South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-13

: r~AAhA tca - as follOWE.
- Members Of the Congress:
You have been called In extraor-
ainary session 90 give your consider
alton TO national problems far too
pressing 20 be long neglected. We
ace our tasks Of legislation and al
ministraton amid conditions az dif-
acult as our government has ever
contemplated. Under our political
Iystem the people OF the United
states have charged the new congress
and the new administration with the
iolution-the readius,mcuts recon
truction and restoration which must
follow In the wake Of war.
"It may be regretted that We were
20 lily prepared for wars aftermath
70 little made ready 20 return 20 the
ways Of peace. bat we are not dis
souraged. Indeed. we must be the
more firmly resolved 20 underta ke
bur work with high hope and invite
every factor in our citizenship 20
~osh in the effort % find our normal.
onward way again.
Understands situation.
'Ths American people have ap-
praised the situation. and with that
Tolerance and patience which go with
understanding they viii give 70 us
The influence of deliberate public
opinion which ultimately becomes the
sdict Of any popular government.
They are measuring some OF the
Etern necessities. and viii join in the
give and take which is SO essential
% firm reestablishmenL
First In mind must be the solu-
don OF our problems at home. even
though some phases Of them are in
Be9ara bly, linked with our foreign re-
lations. The surest procedure IN
stery government is 10 put It's own
house in order.
II know Of no more pressing PROD
lem at home than TO restrict our ma
honal expenditures within the limits
81 our national income and at the
same time measurably lift the bur
dens OF war taxation from the
shoulders OF the American people.
"One cannot be unmindful that
economy is a much employed cry
most frequently stressed in pre-elec-
ton appeals but 70 IS ours 10 make
lt an outstanding and ever-impelling
purpose in both legislation and ad-
ministration. The Gnrestrained ten
dency to needless expenditure and
the attending growth OF public in
\ debtedness. extending from federal
. authority 10 that OF state and mu-
y n.cipality and including the smallest
political subdivision. constitute the
most dangerous phase of government
II N
except in its own activities. but II
can be exemplar IN wholesome re-
Versal.
"The staggering load OF war debt
must be cared for IN orderly fund
ing and gradual liquidation. We
shall hasten the solution and aid eff
fectively in lifting the tax burdens
If we strike resolutely at expendit-
ure.
"Our current expenditures are
running at the rate of approximately
I'VE billions a year and the burden
IS unbearable. There are two agen-
cies 10 be employed in correction:
one Is a rigid resistance IN appro-
priation and the other is the utmost
economy in administrator. Let US
department heads with this neces-
sfty. am sure congress will agree;
and both congress and the admin
istra ton may safely count on the
su1pport OF all right-minded citizens,
because the burden is theirs
The estimates of receipts and ex-
penditures and the statements as 70
the condition of the treasury which
the secretary Of the treasury IS pre-
pared to present 10 you viii indicate
what revenue must be provided in
order TO carry on the governments
business and meet It's current re-
ouirements and fixed debt charges.
Unless there are striking cuts In the
important fields Of expenditure, re-
ceipts from internal taxes cannot
safely be permitted 10 fall below
$4,000. oOo.GO0 in the fiscal years 1922
and 1928. This would mean total In
ternal tax collections Of about one
billion less than in 1920 and one-half
billion less than in 1921.
The most substantial relief from
the tax burden must come for the
present from the readjustment Of
internal taxes, and the revision or
repeal OF those taxes which have be-
come unproductive and are so arti-
hoial and burdensome as to defeat
their own purpose. A prompt and
tho-ougn-going revision of the in
terpal tax laws, made with due re-
card to the protection CT the reve-
nues. IS, IN my Judgment a requisite
"a the revival Of business activity in
this country. II IS earnestly hoped
therefore. that the congress will be
able 10 enact without delay a revision
~ the revenue laws and such emer-
rencv tariff measures as are neCes-
sarv 10 protect American trade and
industry.
eft Is OF less concern whether IN
ternal taxation or tariff revision shall
come first than has been popularity
imagined. because we must do both.
but the practical course for earliest
accomplishment viii readily suggest
itself 20 the congress. We are com
&mftted 10 the repeal OF the excess
profts tax and the abolition 6f in
eouittes and uniusufable exaspera-
tons in the present system.
s.The country does not expect and
will not approve a shifting OF bur
denz II is more interested IN wip-
ing out the necessity for imposing
them and eliminating confusion and
cost in the collection
The urgency for an instant tariff
enactment, emergency in character
and understood by our people that
Il IS for the emergency only, can
not be too much emphasized. 7 be-
Ue,-e IN the protection OF American