Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-11-13
TRADE SHOWING
KEEN N|NTERE6T
IN ARMS MEET
Business Men Realize
Possibility of Slash
in Federal Taxation.
Normally in Prospect
But Authorities See
Year of Depression.
By HARDEN COlFAX.
Special Correspondent OF Great Falls Tribune

Copyright, 1871, The Great Faiis tribune
Chicago, Nov 12.-One does not
have to travel far these days to find
that businessmen, once luke warm to
the armament conference at Wash
ington, are prepared now to bring
great pressure to bear for the tighten
ing of the cost OF military establish
ments. They realize apparently. for
the first time, that the whole question
of tax revision, which has given them
so much concern liz involved in the
Washington deliberations. Realization
of the vast toll Of military prepara-
tions and its application to the tax
program has become much keener In
the last few weeks and Joseph ii.
DeFrees, president of the United
States chamber of commerce, is among
the leading figures in the world to
call direct attention to the possibilities
of lowered military expenditures.
For some time the feeling has
grown that Germany without army
and navy to maintain will have great
advantages over other nations This
is pretty much failacy, for Germany
not only has enormous sums to pay
in reparations but the upkeep of the
few American soldiers on the Rhine
has cost Germany more than did the
entire peace time establishment of
the German army in 1913-leaving
the deterioration of the mark entirely
out of account.
Business Against Armament.
But fallacious or not, the idea has
helped to turn business operations
against large military establishm ents.
A year or more ago DIR. Rosa. of the
bureau of standards, showed that ap-
% per cent of the govern
ments revenue in the first year after
the war went to pay war debts or to
prepare the army and navy for wars
to come. DIR. Rosa's work excited
hardly ripple of interest but recently
published figures-probably based on
that right now approxim-
ately 774 per cent of the nations
revenues go to pay for wars past or
future; and only 221a per cent to the
other work of the government inclnd-
ng maintenance of the post office.
M. De Frees characterizes this ex-
aibit as most interesting as well as
Congress Favors Arms.
Business men in short, though only
/ little while ago they displayed little
interest in the ornaments conference
ire now sincerely anxious that it
,hall do something. The attituue of
congress to date has been rather more
with the military estab-
ishments than with other government
departments and bureaus but the pre-
,onderance of military expenditures is
10 enormous that it is obvious if any
reductions in government
are to be made they
must be made here.
Of course, the program OF business
Co., Anre yeernt ad-
ustment is well understood and the
|esires of business interests will be
,rettly fairly met at Washington. Re-
uction in government expenses due
0 duplication of effort may be con-
iderable, but in spite of everything
hat can be done within the govern
nent itself, substantial relief from
he different conditions now confront
ng the country depends largely on
educing the cost of military establish
,ents. The obligations of the last war
annot be evaded; the national in |
ONE will suffer until those obliga- |
ions have been paid. Perhaps, how
yer, further obligations may to some |
xtent be avoided.
Depression for Year.
There is feeling here that at best.
ldustrial depression will continue for |
OIlc uJtlc Ntluc uIu UusihGoc VIII NC
bnormal perhaps for year or more.
hat is not a hardship to everybody;
has been recognized that purveyors
{ low priced commodities profit dur
n times of depression at the expense
other dealers. The five and ten cent
torres report very good business now.
Tew chains of such stores are being
tarted. Members of the salaried
ass are finding conditions somewhat
asier as wage workers face reduc-
ons and unemployment. Business
zen can protect themselves better
ian the farmers or working men in
lis time Of adjustment.
But there is light ahead, at least
nd il some agreement can be reached
! the arms conference whereby the
TX per cent Of government ex-
anditures that goes for keeping M
! army and navy can be materially
.duced, tax burdens can be appreci-
,ly light1ned New tariff plans viii
sobabiy Stimulate business for i time
',s't