The New York herald., 1921-04-13
HARDING ADDRESS COVERS
HIS CAMPAIGN PLEDGES:
MANY REFORMS PLANNED
Unqualified Rejection of League Of Nations Tempered
With Determination to Support Allies in
War Settlements Without Jeopardizing
Rights and Interests of America


wholesome and helpful. I wish IL
might find its reflex In economy
and thrift among the people them
selves. because therein lies quicker
recovery and added security for
the future.
The estimates OF receipts and ex-s
penditure5 ard the sta tenients az to
the condition OF the Treasury which
the Secretary Of the Treasury Is
prepared TO present to you will indi-
cate what revenues must be pro-
vided in order to carry on the Gov
ernment's business and meet its
current requirements and fixed debt
charges. Unless there are striking
cuts IN the important fields Of ex-
penditurc receipts from internal
taxes cannot safely be permitted to
fall below st,000.0o0.00 in the
fiscal year 1922 and 1923. This
would mean total internal tax col
lections Of about $1,000, ,000,0 900 less
than In 1920 and $500. 100000 less
than in 1921.
Relief I'm Tax Revision.
The most substantial relief from
the taS burdens must come for the
present from the readjustment os
internal taxes, and the revision or
repeal Of those taxes which have
become unproductiye and are so
artificial and burdensonle as to de-
feat their own purpose. A prompt
and thoroughgoing revision of the
internal tax laws. made with due
regard to the protection OF the reve-
nues. is, in my judgment, a requi-
site TO the revival OF business ac-
tivity in this country. 1t Is earn-
estly hoped. therefore. that the
Congress will be able to enact with
out delay a revision OF the revenue
laws and such emergency tariff
measures az are necessary TO pro-
tcct American trade and industry.
1t is OF less concern whether in
tsrnal taxation or tariff revision
shall come first than has been popu-
iariy ima gined, because we must DO
both. but the practical course for
earliest accomplishment will readily
suggest itself TO the Congress. We
are committed 70 the repeal OF the
excess profits tax and the abolition
OF Inequalities and unjustifiable ex-
ASPIRATIONS IN the present system.
The country does not expect and
will not approve a shifting OF bur-
dens. II is more interested IN rip-
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. cannot be
too much emphasized. l believe In
the protection OF American indus
try, and u is our purpose to prosper
America first. The privileges or the
american market 10 the foreign pro-
ducer are offered too cheaply to-
day. and tho effect on much OF our
own productivity is the destruction
OF our self rsliance. which IS the
foundation oc the independence and
good fortune Of our people. More
over. imports should pay their fair
share Of our cos Of government
One who values American pros
perity and maintained American
standards OF wages and living can
have no sympathy with the proposal
that easy entry ard feod or imports
VIII cheaper our gosts of living II
is more likely TO destroy our ca
pacity 70 buy. To-day American
agriculture is menaced and its prod
ucts are down 10 pre-war normais.
yet we arc erdangerinE our funda-
mental industry through the high
cost OF transportation from farm 70
market and through the influx OF
foreign farm products. because we
oficr. essentially unprotected. the
best market IN the world. IL woulG
be better 10 err In protecting our
basic food industry than paralyzo
otr farm activities In the world
struggle for restored exchanges.
Tie maturer revision Of our tariff
laws should be based on the policy
Of protection, resisting that SELFISH
Codibtucd o., Eichth PAGE.