Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1921)
THE BEE: OMAHA. .WEDNESDAY. JULY 13, lyjl. President Asks Joint Session to Delay Bonus Bill Harding Says Passage of Meas . ure at This Time Would Imperil Financial Stability of U. S. (CenUnae4 From Fne On.) because national life was at stake. . In the sober aftermath we face the order of reason, rather than act amid the passions of war and our own land and the world are lacing prob lems never solved before. Must Reduce Taxes. There can be no solution unless , we face the grim truths and seek to solve them in resolute devotion to duty. After a survey ot more tnan four months contemplating condi tions which would stagger all of us were it not for our abiding faith in Amerca, I am fully persuaded that three things are essential to the very begnning of the restored order of thngs. These are the revision, in cluding reduction, of our internal taxation, the refunding of our war debt and the adjustment of our for eign loans. It is vitally necessary to settle these problems before adding to our treasury any such burden as is contemplated in the pending bill. It is unthinkable to expect a busi ness revival and the resumption of the normal ways of peace while maintaining the excessive taxes of war. It is quite as unthinkable to reduce our tax burdens while com mitting our' treasury to an addition al oblieation which ranges from $3,000,000,000 to $5,00,000,000. The precise figures no one can give. If it is conceivably true that only $200, 000,000 a year will be draws annually from the treasury in the few years immediately before us the bestowal is too inconsequential to be of real value to the nation's defenders; and, if the exercise of the option should call for cash running into billions, the depression in finance and indus try would be so marked that vastly more harm than good would attend. Must Pay Bills. Our government must undertake no obligation which it does not in tend to meet No government fiat will pay our bills. The exchanges of the world testify today to that er roneous theory. We may rely on the sacrifices of patriotism in war but today we face markets, and the effects of supply and demand, and . the inexorable laws of credits in time of peace. ' At the very moment we are ob liged to pay SH per cent interest for government short time loans to care for our floating indebtedness, a rate on government borrowing, in spite of tax exemption, which ought to prevail in private transactions for the normal interest charges in finan cing our industry and commerce. Definite obligations amounting to seven and a half billions in war sav ings certificates, Victory bonds and certificates covering floating t in debtedness are to mature in the two years immediately following and the overburdening of the, treasury now means positive disaster in tne years immediately before tis. Merest prudence calls out in warning. Our greatest necessity is a return to the normal ways of peace activities. A modest offering to the" millions of service men is a poor . palliative to more millona who may be out of employment' Stabilized finance and well established confidence are both essential .to restored industry and commerce. ; Aftermath of War. The slump which is now upon us is an inevitable part of war's after math. It haa followed in the wake of war since the world began. There was the unavoidable readjustment, the inevitable charge-off, the unfail ing attendance of losses in the wake of high prices, the inexorable defla tion which inflation had preceded. It has been wholly proper to seek .to - apply government relief to minimize the, hardships and the government had aided wherever possible and is aiding now, but all the special acts ever dreamed of, all the particular favors ever conceived will not avoid all the distresses nor ward' off all the losses. The proper mental 'state of our people will commit us resolutely and confidently to our tasks, and definite assurances as to taxation and expenditure will contribute to that helpful mental order. The only sure way to normalcy is over the paths nature has " marked throughout all human experience. ' With the approval of congress the executive branch of government has been driving toward that decreased expenditure which is $he most prac tical assurance of diminished taxa tion. With enthusiastic resolution vour administrative agents are mak ing not only conscientious effort to reduce the call for appropriations but to reduce the cost of government far below the appropriations you have already provided. It is easy to believe that the only way to diminish the burdens which the people must pay is to cut the outlay in which public moneys are expended. War is not wholly responsible for staggering costs; it has merely accentuated the menace which lies in mounting cost of government and excesses in ex penditure which a successful private business would not tolerate. Opposes Expenditures. I can make you no definite prom em in figures today, but I can pledge Jdu a most conscientious drive to reduce government cost by many millions. It would be most dis couraging to those who are bending their energies to save millions to have congress add billions to our burdens at the very beginning. Even were there not the threatened paralysis of our' treasury with its fatal reflexes on all our activities which concern our prosperity, would it not be better to await the settle ment of onr foreign loans? At such a time it would be a bestowal on the part of our government when it is able to bestow. The .United States participates in none of the distributable awards of war, but the world owes us heavily and will pay when restoration is wrought If the restoration fails world bankruptcy attends. I believe the world restoration is possible, but only with honest, diligent work in productivity on the one hand, and honest and diligent opposition to needless public expenditure on the other. Won't Neglect Obligations, If the suggested recommitment of this measure bore the merest sug sestion of neglect or a hint of na tional ingratitude I would not urge it It has been my privilege to speak to congress on our obligations to the disabled and