Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-22
WEALTHY TO PAY
WARS EXPENSE
PLANS LAID TO coNscRIPr ALL
INCOMES OVER $4,000
PER YEAR.
RICH MUST SHARE
BURDENS WITH LABOR
Large Part Of Proposed conscription
Fund to Be Used in Support Of
Families of Men Who Volunteer or
Are Drafted Into Service-lncomss
Of Corporations May Be conseriptsd.

Washington, March 22.-The admin
istration has under consideration plans
for a new revenue act conscripting all
personal incomes in excess Of 500, 900
Germany.
1t is estimated that such a law com.
bined with the increased supertax on
other large incomes would produce be-
tween $4,000, 900, 900 and SO, 900, 900, 900 a
year, which the administration believes
would be adequate for the necessities
of this country.
The plan, in addition to c~onflscating
the excess of incomes over 800, 900,
calls for drastic increases In the tax
rates on incomes under that amount,
ranging from 5 per q on the smaller
ones TO 30 per cent on the larger ones
between $50. 900 and 800, 900 a year, and
heavy X on corporation incomes.
Wealth Serves With Labor.
The purpose of such a law. 1t is
stated, is to have wealth year it's share
of the war burden along with labor.
The advantages of the law. in the
opinion of its sponsors, would be many
fold. In the first place. 1t would kill
the cry hat war was being waged in
the interest of the immensely rich. for
it would wipe out the profits heretofore
derived from war. In the second place.
1t would reduce the bonded debt placed
on future generations.
In the third place. such a law would
compel thc men who do not give mill
tary service for their country to pay
for the service of others in proportion
10 their ability to do so. Only the in
digent and III poor would escape from
supporting the government. either
financially or personally, during the
war.
Aid to Soldiers Kin.
One feature of the plan is to devote
a large part Of the proceeds of the
c~onfiscated incomes to the support OF
the families of men who volunteer or
are drafted to serve In the army and
navy,
The confisca.ory income tax law
would not be a tax on capital, but a
tax OH income only. Capital would be
left intact and after the a ends the
ONIlScdlOIy I6tcs Ou AhSoiAe WouaA NC
removed. The sponsors of the plan In
sist that the government should not
do anything to interfere, with existing
capital where 1t is properly employed.
but they contend that the government
has every right and the power to con-
fscate the incomes Of persons above
that point where their actual living
necessities are cared for.
Bar on Excess Profits.
In addition to conscripting individual
incomes above 800, 900 and Increasing
the tax on incomes less than 500, 900,
the proponents of the plan would con-
script the incomes OF corporations in
excess OF some margin of profit, say 6
or s per cent.
The present revenue law levies a tax
of s per cent on all profits in excess
of s per cent on the capital OF cor
porations.
1t is estimated that with the present
supertax OF only 10 per cent on large
between 5000. 900. 900 and
5000, 900, 900 will be realized this year.
The returns for 1915 show more than
$500 persons with incomes in excess
of 5000 0 a year and close to $50 OF
these with Incomes in excess OF $1,000
900. In addition, between 800, 1000 y
400 900 persons pay a tax on incomes
ranging from $4,000 to $1,000