The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-04-30
ates for married men:

In other words, our income taxation
la more democratic than that Of any
other country in that the largest in
comes are taxed much more heavily
and the small and moderate incomes
much more lightly than anywhere else
and incomes up to $4,000 for married
men not taxed at all.
Cd 1t is true, on the other hand,
that on very large lncomes-as dlstin-
! gulsled from the largest incomes Our
Income tax is somewhat lower than the
/ English tax, but the difference by which
our tax Is lower tlan the English TAX
i is incomparably more pronounced IN
the case Of small and moderate incomes
4 than OF large incomes.
/ The "Excees Profits" Tax fcre and
Abroad.
/ Moreover If we add to our income
tax our 50 called excess profit fax"
which is merely an additional income
(aN on earnings derived from business
We shall find that Tie total tax to which
rich men are subject is in the great ua-
joIfty Of cases heavier here than III
! England Or anywhere else.
t4) Ii is Likewise true that the Eng
Iish war excess profit tax is 50 per cent
tiess various offsets and allowances), (,
Whilst our so called excess profit tag
ranges from 20 per cent. to 60 per
cent.
But It is entirely misleading to base
conclusion as to the relative heayi-
ness of the American and British tax
merely on a comparison of the rates,
because the English tax is assessed on
a wholly different basis from tile Amer
lean tax.
The American excess profit law Geo
cslIed) taxes all profits derived from
business over and above certain
moderate percentage, regardless of
whether or NOT such profits are the
result Of war conditions, The Ameri-
can tax is a general tax on income de-
rived from business in addition ia
the regular income tax. The Eng
lish tax applies only to excess war
PROTESTANT is, only to the sum by
which profits in the war years exceed
the profits IN the three years preceding
the war, which in England were years
Of grent prosperity. In other words.
the English tax is nominally higher
than on.s, but it applies only to war
profits. Tho normal profits Of business
i o. fhc profits which business used
to make in peace time-are exempted
in England There, only the excess over
peace profits its taxed Our tax, on
tho contrary applies to all profits over
and above a very moderate rate on the
money invested in business
Wo Tax Normal Profits, They Tax Only
War Profits.
In short, our lawmakers have de-
crpcd that normal business profits are
taxcd here much more heavily than in
l.uglunt while direct war profits are
taxed less heavily.
You WilI agree with me in question.
lug both the logic and the Justice Of
That method It would seem that i'll
would be both fairer ana wiser and
more in accord with public sentiment
II The lax ON business in general were
decreased and. an the other hand, an
increased tax were imposed on spe-
cldc war profits.
(5.) our federal Inheritance tax is
far higher than il is in England or any
where else. The maximum rate here
on direct descendants is 27l& per cent, (
MS against 20 per cent. in England. In
addition to that, we have state in /
herilance taxes which do not exist In
England
(G) OF her total actual war expen,
dltures Exclusive OF loans to her al
lies aud interest on war loans) Eng.
land has raised less than IS per cent. /
by taxation (France and Germany far /
less). while America is about to raise
by taxation approximately % per cent.
of her .ota war requirements (exclu-
sive of feaus 10 the allied nations and
Of the amount to be invested in mer-.
camille ships, which, being a produc-
tive Investment. cannot properly be
classed among war expenditures.
We Glen of business are ready and
Willing to be taxed in this emergency
to the very limit of our ability and to
make contributions to war relief work
and other good causes without stint
The fact is that. generally speaking,
capital engaged in business Is now
being taxed in America more heavily
than anywhere else in the world. We
are not complaining about this; we do
not say that It may not become neces.
sary to impose still further taxes; we
are not whinpering and squealing and
agitating, but-we do want the people
to know what are the present facts,
and we ask them not to give heed to
The demagogue who would make them
believe that we are escaping our share