Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02
u. S. NOT APPALLED, BY PROBLEMS
PRESENTED TT BY THE NEW, YEAR

Generation after generation will feel the re-
suits in taxes. and even though the material
losses inflicted by the war are replentshed and
the devastation repaired and supplied. 1t will
require taxes to do it. and for years to come
the one cry will be, PAY. pay!' the economists
declare.
Which brings the mind back by easy stages
to consideration Of what the new year. in its
very beginning presents for taking up domestic
problems arising out of the war, industrial de-
preston, financial stringency, unemployment.
migration of peoples to these shores, not in
groups, but in great masses large proportions
of population of entire territories, and-always,
and it would forevermore. taxation. q.
In the minds of of the most eminent
men in Congress the most serious problem
which the country will be called upon to face
will be, agricultural production next year and
subsequently. The average American, accus-
toned to plenty and residing in the most fertile
land on earth, is likely to pooh-pooh the serious
of such suggestion. Looking about and
beyond him, his mind cannot grasp the idea of
a scarcity of the fruits of the EARTH Famine
Is word not possible of association in his
mind with the United States as he proudly
points to the spectacle of the United States
feeding England. France. Italy and other coun-
tries during the war; well as its own people.
Few are the American families which have not
always had enough and to spare for neighbor,
If necessary.
X x X X
But the economists IN Congress sound a note
of warning to the effect that the agriculturists
will not till their land for surplus products,
over what they need fer their own sustenance.
If they have to do it at loss. and that the
sheep raisers if they slaughter their focks IL it
does not pay to feed them for their WOOL can
not reproduce them in q day, and so on through
the list Of agricultural products. 1t behooves
the country, 1t is argued, to see to it that agri-
cI,f c1rry,f OF hn~v
the land. it must be cultivated by human toll
and with living profit to the workers.
There is, in the opinion Of the thinkers in
Congress-, only one definite. sure thing about
taxation. and that is that there can be no pos
sible lessenng of the burdens for four years.
at least, to come. The question is how to
divide and apportion them that they may
be made to bear equally upon the people as
the human mind can devise.
In the appeals to Congress there is said to
be found a medium Of suggestion for the pass
ing the buck" of tax burdens from one class to
another, but only to degree to be expected
fppm frail human nature. Most Of the COM
plants are as to obvious and admitted inequali-
ties. result of hasty legislation for the necessi-
ties of the war.
Correction of these determinations, not will
fully imposed in the first place, will be willing
ly made. There is no dominant element in Con-
xress which can be charged with being intent
on taxing one class and exempting another
The perplexities are mainly how to levy taxes
to raise the necessary funds and in what form
they are to be applied.
1t is big task, but the present Congress
and the one to succeed it early in March will
take it on and complete it,
Copyright. 1927. BY The Washington star.)