Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1917-06-28

wv UNVSoSsso WV
the Outset Of War Are Disadvantage
ous-Great Britain Example Worthy
Of Emulation-How the Taxes Should
Be Apportiened.
BY EDWIN r. A. SELlGMAN,
Mevickar Professor of Political Econ
omy. Columbia University.
On May %. 1917. the House Of Rep
resentatives passed an act Ito provide
to defray war expenses and
for other purposes" In the oriGinAl
bill as presented by the Committee OF
Ways and Means. the additional reve'
nue. to be derived was estimated ut ST.
SlO,42O,OOO. The amendment to the in
come tax. which was tackled on to the
bill during the discussion in the House,
was expected TO yield another $4,000.
600 or $50.OO0.O0O.
In discussing the House bill. two
problems arise:
/. How much should be raised by
taxation?
II. In what manner should this sum
be raised?
I. How Much Should Be Raised by
Taxation7
How was the figure Of Sl.S00,000.0O0
arrived at! The answer is simple. When
the Secretary Of the Treasury came to
estimate the additional war expenses
for the year 1917.1S, he calculated that
they would amount to some $1,000.
100000, of which S3,OoO.O0O,0O was to
be allotted to the allies. and $1,000.
10000 was to he utilized for the do
nestle purposes. Thinking that /,
would be a fair proposition to divide
this latter sum between loans and
taxes. he concluded that the amount
to be raised by taxes was S1.SOO,OO0,'
900.
There are two extreme theories, each
of which may be dismissed with scani
courtesy. The one is that all war ex'
penditures should be betrayed by loans
and the other is that all war eXpendi.
lures should be betrayed by taxes
Each theory is untenable.
1t is indeed true that the burdens of
the war should be borne by the pres.
ent rather than the future generation;
but this does not mean that they should
be borne by this years taxation.
Meeting ail wal expenses by taxation
makes the taxpayers in one or two
years bear the burden of benefits that
ought to be distributed at least Ore n
decade within the same generation.
In the second place, when expendi.
lures approach the gigantic sums Of
present-day warfare, the tax-only pol.
icy would require more than the total
surplus of social income. Were this
absolutely necessary. the ensuing hav.
&C in the economic life Of the communi-
ty would have to he endured. But
where the disasters are so great and
at the same time 80 unnecessary, the
tax-only policy may he declared i'm
practicable.
Secretary McAdoo had the right in
stinct and highly commendable cour-
age in deciding that a substantial por,
ton, ut least, Of the revenues should
be derived from taxation. But when
he hit upon the plan Of $3.50 per cent.
that is. Of raising one-half Of all do
nestle war expenditures by taxes, the
question arises whether he did not go
too far.
The relative proportion Of loans to
taxes is after all a purely business
proposition. Not to rely to a large ex-
tent on loans at the outset Of q war is
q mistake.
Disadvantages Of Excessive Taxes.
The disadvantages of excessive taxes
at the outset Of the war are as follows:
1. Excessive taxes on consumption
will cause popular resentment.
2. Excessive taxes on industry will
disarrange business, damp enthusiasm
and restrict the spirit Of enterprise at
the very time when the opposite Is
needed.
3. Excessive taxes on incomes will de-
plete the surplus available for invest
ments and interfere with the placing Of
the m loans which will he neces-
in any event.
4. Excessive taxes on wealth will
sause u serious diminution Of the in.
comes which are at present largely
upon for the suppsrt of educa.
tional and philanthropic enterprises.
Moreover, these sources Of support
would be dried up precisely at the time
when the need would be greatest.
S. Excessive taxation at the outset Of
The war will reduce the elasticity avail.
able for the increasing demands that
are soo to come.
Great sritain's Policy.
Take Great Britain as an example.
the first year OF the war she
Increased taxes only slightly, In order
to keep Industries going at top notch.
the second year she raised by
taxes only o per cent. Of her war
expenditures. During the third year
she levied by additional taxes (over
and above the pre-war leveD only
more than II per cent. Of her
war expenses.
II we should attempt to do as much
In the first year OF the war rs Creai
Britain did III the third year It Womb
suffice to raise by taxation $4,000,
100. II, In order to be absolutely OH
The safe side. 1t seemed advisable to
Increase the sum to 1900. 900. 900, this
in Our opinion, be the maxi
mum.
IN considering the appcrtionmcnt OF
ne extraordinary burden Of taxes In
var times certain scientific principles
re definitely established: