Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-25
War Revenue Bill,s Reform


IN the Senate. we arc told the war revenue
bill which passed the House on Wednesday
will be subjected to such sweeping altera-
tions that the fathers Of the measure will
not know their own offspring. That may
not be the best policy. The bill has many
and obvious defects, and these should be
cured, but cut-and-slash, hit-or-miss, rule
or-ruin program. pursued by the Senate. will
serve merely to exchange one set Of iniqui-
ties and stupidiies for another. Reform.
not humiliation. is what the case demands.
Fundamentally, the bill is sound. While
the tax burdens 1t imposes will be felt by
every person in the country, the chief pur-
pose has been to collect that share OF the
expenses OF the war to be raised by taxation
from those in best position to make the
sacrifice There should be no objection 10
this purpose, for II is both Just and wise.
Already the poor man pays heavily, in in
creased cost OF living. and as the war con-
tinues he will pay yet more heavily. Stamp
taxes on many OF the common necessities of
life. imposed by the war revenue bill as 1t
now stands. will make further inroads on
his earnings. He will contribute 95 per cent
or more OF his countrys defenders. He will
struggle necessarily, while the war lasts and
longer. with the problem Of comfortable
existence for his family and himself
There is Ito danger that he will not pay
enough On the other hand, there is no
danger that the rich man will not pay
enough. The surfaces on incomes will take
care OF that, even ii the Senate should re-
duce them The true test In every case Is
the good of the nation. its success in war
and its happiness and continued prosperity
In peace. Wealth should do what Is neces-
sary and what is wise for the government
to permit 1t to do. We all talk glibly of
1.-The CONSUMPTION Of money" and the phrase
Is not Objectionable. Neither Ia the principle
which 1t embodies but wisdom or folly is
shown in that principles application.
We are conscrpting life. but not all life
The Congress has fixed the ages between
which men shall be liable for military SER
vice and provided for a great number of
exemptions, based for the most part OH ex-
pediency. The army will take those men
whom 1t can best use. and release for service
elsewhere those who have q larger utility
as civilians than as soldiers. Exactly the
same rule should obtain in conscripting
money. If the nation Is better served by re-
leasing share of the rich mans income to
the extension OF industry and the support of
business than it would be by taking this
share for itself, there can be no question
which is the correct course.
So with corporations. Newspapers for
example, may he burdened as the bill at
present provides. with tremendously in
creased mall rates. so that many of them
will be forced ont of existence. We doubt.
even from the standpoint OF the nations
fighting efficiency, If this can be deemed
wise. Had the House retained It's provisions
for 10 per cent tax on print paper and
wood pulp and per cent tax on adyertis-
ing revenues. and had the Senate approved
these imposts, few newspapers in the coun-
try would have been able to pay expenses
Ihere is no wisdom In such oppression
Taxation can kill the goose which laws the
golden egg-and has been known TO do It,
Newspapers, already tremendously burdened
by the increased cost Of almost every article
which enters into their production. will he
taxed as are other corporations To nick
them out for special and especially In urIous
treatment may help Congress TO wreak re-
Tenge on its critics. but certainly will not
help America to win the war
The newspapers situation under the mend
ing bill is matched by other iniustices TO
other institutions and individuals The re-
troactiVe income tax is particularly unfair.
The application OF blanket 10 per cent
tariff TO nearly every article on the free LIST
and the blanket increase OF 10 per cent i'm
tariff rates are highly unwlse Some OF the
great surfaces which are imposed will drive
capital out Of productive Investment and
into the purchase Of tax-exempt Liberty loap
bonds. These surtaxes are likely to provo
a serious blow both to revenue and To in
dustral expansion.
The Senate must-and. OF course will
consider all these matters carefully. AS its
revenue legislation usually is decided i'm
provement on that OF the House, the country
is entitled to look for measure moro ar
curately designed to meet the count,y's need
Buying Liberty bonds Is putting nm :,
peace bond for posterity