Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-02-08

Pvs Reasons Why Excessive Taxes al
che Ou&ect Of War Are Disadvants &c.
ous--G.ca. Britain Example Worthy
OF Emulasion--How the Taxes Shouts
2c Apportionca.
s. EDWIN p. a. sELIGMAN,
Mcyici,ar Professor Of Political Econ.
o;.sz Columbia University
On May -, 1917. the uousc OF Ecp
rasentuciyc5 passed Ill act TO provide
revenue 30 dafray var cErelse5 auG
for other p;iipo@e2." In The o.igiua
bin as presented ~ thc Co-an!tttec OF
Ways ard ,ic:.as. Tic additional rcyc
rge to he derived was estimated at 81
SI0,420,o10. Tie amendment 20 the Ia
cone fax. which was tackled or TO the
bill durlr:- the discussion in the House
was expected to yield another $4,000.
600 or $5G,C00,oQ0.
In discussing the House iii. two
problems arise;
/ I. How much should BE- raised h,
taxation:
II. IN what manner should this SUM
be raised?
|, How Mlof, Should Sc Saisad b;
Taxation?
Eluw was the .iSurc cf 81 Al.VGO.GlE,
arrived al? Tie answer IS simple. When
the Secretary Of tie Treasury came Il
estimate the adSIiona. war expense
for the year 19l1-1S. nc calculated tiiat
they wu;,G nnouu f. SrE,c $G.G0p.
100000. Of which &%.nGn. 0N0un las f.
be allotted ~ the allies aad $5G3G
UO0.UnO was to he Utilized for the do
nestle purposes. Thinkiu" that il
would BE- i fair proposition 10 divide
this latter slim between loans au;
taxes. he cynciadcd that the amou';
20 be raised ~ taxes was %i.$iA"tlj1
600.
There ar - a&;"ntuc theories. Gael
Of UhicIi 1uay y" GisH,;. "a wirh scanI
courtesy. J.s12" :: '4&t I'll w"t cS
penditurc. >,.n.:!l inlig+g@:cG y, loan.
and the oth.r i !b"G~ai var uzrcndi
lures should - d"trHEci !r taxes
Each thcory is untrnlA!c.
1t is indeed true tia: ii" burdens o;
the var 8jIaulG 20 bc;GG b.. tic pre-:
cnt rather tiao -" future generation
but this ,loc, 10; mean that ;!i@T shcuis
be borne u this years taxation
Meeting all war EXPENSES Is taxation
makes the taxpayers in ONE rr tx,
Years bear The burden IF benefits ;ha
ought 10 br distributed at least OYER
decade w:.':iu IL" same generation.
In The snv,l,d pl;;rr w'hcH cIpcudi
lures anpr"aci the gigantic SANS c!
praScnt-day warfare, tao ta5-"!,;r -,
icy would require more tHan b" totri
surplus al SQri;i iH"nw". :" or" ~.
absolutely necessary. tho ruSui;!:: h""'
nc III the ccunuI,i@ life uf tic communal.
y would i!ay" TO be endured. Eri
Hhere the disasters are 30 grc0l MI
nj the sam" iiI.!c 80 unnecr&sarr. il:"
!ax-ouly rniir: me- i' declared ii,,
rracticatic.
&ecye;as: Ncl,!yo had ,hc ri@'i III
STRICT al'i "'-i''! ',>Ai..i .ii-ii't'o '''''',
aIe ~ d'Ia'H@ iIl'' . >''@,'"!i'""l ''''.
'i"D. Q; i@;'~.-. 81 IN !''',"1, -.'..''''
i. dGriyr.t ir0"I iaE:t!"a. if,t ~i.n"
~ ~. t',..' -, 49, y,
''at :. = '''1'''-, "'''.''.S - -
'1'st.e WIZ 'N'S'1"', - = ', 49, ~.
Question '''' ~ '..' az ~ '.'.' -...~ -
~, - ...... ,
~" 10 : .. t'..'.' -,
''.--s :, 49, '''' VI .--L
!Eol'e-it!'''. so" !" 10y - . - -
- 49,
. h'ts''.>-'
Disadvantages II E:<:nss'"e ,a&ss.
The di>a .3.lLag"a - excessive .:,,-c
II :l2 oUi*@t u rba ~" arr - ,el.: Nr.r;
:. il1c2s.t"c taxes on CONSUMPTION
VIII causc rapuiar re>to;..Cui.
>. ExcrssiY" tlI@s "l iauG-u! Tiit
4is4rran~: iuSiuc.s damn enthusiasm
aaI yr2t~ig, the spirit Of enterprise y.
the rory l;;ln WHEN tie opposite If
urrdnd
:, T~ar>s;..e iayrs on incomes will dF
,.7,., H.. .t.~,,,ns available FOR invp.r.