The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-06-22

! 49,
war times certain scientific principles
are definitely established:
How Taxes Should 30 Apporticnsd.
a. The burden of taxes must be
spread as FAY as possible over the
whole community 50 as to cause each
individual to share III the sacrifices ac-
cording to his ability to pay and &C
cording to his share In the Government.
20 Taxes on consumption, which are
necessarily borne BY the community at
large should be imposed as far as pos
sible on articles OF quasi-luxury rather
than ON those of necessity.
(3) Excuses should be imposed as far
as possible upon commodities in the
hands Of the final consumer rather
than upon the articles which serve pri-
marily as raw material for further
production.
t4) Taxes upon business should be
imposed as far as possible upon net
earnings rather than upon gross re-
ceipts or capital invested.
90 Taxes upon income which win
necessarily be severe should be both
differentiated and graduated. That Ia,
there should be distinction between
earned and nnearned incomes and there
should be higher rate upon the larger
incomes. II Is essential, however, not
to make the income rate SO excessive
as to lead to evasion, administrative
difficulties, or to the more fundamental
objections which have been urged
above.
90 The excess profits which are due
to the war constitute the most Obvious
and reasonable source of revenue DUR
ing war times But the principle upon
which these war-profit taxes are laid
must be equitable in theory and easily
calculable In practice.
Tho Proposed Income Tax.
The additional income tax as passed
by the House runs up to rate Of 90
per cent. This is sum unheard OF In
the history OF civilized society. 1t must
be remembered that it was only after
the first year OF the war thar. Great
Britain increased her income tax to the
maximum OF "a per cent, and that
even now In the fourth year of the war
the income tax does not exceed 421a
per cent.
with rates on moderate incomes sub
less than In Great Britain,
and on the larger incomes about as
high, would yield only slightly less than
The $532, 100000 originally estimated in
he House bill.
1t IL to be hoped that the Senate VIII
reduce the total rate ON the highest In
comes to 81 per cent, or at most to 40
per cent, and that at the same time 1t
win reduce the rate on the smaller In
comes derived from personal or profess
sional earnings.
u the war continues we shall have 70
depend more and more upon the In
come tax. BY imposing excessive rates
now we are not only endaneerina the
future, but are inviting all manner Of
difficulties which even Great Britain
haa been able to escape.
Conclusion.
The House bill contains other funda-
mental defects which may be summed
up as follows:
~ 1t pursues an erroneous principle
in imposing retroactive taxes.
CD 1t selects an unjust and unwork-
able criterion for the excess-prof1ts tax
(3) 1t proceeds to an unheard-of
height In the income tax.
(4) II imposes unwarranted burdens
upon the consumption of the commu-
nifty,
(5) II is calculated to throw business
into confusion by levying taxes on gross
receipts Instead OF upon commodities.
90 1t fails to make a proper use of
stamp taxes.
% II follows an unscientific system
in Its fiat rate on imports.
81 1t includes a multiplicity Of pet
ty and unlucratlve taxes, the vexatious-
ness Of which is out of all proportion to
the revenue they produce.
The fundamental lines on which the
House bill should be modified are sum-
med up herewith;
"a The amount Of new taxation
should be limited to $3.50 900, 00O--or
at the outset to S1,500,O00,0 To do
more than this would be as unwise as
1t is unnecessary. To do even this
would be to do more than has ever
been done by any civilized Govern
ment In time of stress.
I t2) The excess-profits tax based upon
a sound system ought to yield about
S500,000Oo0.
CD The income-tax schedule ought to
be revised with lowering Of the rates
on earned incomes below $4,000, and
with an analogous lowering of the
rates on the higher incomes, so as not
to exceed 81 per cent A careful cal
shows that an income tax of
this kind would yield some $4500o0,-
900 additional.
az The tax on whisky and tobacco
ought to remain approximately as 1t Is,
with a yield OF about $3.50, 000. 600