The Washington times., 1922-12-08

amended as to give the Congress
indubitable authority. / recon-
mend the submission of such an
amendment. .. -N.
We have two schools OF thought
relating to amendment of the Con-
stitution. One need not be COM
mitted to the belief that amend
ment Is weakening the fundamen-
tai law, or that excessive amend
ment is essential to meet every
ephemefal whim. We ought to
amend toNmeet the demands of the
people when sanctioned by delib-
crate public opinion. IA fl.g-'
: One year ago I ,.shggested the
submission OF an amendment so
that we may lawfully restrict the
issues OF tax-exempt securities. and
1 renew that recommendation now.
Tax-exempt securities are drying
up the sources of Federal taxation
and they are encouraging unpro-
ductive and extravagant> expsndi.
lures by States and municipalities.
There is more than the menace in
amounting 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 governments and all
political subdivisions on an exact
equality, and will correct the grow
ing menace Of public borrowing.
which II left unchecked may soon
threaten the stability OF our In.
stitutions. - ,e- e.. a.
Other Problems. Waiting.
We are SO vast and 30 varied
in our national interests that
scores Of problems are pressing
for attention. I must not risk the
wearying Of your patience with
detailed reference. 80.
Reclamation and irrigation pro-
jects. where waste land may be
made available for settlement
and productivity, are worthy Of
your favorable consideration.
When II II realized that we are
consuming our timber four times
as rapidly as we are growing It.
we must encourage the greatest
possible cooperation between the
Federal Government. the various
States, and the owners of forest
lands, to the end that protection
from fires shall be made more
effective and replanting encour-
aged.
The fuel problem is under study
now by a very capable fact-find-
ing commission, and any attempt
to deal with the coal problem, Of
such deep concern to the entire
nation must await the report Of
the commission.
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. II contributes very large
ly to the unrest in agriculture
and must stand sponsor for much
against which we inveigh In that
familiar term-theg high cost OF
living. HS ~
Blane ON Consumer.
No one doubts the excess is
traceable to the levy OF the mid
dleman, but II would be unfair TO
charge him with all responsibility
before we eppraise what ts ex-
acted Of him by, our modernly
complex life. We have attacked
the problem on one, side b. the
promotion OF cooperative market
ing. and we might wen inquire
into the benefits OF cooperative
buying. Admittedly, the con-
sumer In much to plame himself.
because OF his prodigal expendi-
ture and his exaction Of service,
but Government might well serve
to point the way of narrowing the
spread of price, especially be-
tween the production Of food ana
It's consumption.
A superpower survey OF the
Eastern Industrial region has re-
; Gently been conpfeted, looking to
unification OF steam. water. and
electric powers, and TO a unified
: scheme % power distribution. The
survey proved that vast econo.
miles in tonnage movement OF
frsixhts. and In the efficiency OF
the railroads. would be effected n
The superpower program were