dependent soldiers and the government's deeo desire to prove its concern for their welfare. I should be ashamed of the republic if it tailed in its amy to mem. Neither armistice nor permanent oeace nuts an end to the obligations of government to its defenders or the obligations of citizens to the govern ment Mindful of these things, the administrative branch of the govern ment has not only spoken, it has acted and has accomplished. In view of some of the things which have been said and very card lessly said, perhaps I ought to re port officially some of the things which have been done. In the Pe partment of War Risk Insurance there have been filed up to July 7, 1921, compensation and insurance claims numbering 813,442. Of these 747,786 have been adjusted at an ex penditure of $471,946,762. There were 200,000 claims pending when the War Risk department was re organized late in April this year, and the number of pending claims has been reduced by 134,344. All work in this department will be current by the 21st of this July, that is to say, all action which the bureau may take on a given case will be current, though new claims are being filed at the rate of 700 per day. ' 14.000 Await Action. There have been requested 887,614 medical examinations, and less than 14,000 await medical action. Up to July 7 there have been 26,237 dis abled soldiers hospitalized and in government controlled hospitals to day there are 6,000 available beds without occupants. You are already aware of the progress made toward the construction of additional gov ernment hospitals, not because we are not meeting all demands, but to better meet them and the better to specialize in the treatment of those who come under our care. There has been paid oat in allot ment and allowances the. sum ot $578,465,658, and nearly $4,000,000,- uuu ot government insurance is in force. , . , In vocational training and re habilitatton of disabled soldiers there have been enrolled to date 107,824 men. Today there are 75,812 men who are training with pay, at the maximum cost .'of $160 per month, 8.208 training without pay but at tuition and supply outlay of $35 per month. Four thousand ; disabled men have completed their training and have been returned to gainful employment These earned an average of $1,051 per year before entering' the army and are earning today tn spite of their war disability and in spite of diminished wage or salary levels, an average of $1,550 per annum. Face Huge Deficit It is an interesting revelation and a fine achievement attended by both abuses and triumphs. Congress has appropriated $65,000,000 for this noble work for the Current year, but the estimated acceptance of training for the year before us contemplates an average of 95,000 disabled men, and the cost will be in excess of $163,000,000. or nearly a hunderd millions more than congress has Asks Congress to Pause. provided. This additonal sum must be made available. With the in crease of availability to training, as recently urged uoon congress, the estimated additional expenditure will be $468,000,000 per annum, until the pledge of training is discharged. Ihese figures suggest neither neg lect nor ngratitudte. It is more than the entire annual cost of federal gov ernment for many years following the civil war, and challenges every charge of failure to deal considerate ly with our nation's defenders. I do pot recite the figures to suggest that it is all we may do or ultimately ought to do. It is inevitable that our obligations will grow and grow enormously. We never have . neg lected and never will neglect the dependent soldier and . there is no way to avoid imes remorseless classifications. Contemplating the tremendous liability, wheh the government will! duty if I failed to ask congress to pause at this particular time, rather than break down our treasury from which so much is later on to be ex pected. The defenders of the re public amid the perils of war would be the last of our citizenship to wish its stability menaced by an individual pittance of peace. I know the feelings of my own breast, and that of yours and the grateful people of this republic But no thoughtful person, possessed with all the facts, is ready for added com pensation for the healthful, self reliant masses of our great armies at the cost of a treasury breakdown which will bring its hardships to all the citizens of the republic. Its en actment now in all probability would so add to our interest rates that the added interest charge on new and refunded indebtedness may alone exceed the sum it is proposed to be stow. Urges Tax Reduction. When congress is called in extraor dinary session I called your atten tion to the urgent measures which I thought demanded your considera tion. You promptly provided the emergency tariff, and good progress lias been made toward the much needed and more deliberate revision of our tariff schedules. There is confessed disappointment that so little progress has been made in the readjustment and reduction of the war time taxes, I believe you share with me the earnest wish for early accomplishment. It is not expected that congress will sit and ignore other problems of legislation. There are often urgent problems which must enlist your attention. I have not come to speak of them, though the re-organ-iration of the war risk and voca tional training now pending, would hasten the efficient discharge of our willing obligations to the disabled soldiers. But I want to emphasize the sug gestion that the accomplishment of the major tasks for which you were asked to sit in extraordinary session will have a reassuring effect on the entire country and speed our , re sumption of normal activities and their rewards which tend to make a Fred Beauvais to Seek Damages of Persecutors never shirk, I would be remiss in my prosperous and happy people. Guide Mentioned in Stillman Divorce Action Retains Lawyers to Bring Suit for $500,000. Montreal, July 12. Fred Beau vais is a? last to come on his perse cutors. His lawyers declared today that he would take legal action for $500,000 against one of the principal figures in the case, who is under stood to be Stillman. Beauvais