Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-12-16
PRESIDENT SENDS HIS
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
General Condition of Nation Is
One of Progress and
Prosperity.

greSS, said that the general condition
of the nation is one of progress and
prosperity. The President said that
he approved of the new revenue bin
as framed by the house ways and
means committee.
The Presidents message In part is
as follows:
Members Of the Congress:
In meeting the constitutional re-
quirements of informing the congress
upon the state of the Union, it is ex-
ceedingly gratifying to report that the
general condition is one of progress
and prosperity.
In our country the people are SOW
ereign and independent, and must ac-
cept the resulting responsibilities. The
greatest solicitude should be exer-
cised to prevent any encroachment
upon the rights of the states or their
various political subdivisions. Local
self-government is one of our most
precious possessions.
For Government Economy.
1t is a fundamental principle of our
country that the people are sovereign.
They hold inviolate in their own hands
the jurisdiction over their own free
dom and the ownership of their own
property. The wealth of our country
is not public wealth. but private
wealth. 1t does not belong to the gov
eminent, it belongs to the people. 1t
is always necessary to keep these
principles in mind in the laying of
taxes and in the making of appro-
priations. All proposals for assuming
new obligations ought to be postponed,
unless they are reproductive capital in
vestmentS or are such as are absO-
lutely necessary at this time.
1t has always been our policy to
retire our debts.
The taxpayer will be required to
produce nearly twice the amount of
commodities to pay his debt if the dol
lar returns to the 1913 value. The
more we pay while prices are high,
the easier it will be.
There is room for further economy
in the cost of the federal government,
but comparison of current expendi-
lures with pre-war expenditures is not
unfavorable to the efficiency with
which government business is now be-
ing done.
I believe that present federal ex-
penses are not far out of line with
pre-war expenses. We have nearly
accomplished the defation
Budget.
The congress has wisely set up the
bureau of budget
This gives a centralized authority
where a general and comprehensive
understanding can be reached of the
sources of income and the most equi-
table distribution of expenditures. How
well it has worked is indicated by the
fact that the departmental estimates
for 1922, before the budget law, were
S4,06S,000,000 while the budget esti-
mates for 1927 are $3,156,O0O,O0O. This
latter figure shows the reductions in
departmental estimates for the com
ing year made possible by the opera
ton of the budget system that the
congress has provided.
Taxation.
The purpose of reducing expendi-
lures is to secure reduction in
taxes. That purpose is about to be
realized. With commendable prompt
ness the ways and means committee
of the house has undertaken in adj
vance of the meeting of the congress
to frame revenue act. In it's present
form it should provide sufficient rev
enue for the government l approve of
the bill in principle
I am advised that the bill will be
through the house by Christmas. The
bill should reach me prior to March
10.
Foreign Relations.
The policy of our foreign relations,
casting aside any suggestion of force,
rests solely on the foundation of
peace, good will, and good works.
1t seems clear that it is the reduc-
ton of armies rather than of navies
that is of the first Importance to the
world at the present time
Court of International Justice.
Pending before the senate for near
here to the protocol establishing the
Permanent Court of International
Justice. A well-established line of
precedents mark Americas effort to
effect the establishment of a. court of
this nature.
Foreign Debts.
Gradually, settlements have been
made which provide for the liquidation
of debts due to our government from
foreign governments.
Alien Property.
Negotiations are progressing among
the interested parties in relation to
the final distribution of the assets in
the hands Of the alien property Gus
todian.
immigration.