TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-06-16
For Justice in Taxation.

Il 9AAAk N1WAAA AAN AANNNt9AA "a
large fortunes. The war revenue
bill as it left the House pro-
posed new taxes on certain lu-
xuries, and 1t levied a profitable
and dacent surtax on incomes
of more than $4,000. For a
moment the poor were en-
couraged to believe that, for
the first time in this country's
history, wealth was to pay its
fair share Of the expense Of a
war.
But the bill has reached the
Senate, and things begin to
change shape.
The Senate finance commit
tees first move was to wreck
the excess profits tax, which
laid a. gentle irnpost upon BUSH
ness profits above 8 per cent.
Such a tax, the Senate commit
tee believed, should be levied
upon a fve-year average rather
than upon each years profits.
Capital does a good deal OF
fitting from tree to tree in five
years time, and the harvests
are many; the fve-year tax, Of
course, will yield less to the
government and leave more for
nimble capitalists. A special
tax on war profits will not be
a complete substitute for the
House plan.
Then the Senate committee
proceeded to hack away the
manufacturers S per cent. tax
en- gross sales, preferring to
collect the tax from the con-
sumner. The consumer probably
would have paid, as usual,
through higher prices unless
government price-fxing extend
ed even to Injuries. The House
intended to raise Sll8,000,000
oy this tax on motor vehicles,
musical instruments, jeWelrg
pleasure boats and certain non.
essential toilet articles. The
Senate promises to get the
b1l8,000,000 by some other form
Of taxation-an ominous pro-
mise.
The increased surtaxes on big
incomes seems unjust to the
Senate committee. So still an
other bunch Of millions must be
obtained by some other form
pf taxation"
How far the Senate might
dare 20 in exempting great ag-
g~regations OF wealth from their
share Of the wars cost, and
now the public would feel at
seeing the same old taxation
game worked in this democratic
war, we don't know. But We
10 know that the subject is still
III open one, and that If the
public doesn't like the Senate's
IDEAS those ideas will not be
enacted into law.
The public will have a chance
10 do some talking in the next
lew weeks. 1t can talk through
newspapers which are not con.
trolled by some special capital
istic interest, and it can prod
its senators. There are many
senators who were keen for the
to~nscription bill, and their con-
stituents are waiting to see
where they stand on taxation.
/. There need be no wild talk
3f OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES isn't
go~nfscation. And there need be
: no fear that wealth will be over
. taxed, for the government well
knows that capital must be left
? free to work for the expansion
. Of industry. But the opportuni-
! ties for taxation Of wealth are
! plain. England taxes excess
profits 90 per cent. 1t is ridic-
nlous to suppose that a group
Of r~eactionary senator's can pre-
: vent this government from col
: %lecting anything at all ON such
. profits.
Lately the poor are paying
{ taxes Of hundreds of millions 70
Z the food spectators. They
. would much rather be paying
their money TO the government.
They will patiently bear their
Z share of any taxation. Those
who cry out loudest against the
war taxes are the very rich.
1t is our guess that organized
! wealth isn't going to do all the
shouting, this time.
= o