The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-29
From Other
Editorial Pages
AFTER THE TAN.DODGERs.

II. smith lArkJ Southwest American
News that the United States treasury
IN compiling n great "Doomsday Book.
listing the sources and amount OF the
income OF everybody who ought 20 pay
income taxes. comes as "a partial an
swer to the campaign waged BY the
Southwest American 10 stop income tar
dodging
Eighteen months ago We said: Here
N what the secretary OF the treasury
must do In order 10 carry out his prom
ise to stop income tax frauds:
First. he must card idnex all In
formation contained In the list OF stock
holders and bondholders. in the public
records OF leases. mortgages. real estate
transactions. stockbrokers' offices
banks and trust companies. as well a.
the thousand and one hints which ap'
pear In the papers indicative OF those
who are living like income tax
payers
Another suggestion printed at the
same time has also been carried out. al
least In part. That is the institution OF
drag.net Investigations In selected dis
tricts. In the single district for which
the results OF the drag.net are avail
the results OF the drag-net were dis
Americans assertions regarding the ex
tent OF income tax frauds and evasions
The most important recommends
tion which we made. however. pub
licity OF income tax returns-has not
yet been adopted. although II Is report
ed to be rapidly gaining supporters In
Washington. Income tax publicity has
two principal objects. First, TO expose
the tax-dodgers TO the full light or day
and thus check frauds and evasions
second. To- insure every taxpayer that
the returns and assessments are being
made fairly and without favoritism
which is impossible as long az the re
turns are kept secret.
Now that we are at war. all the argu
ments for publicity of tax returns are
strengthened tenfold. Uncle Sam not
only needs every dollar OF revenue that
would result from stopping income tax
frauds, but every citizen has right
and a constantly increasing desire 10
see that the assessments and collec'
tions are equitably made and that every
citizen is bearing his fair share OF the
great war burdens.
During the Civil War income tax re-
turns had to be made public to check
frauds as widespread. If not as enor'
nous. as those which now exist. The
New York World for January 16, 1865
said: 1--WE presume the reason why
the internal revenue department wishes
this publication Is to insure correct re-
turn of incomes next year IL Is De
lieved that a vast proportion OF the re
turns for 1868 are fraudulent and that
the government is cheated out OF al
least half the revenue TO which II Is
entitled under the law. The tempta
ton 10 underrate incomes is, OF course
very great and publicity is the most
effectual correction for this disposition
on the part of dishonest taxpayers.
Horace Greely, in the Tribune of Jan
uary 26. 1865, wrote: we learn tha'
the publishing of the lists of income
taxpayers is likely to prove beneficial
10 the revenue as well as To the con
science of some of our best citizens.
Already. we understand. considerable
sums have been returned to the as
SCISSORS by persons who have discovered
errors in their original returns OF IN
comes since the publication of the lists
and assessors have received valuable in
formation in reference to the incomes
of certain gentlemen who should. but
have not amended their incomes"
Is there any good reason why pun
licity of incomes, which worked fol
good during the Civil War. should not
be adopted now?
Don't ride for pleasure" urge the
railroad chiefs Let us add our warn
ing. ANYBODY who rides on an Amerl
can railroad train in winter for pleasure
is certain to be disappointed.