The Washington times., 1921-04-12

fetal and burdensome as TO defeat
their own purpose. A prompt and
thoroughgoing revision of the inter-
Lal tax laws, made with due regard
to the protection of the revenues. is.
IN my judgment, a requisite to the
revival of business activity in this
country. 1t Is earnestly hoped, there
fore. that the Congress will be able
u enact without delay a revision Of
the revenue laws and such emer-
gency tariff measures as are neces-
sary to protect American trade and
industry.
1t Is of less concern whether in
tcrnal taxation or tariff revision shall
come first than has been popularity
imagined. because we must do both,
rut the, practical course for earliest
accomplishment will readily suggest
itself to the Congress. We are COM
m'tted to the repeal Of the excess
profits tax and the abolition of in
equities and unjustihable exaspera-
tons in the present system.
The country does not expect and
VIII not approve shifting of bur-
dens. 1t is more interested In wiping
out the necessity for imposing them
and eliminating confusion and cost
la the collection.
NEW TARIFF LAW URGENT.
The urgency for an instant tariff
'enactment. emergency in character
and understood by our people that 1t
~ Tor the emergency only, can not
be too much emphasized. I believe
IN the protection of American in
dustry. and II Is our purpose to pros
per America first. The privileges of
tho American market to the forelg
producer are offered too cheaply to-
day. and the effect on much of our
own productivity is the destruction
c; our self-reliance, which is the
foundation of the independence and
good fortune of our people. More
over, imports should pay their fair
snare of our cost of government.
One who values American pros
perity and maintained American
standards of wage and living can
have no sympathy with the proposal
that easy entry and the flood of i'm
PORTS will cheaper our costs of living
II Is more likely to destroy our
capacity to buy. Today American
agriculture Is menaced. and its prod
Ucts are down to prewar normals,
yet We are endangering our funda-
mental industry through the high cost
OF transportation from farm to
market and through the influx of
foreign farm products. because we
offer, essentially unprotected, the best
market in the world. 1t would be
better to err in protecting our basic
food industry than paralyze our farm
ectivities in the world struggle for
restored exchanges.
The maturer revision of or tariff
laws should be based on the policy Of
protection, resisting that seifishness
which turns to greed, but ever con-
cerned with that productivity at home
which is the source of all abiding
good fortune. 1t is agreed that we
can not sell unless we buy, but ability
to sell is based on home development
and the fostering of home markets.
There is little sentiment in the trade
of the world. Trade can and ought
to be honorable, but ii knows no SYM
pathy. While the delegates of the
nations at war were debating peace
terms at Paris. and while we later de-
bated our part in completing the
peace, commercial agents of other ma
tions were opening their lines and
establishing their outposts. with a for
ward look to the morrow's trade. 1t
was wholly proper. and has been ad-
vantageous to them. Tardy as we
are. 1t will be safer to hold our own
market secure, and build thereon for
our trade with the world.
BUSINESS BASIS ESSENTIAL.
A very important matter is the
business on a business basis. There
was liberation of the easy going un-
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