Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-29
BECK SEES DEBT
PLAN RAT|F |CAT|ON
Warns Present Generation
Must Not BE Made to Bear
Whole Burden.

Praising the Hoover plan for a one
year suspension of international war
debts as a means of benetiting the world
economically. Representative James M.
Beck. Republican, OF Pennsylvan to-
day predicted congressional approval of
amy reasonable agreement" for the
proposed moratorium, provided the
whole burden does not fall upon the
present generation of American tax
payers"
MIR Beck. a spokesman for the House
wet block, after protesting that we
have been slowly stranglng the pros
perity of America by excessive taxa
ton" declared taxpayers also are en-
titled to a moratorium in the payment
of the national debt.
Urges Wine and Beer.
The Pennsylvania further urged, as a
means of tightening the tax burden IN
this country the lega!izinS OF sale OF
such light wines and beers as are nos
normally Intoxicating IN fact. from
which. he asserted. The country could
raise by an excise tax at least $780,
600 900. a sum ne declared now largely
paid 10 bootleggarS
The administration would not sun er
BY making this small and reasonable
concession to the opponents OF natlonal
n ol1ibition." the Pennsylvania de-
clared for while it would not wholly
solve this great question IT. would miti-
gate the deep resentment which mil
lions of self-respecting Republicans.
men and women. feel in seeing the Re-
publican party committed to a policy
of fana teal prohibition.
Finds Issue Obscured.
while the anxieties of the present
depression have temporarily obscured
this vital issue. yet the administration
cannot ignore the undoubted fact that
millions of Republicans are not In sym
pathy with a policy which sacrifices
half a billion in revenue for the bene-
fit OF the bootlegger. produces wide
spread corruption and hypocrisy. and
condemns nearly a thousand Americans
a day to the ignominy OF a trial in
criminal court.
Mr. Beck said President Hocver's
timely and courageous action" in sug-
costing limited postponement OF debt
payments has regained for America the
moral leadership of the world, but that
to retain this leadership the remedial
effort must not stop there.
Il do not underestimate the immense
benefits Of Mr. Hoover's action" Mr..
Beck continued 1T is probable It saved
the German Republic, and this in itself
is Of incalculable service, for. in my
opinion. the peace OF the world de-
ponds upon the maintenance Of a
republican form of government in Ger
many.
Sees Early Ratification.
II am confident Congress will ratify
any reasonable agreement for the pro-
posed mora d ium provided the whole
burden CO.'S not fail upon the present
generation of American taxpayers.
kmerica must pay the bill and if 1t
mems an increase in taxes there prob
ably will b. considerable oppos ton in
Congress.
ii W suspend. during the period OF
ORE e9 =, tho payments 10 the sinking
fu~G. W. {. \ maze Up the l-ss which
W re 90 rously a uming ior n"
= cit G. y ro0e W. are far in al
awe @. Our sinking fund payments
END TIC present generation CT ta%-
ma - already has reduced out ma
tional dlot u nearly $4,000 600 900.
Mr. Beck said if the American theory
Of the World War was correct, tbs
country made the war sacrifices CT HE
ard treasure as much for the benefit Of
pos .e..ty as fer the present genera
Ito adding that Il have never under
stood the policy of making the thrift
Id a;~eat OF the present generation
paw it all"
Proposing the legalizing of wine and
beer as a means OF reccuping the loss
to American taxpayers from the war
debt moratorium, Mr.. Beck urged the
ceiling of a purely economic conference
of the foremost economists of the ma
tors Ct the world. to be held at the
time of the next conference on limita-
ton OF arms. but to be distinctly sep
ate from that conference. He pro-
posed such a conference to President
Hoover several weeks ago.