is also bitter against a Buffalo medical man who gave evi dence which was considered a breach of medical etiquette and which brought into the glare of publicity Mrs. Millman s supposed hysterical confession. Beauvais, who is now in business for himself, has retained two well known Montreal lawyers, Sallusta Lavery and Maurice Demers, to whom he has given a "watching brief" to oversee every development of the famous divorce case and look after his interests. The lawyers are at present weigh ing the advisability of taking action against the long list of persons whose evidence or activities has been considered detrimental to Beauvais and these may include newspapers, j as tne guide oecame very embittered against certain journals which per sisted in referring to him as an In dian. The action will probably be taken in New York against Stillman, al though it would stand if made be' fore a Canadian tribunal. The Mon treat .lawyers declare that it will hasten a decision if the proceedings are taken before an American court One, and perhaps both, of Beauvais' new legal advisers will attend the reopening of the Stillman divorce case, which now stands adjourned till next September, when it will be resumed in New York. Farmers Say They Could Be Aided by Lower Freight Rate Chicago, July 12. Answers to the question as to what is wrong with agriculture which were asked farm ers from 1,600 counties in 47 states by the American Farm Bureau fed eration to ascertain the opinions of the farmers themselves, began com ing in to headquarters of the federa tion here today. The answers indi cated that the farmers agree that conditions could be greatly im proved by lowering freight rates, levying tariffs, on foreign products and marketing farm products cooperatively. Supreme Council To Meet in Paris Upper Silesian Question Will Be Uppermost in Dis cussion Paris, July 12.-(By The As sociated Press.) The allied supreme council probably will meet toward the end of this month, either in Boulogue or in Paris, it was an nounced today by the French foreign office. The upper Silesian question will be uppermost in the discussions and it is expected Great Britain may bring up the question of the evacua tion of Duesseldorf, Duisbcrg and Ruhrort as a recognition of the dis position of the present German government to carry out the terms of the Versailles treaty. The inter-allied Silesian commis sion has presented a new report to the council to the effect that if i impossible to settle the question on the spot lhe council may take the matter and either settle it at the forthcom ing session or refer it to a new mis sion of experts as was proposed by Premier Briand a few weeks ago. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the fa mous suffrage leader, is the only wo man who has received an honorary degree from the University of Wyoming. Hi Victrola No. 50 as it appears when jL T&j i being carried. The winding-key is removed , fft 1 if and fastened Iniide the lid. Thesound-boa; III 1 fA wigE' um X 17 " is also securely fastened. i Victrola No. 50 Q 1 SMll $45 ' - J A new Mctrola that you can easily take anywhere An exceptionally convenient port able talHng-machine that is a real musical instrument. It has the patented Victrola features and is Victor quality through and through Just the instrument to take along on picnics, camping trips, on your boat, to your bungalow anywhere in the great outdoors As easy to carry as a travel ing hag, and while small and compact it plays any music in the Victor Record catalog See and hear this new Victrola today at any Victor dealer's , i 'HIS MASTERS VOICE HEG.US.MT.OrP t This trademark and the trademarked word" Victrola" Identify all our produce Look under the lid I LookonthelabeU VICTOR TALKING MACHINE OX Camden, N. J. Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N.J. July Sales for Wednesday Children's Socks 85c a pair Half socks in a variety of styles in plain shades or with fancy top, specially priced in July sale, 85c. Dresses in larger sizes have graceful lines Bungalow Aprons $1.50 and $2 Gingham and percale aprons, light or dark colors, in sizes 36 to 42, are most attractive for $1.50. Dark blue percale bunga- low aprons with kimono sleeves, sizes 48 to 50, I Wednesday for $2. j Sun bonnets in light or dark colors, selling Wednesday for 65c. Second Floor Straight tunics, vests to the waistline and a wise restraint in trimmings give youthful slenderness to the wash dresses in sizes 38i2 to 46i2. To be had in various blues and browns and in black; in voile with a small design and in dotted Swiss or plain voile for $25 and $29.50 j Reductions on Sorosis Slippers Two-strap pumps of soft vici kid in brown or black have the fashion able baby French heel" $8.85 a pair Street pumps of black or brown kid are a two strap style with military heels $7.85 a pair Sport oxfords of white Nile cloth and brown leather military heels $6.95 a pair An assortment of white Nile cloth pumps in broken sizes will be dis posed of for $4.65 a pair Silk Sale Wednesday All Silk Radium, $2 a yard Designed for lingerie, but offered in navy and black as well as in flesh and white ; it washes well and is forty inches wide. Crepe de Chine for only $1.95 ' In all colors, forty inches wide. Tricolette for $1.50 a yard All colors and black, 36 inches wide. Satin Duchess, $2.49 a yard A beautiful, lustrous silk for more for mal dresses; it will not wear rough and is offered in navy, brown and black, 36 inches wide, for $2.49 a yard. Crepe Pebblette for $3.65 a yard Similar to Canton crepe, but designed for more formal wear. In navy, brown, and black; forty inches wide, Wednes day, $3.65. Crepe Jersey, Wednesday, $3.25 Lustrous and cool and offered in light gray, cope, navy, brown and black, forty inches wide. White Canton Crepe only $3.95 Very heavy crepe, 40-inch. White. Pongee, $2.50 a yard Washable pongee for suits, sport dresses and men's shirts, forty-three inches wide, $2.50. Commercial Accounts HHHE life blood of any - business is tested by the efficiency of the organiza tion. We request the test. United States National Bank N. W. Corner 16th and Faraam St. The Baric i Personal Attention.
