The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-17
KANSAS cOMMENT
TAXING THE r IL.

TAXING THE 3. & l..
Mutual building and loan associa-
tons, conducted by men of well known
honesty, at a mini~---r,1 of expense, are
universally regarded as powerful
agency for good among the people Of
the country; an agency comparable IN
some respects to the savings banks, but
ming Inc capacity, if properly con-
quoted, of trustees guardians and
business managers of the small savings
OF people who have not the time or the
talent to attend to the investment of
their own money
Inc local building and loan associa-
tons, of which so many exist in kan
sas ana other states, do their business
with the poorer classes of people. Rich
men VINO have thousands of dollars to
invest, can make more money by in
yestlng the money themselves aud
looking after it. The men whose saw
lngs amount to only a few hundred
dollars can not select wise investments.
He must let some one who understands
the game do it for him, and this is
where the building and loan associa-
ton becomes the friend of the poor
man.
If there is any class of business en-
terprise which should be given the
benefit of low taxation, it is the build
ing and loan associations. They are
essentially the friends of the poor.
However, as we understand this new
corporation tax law, the building AMI
loan associations will have to con-
tribute their portion of the corporation
tax. provided their earnings amount to
$4,000 a year or over. There are many
building and loan associations which
earn more than $1,000 a year, bur this
earning is all divided among the poor
investors who are trying to lay by 4
Little money for a rainy day i is not
fair that building and loan associations
should be required to contribute to
corporation taxi wheu such tax is
intended-theoretica at least,-to he
tax on excessive accommodations of
wealth.-Salina Journal
A BOUNTY TO GOOD CITIZENS.
Nicholas Murray Butler recently
said: Let us put a bounty on good
citizenship by giving it great influence;
by rendering it high honor, and by hold
ing it in incompatible esteem
The idea is an excellent one, but did
you ever know a useful citizen who
was picked" at a good deal by his
fellow citizens? Every useful citizen
is less useful because of criticism that
is untrue and unfair. The favorite
crime in every American town is to at
tack citizens who are prominent and
useful, ana these attacks continue for
years. In Dayton. Ohio, lately, a GER
tain citizen built model factory, en-
ployfng upwards of 1000 workmen. His
pIOuuCl went all over the world, ana
made Dayton famous. The manufac-
turer was not only a useful citizen, but
he was good man; there was nothing
against him except that some men who
hadn't much sense themselves, thought
him little eccentric A Dayton news
paper attacked this man, and abused
him outrageouslv for years. in almost
every issue. The prominent citizen
was becoming old. and this persecution
without cause drove him nearly crazy,
and very naturally. The citizens of
Dayton did not resent the unfair news
paper attacks on a good and useful cit
izen; they, too, were jealous of the
man, and enjoyed the newspaper at
tacks. The man finally moved away
in order to secure immunity from at
tacks that were so unfair and untrue
that the citizens of Dayton should have
demanded that they cease instead of
encouraging them.
The only bounty paid in this coun-
try is to politicians who stir up I'M
necessary strife with foolish reform
talk, and increased taxes.-Atchison
Globe.