The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13
By Associated Press

Members of the Congress: You have been called in extraordinary ses- sion to give your consideration to na- tional problems far too pressing to be long neglected. We face our tasks of legislation and administration amid conditions as difficult as our govern ment has ever contemplated. Under our political system the people of the United States have charged the new Congress and the new administration !, with the solution of the readjustments. reconstructions and restoration which must follow in the wake of war.
 It may be regretted that we were so lily prepares for wars aftermath; ; so little made ready to return to tbo ways of peace, but we are not to be olscouraged, Indeed we must be the more firmly reserved to undertake our work with high hope, and invite every !Sctor m our citizenship to join in the again. '
 The AmeSfcan people have appraised tne situation, and with that tolerance ana patience which go with under standing they will give to us the in- 1luence of deliberate public opinion which ultimately becomes the edict of
 
 measuring some of the stern neces, slties and will join in the give-and- take which is so essential to firm re- establishment.
 HOME PROBLEMS FIRr
 First in mind must be the solution ar our problems at home, even though some phases of them are inseparahiv linked with our foreign. relations. The surest procedure in every government IS to put its own house in order.
 l Know of no more pressing prob xem at home than to restrict our na- uonai expenditures within the limits of our national income, and at tha ssme ume measurably lift the burdens of war taxation from the shoulders of inc American people.
 one cannot be unmindfui that econ omy IS much-employed cry, most fire quenIiy stressed in prediction ap- peals, but 1t is ours 10 make if an mn uerslandlng and ever-impelung pur- nose in both legislation and adminis tration- The Unrestrained tendency to needless expenditure and the attend ang growth of public indebtedness, ex- teHoing rom federal authority to that of state and municipality and, includ- Ing the smallest political subdivision. constitute the most dangerous phase or government today. The nation can not restrain except in it's own actiy some reversal
 MUST LESSEN BURDEN
 Tne staggering load of war deht must Dc cared for in orderly funding ana gradual liquidation. We shall nasten the solution and aid effectively m hi1ng the tax burdens if we strike lesoiuteiy al expenditure. It is far more easily said that done. In ths Iever or war, our expenditures were 50 nttie questioned, the emergency was 20 lmpelifng, appropriation was so un- 1mpeded, that we little noted millions and counted the treasury inexhausti- !n, D,e, IL Will strengthen our resolution ll we ever keep in mind that con- mutation of such a course means ir. evitable disaster
 our current expenses are running at Enc rate of approximately s5.ooo. .ooo.- o0e year, and the burden is unbear- aoie, mere are two agencies to be employed in correction: One is rigid resistance in appropriation and the other is the utmost economy in ad ministration. Let us have both. pave already charged department @ neaas with this necessity. I am sure and the administration may safely count on the support of all rigb,- mlnoed citizens. because the burden ia tneirs. The pressure for expenditure. swelling the flow in one locality while a;rainlng another. is sure to defeat the
 e feet of our citizenship protesting ont. lay will be wholesome and helpful. "isn IL might find it's reflex in eco nomy and thrift among the people lnemselves, because therein lies quick future. -oi ene
 AMOUNT NEEDED
 The estimates of receints ana ~ penoirures and the statements as to .ne conoitfon of the treasury. which the Secretary of the Treasury is pre- pared to present to you, will indicate Wnat revenues must be provided iii or der to carry on the government,s hus.- ness and meet its current requirements and fixed debt charges. Unless there are striking cuts in the important !leIos or expenditures, receipts from in.ernal taxes cannot safely be per mitteo to fall below $4,00O 000.000 in the fiscal years of 1929 and 1923. This would mean total internal tax col lections of about $1,000, ,0Qo. .o0o less tnan Tn 1920 and on $500. .00o, 900 less The most substantial relief from the from the readjustment of internal ta~ss ana the revision or repeal of those taxes Wnicn nave become unproductive and are so artificial and burdensome as to defeat tneir own purpose. A prompt and thor cuensoing revision of the internal tax -".' 1ouc Witu que regard to the pro- Aection or the revenues, is, in inv tudg- ment, requisite to the revival of bust ness activity in this country. It is earn estiy hoped, therefore, that Congress- vii, be able to enact without delay a re- vision of the revenue laws and s,,ch emergency tariff measures as are neces- sary to protect American trade and ih- dustry.
 MUST HAVE BOTH
 M fA of less wh ;vk> taxation or tariff revision shall come first than had been popularly imagined, because we must do both. but the prac- Etical course for earliest accomplishment will readily suggest itself to the Con lgress. We are committed to the repeal of the excess profits tax, and the aboli- tion of inequalities and unjustifiable ex- aSperations in the present system.
 The country does hot expect and will not approve a shifting of burdens. IL is more interested in wiping out the ne- cessity for imposing them and eliminat- ing confusion and cost in the collection. The urgency for an instant tariff en- actment. emergency in character and understood by our people that it is for the emergency only. cannot be too much emphasized. I believe in the protection of American industry, and it is our purpose to prosper America first. The privileges of the American market to the foreign producer are offered too cheaply today and the effect on much of olr own productivity is the destruc- tion of our self-reliance Which is the