Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-16
PREDICTS GROWTH
OF NON PARTISAN
FARMERS LEAGUE
Continued Prom Page L.

ed a new argument for the CONSUMPTION
OF wealth for the conduct of the war,
embracing state-owned elevators. pack
ing plants, flour mills and warehouses
and the exemption of farm improvements
from taxation. Only the latter PLANK
exemption of improvements from taAS-
tiOn-has been enacted into law.
Like all radical or unusual move
ments." he added, lit has attracted to
il many Cranks. faddists and one-idea
men. But the great body of it's member
ship are honest, straigh forward, intelli-
gent American citizens who believe that
they are suffering economic wrong and
that they have hit upon plan 10 right
them. They bitterly resent the charge
that the movement is socialistic. unpatrl-
otto or un-American. They contend that
IL is what II appears to be. non-partls-
an movement, to secure economic adVan-
Excess Profits Tax
In the paper by Prof. Adams, who IS
now serving as a special advisor on tax
alton to the treasury department, he ex-
pressed as his opinion that the taxation
of excess profits would be an expression
of the principle that the state stand and
the community stand as silent partners
in every business enterprise.
He strongly advocated the taxing Ut
all business units on their net income.
the wisdom Of which course has been
for many years the subject of consider
able difference of opinion by tax au-
thorities and others interested in scien-
!ific methods of taxation. Prof Adams
admitted that the opponents of this
method of taxation were able to present
strohg arguments in support of their
position, which undoubtedly were
worthy of full consideration, but the
fact remains. as he said, that we shall
never have even an approximately con-
sistent scheme of taxation until the ne
cessity for separate business taxation is
recognized and imposts laid which are
consciously designed TO express the f.s-
cal obligations of business as such"
According to Prof. Adams, the justi-
fication for this class of taxes is that
large part OF the cost of government is
traceable TO the activities of business
and 10 the protection which business, as
such. enjoys. IL was Prof. Adams idea
that this fiscal obligation of business is
not adequately met by the present prop
erty tax nor by a mere personal income
tax on the owners Of the business.
I'm discussing the measure of this tax
which Prof. Adams urged should be i'm
posed on all business concerns, he point
ed out that there is no perfect measure
believed the most satisfactory measure
would he according TO net income from
the business. tie suggested, however,
that the rate should be graduated some
what along the excess profits tax which
he said has now spread to fourteen or
fifteen countries and is yielding hand
some revenues in most of them.
During the afternoon session. cor
poration taxation was discussed by the
delegates TO the conference, papers be-
ing read by W. l.. Tarbert. land and
tax commissioner of the Illinois Central
railroad. ]. F. Zoller. tax attornew of
the General Electric company, Carol
II. Mote. secretary of the public ser
vice commission Of Indiana, and George
Vaughn. special attorney for the state
of Arkansas in tax cases.
The night session will be devoted to
round table session and discussion
OF points raised by previous papers.