply means that the Amer
.y.,u people who buy German goods vii!
:.,y ;h.. t.,x 70 the allies and thus re-
,.rvc the Germans OF a part. at leoSt. OF
their obligation.
Tariff authorities here insist more
over that a flat twelve and p halt per
cent TAX or exports IS not only anScten-
t.f.c out uuequal and discriminatory and
y, III restrict trade with Germany as well
as tine countries which are reached
rough Germany as = distributing cen-
tor in Middle Europe Anything thac re-
Alr.cl> trade. Incidentally. is trcwned
rtnn because Il x realized here that II
,i.rrnnns - L. nay her Inunal payments
on the indemnity she must riakS money
somehow. and she cannot make money
Il her goods are not sold. Similarly
an! here IS where the most vital factor
81 the whole questions come !n-unlesS
Germany can sell goods 20 the United
states. she will not have the money to
buv American cotton. and grain ana
manufactured articles because she Will
not hay" the money TO pay for II. In
,e-ra t!onal trade - entirely a question
Of eNcEapS, nf goods. AL parties on
r..F, stCa rf thC ocean attribute the re-
r.u. failing OK in American trade 10 IN"
r.pEsty OF the European countries 10
,.,v for goods in ~" .Amsricaa dollar at
nrrSaut rate exchange. II the balance
p trade should continue on this SIDE OF
The Atlantic. ihc chance Of equaiizing
,Aru:,nEc will be diminished. SO II -
Thought in Washington that what ever
advantages uIay NeCrn to accrue itnUe-
ttatclv out OF the proposal to fix = DELI
rite sum for tae indemnity may be OH
80; when u : realized what sutioca-
ling influence the twelve and hall per
prr ;aN n!ay have on the entire trade
SITUATION Moreover. the United states
has the gold supply 1T present ana any
r.en tor the revival OF world trade must
Contemplate some InduCeMent 10 Amer
:cu 10 buy goods abroad. The t"eiFe
and 4 half per cent tax my preNen'
American purchases altogether IL -
predtce,d that the American people VIII
not want 10 D" IN the position OF 'ndi-
~ec,lv paying the German indemnity TO
the allies for IN" penalty would not then
40 imposed upon the German producer
but the American consumer.
Much Resentment
Considerable resentment IS expressed
privately By some OF our legislators
that an action 50 vial 10 American
trade could be taken without An Amer
team voice in the proceedings 1t was
recognized by President wilson AZ the
Paris confe ."rcc that ;hiS whole QueS-
Ion would involve American trade ana
therefore the rcparaticns commission
which was to do the job that the Allied
premiers nov are doing was 70 have on
"a an American represents tive. The Al
los awaited IN vain for the United
States TO -atigy the treaty SO that the
-cparatious question could be taken up
that the treaty might be 4 subject "r
prolonged controversy. nc asked the
senate TO permit h!ns 20 appoint an
American member OF the rcporat!ons
commission but Senator Lodge and the
Republican majority declined 10 give
that permission. The Allies have gone
ahead without the United Stat"s AID
made arrangements satisfactory To
themselves. There is still I group OF
thinkers n the American senate who
believe that a simple declaration OF
peace by joint resolution os congress
veil Civ. American all the benefits or
.r, .rraty Of Versailles without COM
pelling her" 10 accept any OF the oh!tSa-
tons but international lawyers say tha'
= tho reparationS agreement goes
through and IS accepted BY Germany.
;ho United STATES Will ne confronted
with an accomplished fact end will not
he aSle 20 change the agreement eX-
cspt by beginning trad" wa and
system ot rctaljatory tariffs against the
allies The hope here ~ that the Ger
mans will decline TO pay tho export tax
while accepting on the other hand in"
main proposal for The payment OF an
Indemnity In annual sums.
Another interesting puasH OF the con-
.-ovcr,y Is tnac the allies will have
negotiated an undr-Stan ndUE with Ger
many brfor" President Harding - In
ausura,ed and has an opportunity 70
arrange for z separate peace Germany
will have signed away all her trade OBJ
legations so that unless tho United
states agrees 20 sign the treaty OF Ne-
sa!llNs she viii not get any OF the ad-
vsrtages OF that treaty BY separat"
negotiation with Germany but VIII have
% Apply 20 the allies themselves. In
some quarters the whole situation Is
~eea rdsd a. ono OF slowly forcing Amer
ca 10 take hand n the treaty ot Yer
Sailles whether she wants 20 o. no.
naly th!s time ;il2 allies instead Of
Presiden. Wilson are applying the pres
sure through economic !nstrumentaii-
ties