New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-03
War Profits Tax
Urged by Rogers
Head of Publishers Asso-
citation Opposes Burden
on Ordinary Business

Hopewell l.. Rogers, OF Chicago,
president Of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association, yesterday is
sued the following statement on be-
half of that associations:
zone of the first lessons learned
by England at the beginning OF the
present war was the necessity Of the
conduct of business in as near the
usual and regular manner as possible,
and it took special pains to warn all
its colonies on this point.
"Under ordinary legislative condi-
tions business adjusts itself TO the
laws or rules laid down in regular
and orderly manner, and the prices OF
goods manufactured are fixed in rela-
ton to the laws passed.
"The fixing Of taxes, however, af-
fects business more seriously than any
other form of legislation, and in any
attempt TO raise unusual or excessive
amounts of money for any special pur-
poses as the carrying on OF war, the
legislators should use every care 70
see that there is as little disturbance
TO business as poSsioIe'
War to Benefit Posterity
"In the serious task Congress has
before il in its effort to raise money
for the proper conduct of this war,
greater Judgment is necessary than
ever before in the financial history Of
this country. :,
"The war is being conducted for the
benefit of posterity, and the entire
burden should not be put upon the
present generation. Especially the
government should not attempt to
have too much of the burden carried
by the people within the next two or
three years.
"If Congress had adjusted its taxes
Immediately upon learning that addi-
tional revenue was necessary and had
apportioned one-tenth or one-twentieth
of the total amount TO be raised each
wear and had Immediately started TO
tax the people for the current year,
business would have been fairly well
adjusted to the new conditions by the
time.
"But they make the mistake Of drag
cling the matter out until second call
for money is made, and then give the
public a greater shock in an effort to
adjust themselves to much larger
change in the method of doing bust
ness 20 meet the much greater increase
in the initial change in taxes.
"Thus do they keep the business in
terests of the country in doubt as TO
how much they ultimately will have
TO pay, and cause them to add excessive
profits in order to protect themselves
IL.
Congress must really endeavor to
make as little change as possible In the
conduct of business, and war profits
must bear the greater portions OF this
burden.
THE Chamber Of Commerce Of the
United States has gone into this ques-
ton very thoroughly and has sug-
gested a reasonable and practicable
form Of taxation which would remove
the necessity of taxation OF any spe-
cial industry, and at the same time
would place the greater burden on
those many businesses which are MAX
ing special profits due TO war condi-
tons.
Congress seems unwilling to con-
slider this fair method of taxing, but Is
apparently endeavoring to tax in
hand-to- fashion by putting a
special fixed tax on munition and GER
tain other businesses in addition to
other taxes on profits, making more or
less of a muddle of the whole matter.
Newspaper Business Effected
This muddled condition possibly ap-
plies more particularly to the news
paper business than TO any other line.
IL is not necessary to say that the
newspapers are willing and glad to
stand their full share of this burden.
Blu. the business has been particularly
had for the last year or two, and the
haphazard method of Congress seems
to be an endeavor to punish them, or
the public through them, with several
special discriminatory taxes In spite
of. or in addition to, this otherwise I'M
favorable condition.
"a prompt and proper excess profits
tax would do much TO adjust business
conditions"