Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-07
The Revenue Bill

a an extraordinary situation confronts
a the country, extraordinary means must
be adopted to meet 1t. With a united de-
mand from the people for adequate national
defense Congress is faced by the necessity
for vast expenditure Of money, and is
charged with the duty of legislation that will
increase the national revenue. This in
crease, it is expected, the revenue bill now
pending will provide.
In a word, the general purpose of the bill
is 10 tax wealth No effort is made to in
crease the burden already borne by the poor,
and even the merely comfortable are, to a
large extent. exempted from the increase
giving clauses of the bill. AS to this last
named class, there is already more than
little dissatisfaction, even from some loyal
supporters OF the administration.
This dissatisfaction is caused by the fact
that the revenue bill still excerpts from the
imposition Of an income tax all single men
whose incomes are not moro than $1,000 and
all married men whose incomes do not ex-
coed $4,000. Those opposed to the retention
OF these exemptions contend not only that the
revenue OF the country would be vastly in
creased by making the excepted incomes rea-
sonably smaller but that it is part Of the
duty OF citizenship to help meet the emer-
gency that exists where this duty would not
fall with undue weight. They would have
The exemption extend only to incomes of, say,
$500 to $4,000. in the case of single men,
and $4,000 to $4,000. in the case of mar
ried men.
Except account OF the class division,
however. there is little ground for criticism
OF the Dill. The rate on incomes in excess
of the exempted figures, which is now l per
cent. is doubled under the provisions recon-
mended by the Ways and Means Committee
In ricw of the necessities OF the country that
Is not an undue increase. Nor is the add-
uonal "supertaX' or "surtaX," which begins
with incomes of $50. 600 and increases at the
rate OF l per cent on each classification until
a maximum OF | per cent is reachui on in
comes in excess OF $500, 900.
In order still further to tax that which can
best bear ii. the bill makes provision for a
tax on inheritances. Here. too, the rates
are moderate beginning with a l per cent
rate ON estates OF $4,000 or under and at
tanning maximum OF per cent on estates
OF S450.000 and over. Complicated but
carefully drawn, clauses seek 10 avoid conflict
with State nheriance-tax laws already exis-
tent. Reference to the estate left by Hettv
Green is sufficient 10 Justify the imposition
of this species of tax
y special tax on war munitions carefully
graded III accordance with certain excessive
net profits hardly needs more than mention
It's justice and fairness, under the particular
circumstances, speak both for the ingenuity
and the fairness OF the committee that do
vised IL Repeal OF the stamp tax on tele-
grams telephone calls and similar subjects
SUI inrther diverts the burden from those
who feel 1T most.
Recommendation Of tariff commission
and reasonable protection for the dvastur
industry will further commend the bil as
whole TO the country Unless the thought
OF the peoplc-even those who would suifer
from an amendment-wins its way 10 Con-
gress and works a modification OF the class
excepted from an income tax the bin will
meet me needs of the time and viii be an
proved by me sreat majority. And it is this
majority II Is designed primarily to protect
not the few on whom IL will make most
demand