The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1921-04-15
HARDING DELIVERS
HIS FIRST MESSAGE
Executive Insists on Full Pro.
teoilon Of All Rights Of
United States.

Washington. President Harding IN
his first address to congress announc'
cd that hc would approve "dcclara'
tory resolution" by congress, with
qualifications essential 10 protect all
our rights" would end thu technical
state Of war against the central pow
ere Of Europe
The president added. however, that
I, would he idle to deelnr" for separate
treaties of peace with tho central pow
era on the assumption alone that these
would b. adequate. because the sit
cation is 40 involved that our peace
engagements cannot ignore tho old
world relationships and the settle
meats already effected. nor 10 II do
kirshle TO do 40 In preserving our own
rights and contracting our future re-
iationships," !"
unrsssrvesly AsaIns, LesAue.
Although declaring unrcservedly
against tho existing League Of Ma
tlons.' the president said
The wiser course would seem TO
be the acceptance Of the confirmation
Of aur rights and interests ~ already
provided and 10 engage under tho exist
Ina treaty. assuming of course. that
this can be satisfactorily achieved by
such explicit reservations and moditl
cations a. viii secure our absolute
freednm from insd,isablc commit
msu,s and safeguard all our essential
interests"
An association OF nations, the prcsl'
dent said. could not be founded until
the world was at peace,
Repeal Of Esesss Profits Tax.
Discussing reRdJustu,ent Of taxa
,ion. President Harding said that the
country did no, expect and would not
approve Of a shifting OF tax burdens.
bu, was more interested in "wiplng
out the necessity for imposing them"
The government. he said, was com
mitted 10 the repeal OF the excess
profits tar and 10 abolish the in.
equities and unJustIlishie exaspera'
tons" In the present tax syatom
Discussing tariff revision. the prcsi'
dent reaifirmed his belief In The pro
lection OF American industry
Il, Ii our purpose, said he. TO
prosper America frat The privileges
OF the American market TO tho for
elEn producer nre offered too chcnply
today. and the effect Of much Of our
oSn productivity IL the destruction of
our Helfreilancc which Ia the founda
tion of tho independence and good
fortune OF our peoples. Imports should
pay their fair share OF our cost Of
government"
Agriculture. the president said, was
menaced with prices at prc'war nor
mails and being further endangered by
high cost OF transportation from farm
20 market through the influx OF foreign
farm products,
Emergency Tariff Urged.
While he urged emergency tariff
revision immediately. he spoke OF per
maneut revision later,
Discussing the railroad question,
President Harding said there would
be ian avowed foundation on which
10 rebuild" n Il could be understood
that congress was no sanction for
government ownership" and does not
levy taxes upon the people 10 cover
deficits In a service which should he
self sustaining" Railway rates and
costs Of operation, he said, must be
reduced because freight rates had
until commerce is halted
md production discouraged.
Development Of good roads and i'd
and waterways, tho president said.
zero collateral subjects with the trans
,ortAtii1n question, and besides lndors'
ng federal aid 10 highways, he urged
.ongress to formulate consistent pro
yram,