Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-12-29
HANNA WORKING FOE BENEFIT
OF SMALL CONCERNs-WOULD
HAVE TAX LAW AMENDED.

washington, Dec. 26.-Rep. Il. Is.
Hanna is very hopeful that congress
will at this session pass bill recently
introduced by him defining the words
"refuse" and "neglect" in the cor
poration tax law as applied to corpor-
atoms whose net earnings amount to
less than $4,000. Some of the very
small corporations, whose business
probably does not amount to anything
like 5000 net per annum, have been
slow about making returns to the COM
missioner Of internal revenue. The law
requires that they file their af6davits
within specified time in order to
avoid the payment of the corporation
tax. For failure to make returns these
corporations can be fined $1,000, which
would put most Of them out of bust
ness.
The purpose of MIR. Hanna is to
have the law draw a distinction be.
tween corporations which inadvertent-
ly fail to make returns at the prop
er time and those whose officers DELHI
erately refuse or knowingly neglect to
do so. The fact that corporation
does small volume is no excuse for
failure to make proper returns, accom-
modated BY affdavits. Where the Of
Tense is unintentional, however, the
North Dakota representative feels that
the commissioner of internal revenue
should have the power to exercise his
discretion and not be bound by rigid
legal rule which compels him to fix Sc
we're penalty, amounting to many times
the tax exacted of much moro preten-
tious concerns.
On general principles, Mr.. Hanna
thinks the law should be more flexible
ON this point. His bill is designed to
benefit small creameries, cooperative
stores and other similar corporations
scattered throughout the northwest
and the country generally.
Senator Gronna is taking a keen in
terest in the movement to have the
corporation tax law so amended rs to
permit all corporations to make returns
for their own current fiscal years, IN
stead of requiring them, as at pres
ent to make returns for the preceding
year on January l.
"rhere is great need for such an
amendment" said Senator Gronna to
a newspaper correspondent. "Many
corporations which are paying the tax
are complaining that it is very incon-
venient for them to make returns on
January !, when the years. business
closes months before I am convinced
that it would entail little hardship
upon the office Of the commissions,
of internal revenue if corporations
We're permitted to file returns for thei,
own business year instead of the cal
endar year.
Commissioner Cabell has practical
change be made in the law I have
had several talks with him on the
subject. For example, the -four mil
lers close their fiscal year about Aug
ust ]. The grain companies close theii
books month earlier. Northern
lumber mills close down for the veal
at one time, while those who operate
in the south run all winter Practical
ly all of the great industries close theil
years books at the time most con
venient to them and without REGARD
to any other industry.
"Of course, it would mean a lo
moro work for the office force and az
ents Of Commissioner Cabell if thu
desired, change were made. It like
wise would mean great deal to cor
porations in general and do much t.
popularize the law.
II Miaa 81. Smith left for st. Vincent