Evening star., 1925-09-03
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS
BY WILLIAM P. HELM, JR.

need today is decreased taxes. not
only local and State. but also Fed
eral." He adds. LAS we sell our
products more and more in foreign
countries we are going to find that
we have got to produce them cheaper,
and the only way Of producing them
cheaper is TO cut down the cost. One
of the big items of cost for years past
has been taxes: If We can reduce our
tax bills it will certainly help TO stimu-
late business generally in this coun-
try"
Another Idahoan. F.. ". Van Os-
trand, president of the Craig Noun
tain Lumber Co, holding similar
views. looks even further. He saws:
Il think the chief public need today
to increase prosperity in the lumber
business is to change the system tax
ing timber lands and TO withdraw.
public timber lands. both State and
National, from competition with that
privately owned"
From the Southern lumber belt
come the views of c. H Sheriff. of
New Orleans. president of the Sher-
rill Hardwood Lumber Co, who as
serts: THE chief public need today
to increase business prosperity is the
historic and traditional need of bust
enss at all timeS-to be relieved of
burdensome and discriminatory taxa
tion and to be given the opportunity
for honest and profitable operation
and service.
Business has been grievously ex-
plotted by the tax gatherers and SO
beset by restrictions and regulations
that the wheels of progress are slowed
down to the point where it is well
nigh impossible to keep them turning.
remedial results may be expected
just as soon as sober craftsmanship
and sound economics take the place of
shallow thinking and political selfish
ness in the halls of legislation"
The State of Washington. whose
forests contribute vastly to the an
nual lumber. cut, sends the following
reply from J. H. Bloedel, president of
the great Bloedel Donovan Lumber
Mills: There is such a general agree
ment that tax reduction is primarily
one of the great issues before our
business men that I will not elaborate
upon 1t further than TO say | agree
with il.
]. j. Donovan, vice president of the
same company. writes that his an
swer to the question, What is the
chief need to increase prosperity" is
Less taxation and more foreign
trade"
Sees Three Paramount Needs
Three needs are seen as paramount
By f. d. Kingsley. president of the
West Coast Lumbermen's Associa-
ton. Portland, Oreg. These are set
forth as follows:
/. A prompt, wise and further re-
vision of our tax laws.
.. Assurance to the railroads of
freedom from further legislative inter
ference.
3. Industrial and labor cooperation
and stability.
"Since the war" Mr.. Kingsley adds,
prosperity has been seriously Grip.
pied because of faulty. taxation, a cor.
rect taxing principle being converted
! into a measure of economic violence. ~
In the city of Grand Rapids, Mich
| land, indeed, throughout that section
the outstanding lumber man is John
w. Blodgett. He believes that two
| things are essential to increase pros
| perity. Says Mr.. Blodgett:
They are: One, the practice ot
! thrift and economy of the real Cool
| idge type; and, second. a change in
| Federal taxation.
I'VE have passed the period of vio
| lent fluctuations due to readjustment
| following the war and have now set
| tied down to a worldwide condition oi
intense commercial l-competition. We