Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-12-12
FROM PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Favors Tax Reduction, No Bonus
Coal Problem-World Court.

FISCAL CONDITION.
Our main problems are domestic
problems Financial stability is the
first requisite of sound government.
We can not escape the effect of world
conditions. We can not avoid the
inevitable results of the economic
disorders which have reached all
nations. But we shall diminish their
harm to us in proportion as we CON
tinue to restore our Government
finances to a secure and endurable
position. This we can and must do.
Upon that firm foundation rests the
only hope of progress and prosperity.
From that source must come relief
for the people.
This is being accomplished by
drastic but orderly retrenchment,
which is bringing our expenses with
in our means. The origin of this has
been the determination of the Ameri-
can people, the main support has
been the courage of those in author
ity, and the effective method has been
the budget system. The result has
involved real sacrifice by depart
ment heads, but it has been made
without fiinching. This system is
law of the Congress. 1t represents
your will. 1t must be maintained,
and ought to be strengthened by the
example of your observance. With
out budget system there can be no
fixed responsibility and no construc-
tive scientific economy.
This great concentration of effort
by the administration and Congress
has brought the expenditures, ex-
elusive of the self-supporting post
Office department, down to three bill
lion dollars. 1t is possible, in conse-
the taxes of the people, which is the
sole object of all curtailment. This
is treated at greater length in the
budget message, and proposed plan
has been presented in detail in a
statement by the secretary of the
treasury which has my unqualified
approval. | especially commend a
decrease on earned incomes, and
further abolition of admission, mes,
sage, and nuisance taxes. The
amusement and educational value of
moving pictures ought not to be
taxed. Diminishing charges against
moderate incomes from investment
will afford immense relief, while a
revision of the surtaxes will not only
provide additional money for capital
investment, thus stimulating in
dustry and employing more labor,
but will not greatly reduce the
revenue from that source and may
in the future actually increase it.
Being opposed to war taxes in time
of peace, | am not in favor of excess
profits taxes. A very great service
could be rendered through immediate
enactment of legislation relieving the
people of some of the burden of
taxation. To reduce war taxes is to
give every home better chance.
For seven years the people have
borne with accomplishing courage
the tremendous burden of national
and local taxation. These must both
be reduced The taxes of the nation
: must be reduced now as much as
prudence will permit, and expendi-
lures must be reduced accordingly.
High taxes reach everywhere and
burden everybody, They bear most
heavily upon the roCc. They diminish
industry and commerce. They make
agriculture unVroiitGblo. They in
crease the rates on transportation.
They are a charge on every neces-
sity of life OF all services which
/ the Congress can render to the coun-
try, | have no hesitation in declaring
this one to be paramount. To neglect
it, to postpone it, to obstruct it by
unsound proposals, is to become un-
worthy of public confidence and un-
true to public trust. The country
wants this measure to have the right
of way over all others.
Another reform which is urgent in
our fiscal system is the abolition of
the right to issue taX-eXempt securi-
ties. The existing system not only
permits a large amount of the wealth
j of the nation to escape it's just bur
den but acts as a continual stimulant
to municipal extravaganza. This
should be prohibited by constitu-
tional amendment. All the wealth
of the nation ought to contribute it's
fair share to the expenses of the
nation.
VETERANS.
No more important duty falls on
! the government or the united states
than the adequate care of it's vete-
rams. Those suffering disabilities
incurred in the service must have
sufficient hospital relief and COM
pensation. Their dependents must
be supported. Rehabilitation and
vocational training must be COM
pleted, All of this service must be
clean, must be prompt and effective,
and it must be administered in a
spirit of the broadest and deepest
human sympathy. If investigation
reveals any present defects of adj
ministration or need of legislation,
orders will be given for the immedi-
ate correction of administration, and
recommendation for legislation
should be given the highest prefer
ence.