The Farmington times., 1918-02-15
TAXING PRESS POOR POLICY

Strong objection has been voiced
from many quarters against the tax
on newspapers for war purposes by
increasing the postal rates. While
taxation is necessary, no medium is
more essential in these times than the
press of the country, and nothing
should be done to increase the bur-
den that publishers are already forced
to carry.
Poor reasoning was exercised by
Congress, in the opinion Of Burgess
Johnson of the Vigilantes, when pos
tai rates on periodicals were placed
at a point which threatens their ex-
istence.
"When the government seeks mon
ey to enable it to carry on the war;"
writes Mr.. johnson, "it does not take
funds away from the navy in order
to clothe the army; it does not de-
prive itself of the strength of one
fighting arm in order to re-enforce an
other-unless it is in the direst of
straits.
"When the government raises funds
by taxation, it must be careful not to
tax out of existence any institution
which is an actual strengthening
force in time of war. This seems OBJ
vious enough. Its heaviest taxes
should fall upon such commodities as
alcoholic liquor, because the manufac-
ture and sale of this is not only unes-
sential to national prosperity, but it
may be an actual injury to the nations
strength.
"But what process of reasoning is
followed when the government threat
ems to tax out of existence periodical
publications regardless of their CHAR
acter? They are the strongest means
in existence for holding the people of
this nation together, stimulating their
energies, announcing their common
purposes and ideals, encouraging them
in time of national crisis, clarifying
their vision in time of perplexity.
"Many people do not realize the ex-
tent to which this war is being fought
with the pen. German guns failed to
break down the Russian front and the
Italian front; then came the German
pens, which wrought to such effect
that those two powerful front lines
melted away.
eve must have loyal, forceful, in
telilgent press at work in this country.
No other force can combat the insidi-
Gus propaganda of our various fees
That press. must be strong enough to
retain the shrewdest and ablest of our
writer's, and direct their efforts, in
cooperating with the government.
"That form of taxation which drives
loyal periodicals out of existence is
foolish legislation. 1t is weakening
one necessary resource of the govern
ment in order to strengthen another.
"Our legislators have little iCsss OF
the extent of the injury wrought by
this particular form of money-raising.
1t strikes, in an unexpected quarter,
at the essential official documents Gf
our colleges and universities; that it,
their catalogues and courses of study,
which are issued as second-class mat
ter. They cannot be discontinued.
The increase of their cost drains the
slender resources Of our educational
institutions, already hard hit by the
increased costs Of war time. Every
one feels that whatever else is STOP
ped by war, our educational machin-
cry must keep running with unim-
paired efficiency.
"Tax luXuries as you will, and ex-
cess profits, and tax through the post
Office our private correspondence, but
do not strike at the loyal press of the
country, and do not increase the costs
of maintenance in our American COL
| leges. Publishers Auxiliary.