Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-18

wages in such industries IL indispen-
sable to normal prices.
1.-THE Adamson law must be re-
pealed. The wartime labor classif1-
cations, regulations and so-called
National Agreements must be abol-
ished. That curious contriver OF
makeshiftS, the So-called LABOR
Board, that tells the railway owners
how much they must spend, must be
connected with that other organ of
our bureaucracy. the Interstate Com
merce Commission, which tells the
railway owners how much they may
receive. If railways are to continue
to suffer straight-jacket regulation,
at least let there be coordination be-
tween outlay and income,
THE contract made by the Govern
ment with the railway owners when
the lines were taken by the Admin
istration must be carried out, the in
debtedness Of the roads to the gov
eminent for improvements funded
and that of the government to the
roads paid-all is provided In the
agreement. Thus railway insolvency
will be averted, hundreds Of millions
expended on equipment and better
ments. scores of thousands of now
idle workingmen employed, and all
industry vitalized.
"In short the railway bill passed by
the House months ago, and held up
in the Senate, must be speedily en-
acted into law, without mutilation or
fundamental change. Sound business
apd hny,nr dopoo ~
mo need fear revival of railway
autocracy; new industrial factor,
the automobile, will moderate rail-
way earnings. Auto trucks and mo-
tor buses are already making heavy
reductions in short haul freight and
passenger railway revenues.
IF business is to revive, investing
capital must be freed as far as pos
sibe. The excess profits tax must be
repealed-it ought to have been abol-
ished when the pretext for it disap-
peared.
In place of these intricate, involved
and destructive war expedients which
weaken and destroy business, give US
plain, simple, easily understood
revenue system, based on business
principles, which will, at once, work
less hardship on all the people and
permit business to get into action.
in the end we must put a tax on
expendtures-a noncumulative tax
on sales-while all, alike and equally,
must pay in exact proportion to pur-
chases. That would be a genuine and
honest tax on wealth.
"a sales tax Is open, above board.
and in plain light of day. 1t is fixed,
the expense of the consumer by I'M
derSround manipulation.
eff the genius and energy which
our best minds are deyoting to the
Disarmamont Conference shall, after
the brilliant success which we know
Will crown their efforts in that his
trric pa:lry, be employed in devising
and executing ways and mcans to in
crease American trade in these re-
gioas allotted to us by nature, we
| might possibly secure desperately
needed markets for our surplus. If
so, more idle laborers would be given
work than were provided with jobs
by the Unemployment Conference.
But even the highest Statecratt is
not, alone, sufficient, it must be sup
ported by the sense and sentiment of
Il staunch, patient, levelheaded. high
! minded people. The situation will ap-
ply the supreme test to American
character and to American institu-
| tons.
But never doubt that we shall pre-
vail. American craftsmanship will be
equal to the demand; American char
acter will stand the test; American
institutions will prove adequate, and
vindicate, once more, the wisdom of
the founders of the Republic"