Evening star., 1922-12-08

Stitution. One need not be commit
ted to the belief that amendment is
weakening the fundamental law. or
that excessive amendment is essen
tial to meet every ephemeral whim.
We ought to amend to meet the de-
mands of the people when sane
toned by deliberate public opinion.
One year ago l suggested the sub
mission Of an amendment SO that
we may lawfully restrict the issues
of tax-exempt securities. and l re-
new that recommendation now.
Tax-exempt securities are drying up
the sources of federal taxation and
they. are encouraging unproductive
and eXtrava giant expenditures by
states and municipalities. There is
more than the menace in mounting
public debt, there is the dissipation
of capital which should be made
available to the needs of productive
industry. The proposed amendment
will place the state and federal gov
ernments and all political sub
divisions on an exact equality, and
will correct the growing menace of
public borrowing. which If left un-
checked may soon threaten the sta
bility of our Institutions.
We are so vast and SO varied in
our national interests that scores
of problems are pressing for atten-
tion. l must not risk the wearying
of your patience with detailed ref
erence.
Reclamation and irrigation prof.
ects. where waste land may be
made available for settlement and
productivity. are worthy of your
favorable consideration.
Rapid Consumption Of Timber.
When it is realized that we are
consuming our timber four times
as rapidly as we are growing it, we
must encourage the greatest pos
slble cooperation between the fed
eral government, the various states
and the owners of forest lands. to
the end that protection from fire
shall he made more effective and
replanting encouraged.
The fuel problem Is under study
now by very capable fact-finding
commission. and any attempt to
deal with the coal problem, of such
deep concern to the entire nation,
must await the report OF the COM
mission.
There are necessary studies of
great problems which Congress
might well initiate. The wide
spread between production costs
and prices which consumers pay
concerns every citizen of the re-
public. 1t contributes very largely
to the unrest in agriculture and
must stand sponsor for much
against which we inveigh in that
familiar term-the high cost of
living.
No one doubts the excess Is
traceable to the levy of the mid
dleman, but it would be unfair to
charge him with all responsibility
before we appraise what Is exacted
OF him by our modernly complex
life. We have attacked the prob
lem on one side by the promotion
might well inquire into the bene-
fts of cooperative buying. Admit
tedly. the consumer is much to
blame himself. because Of his
prodigal expenditure and his exac-
ton OF service. but government
might well serve to point the way
OF narrowing the spread of price,
of food and its consumption,
Economy Shown Possible.
superpower survey Of the east
ern Industrial region has recently
been completed, looking to unifica-
ton of steam, water and electric
powers and to unified scheme of
proved that vast economies in ton
mage movement of freights, and in
the efficiency of the railroads.
would be effected If the superpower
program were adopted. l am con-
WINGED that constructive measures
calculated to promote such an in
dustrial development-Ia am tempt
ed to say, such an industrial revo-
lutfon--woUld be well worthy the
careful attention and fostering in
tereSt OF the national government,
The proposed survey of plan to
draft all the resources Of the re-
public. human and material, for
national defense may we'll have
your approval. I commended such
the inaugural address of March 4,
1921. and every experience in the
adjustment and liquidation of war
claims and the settlement Of war
obligations persuades me we ought
to be prepared for such universal
call to armed defense.
oring you no apprehension of
war. The world is abhorrent Of it,
and our own relations are not only
free from every threatening cloud,
but we have contributed our larger
influence toward making armed
conflict, less likely.
National Relationships, Theme.
Those who assume that we play
ed our part in the world war and
later took ourselves aloof and
apart, unmindful Of world obliga-
tions. give scant credit to the help
fnl part we assume In International
relationships.
Whether all nations signtaory
ratify all the treaties growing out
OF the Washington conference on
Limitation of armament or some
withhold approval, the underlying
policy of limiting naval armament
has the sanction of the larger
naval powers. and naval competi-
tion is suspended. OF course, unan-
imous ratification is much to be
desired.
The four-power pact. which abol-
ishes every probability Of war on
the Pacific. has brought new con-
f1dence in a maintained peace, and
I can well believe 1t might be made
model for like assurances wher-
ever in the world any common in
terests are concerned.
We have had expressed the hos
tility Of the American people to a
nfitment where either a council or
an assembly Of leagued powers
may chart our course. Treaties of
armed alliance. can have no like
lihood Of American sanction, but
we believe in respecting tho rights
Of nations. in the value Of con-
ference and consultation, in the
effectiveness Of leaders Of nations
looking each other in the face be-
fore resorting to the arbitrament
Of arms.
1t has been our fortune both to
preach and promote international
understanding. The influence of
the United States in bringing near
the settlement Of an ancient dis.
pute between South American ma
peace in ample understanding. In