Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1919-03-27
Present Taxation Policy
Is a Check in Prosperity
System Penalyzes Success and Throttles Enterprise - Scien-
tific Methods and Sound Politics Needed-Produc-
ton Falls Off and Unemployment Increases.
From the Bache Review.

" dAS III dHu ASAP MSA hSa@S
TIE ain of the tax law makers at Washington, since we entered
the war, has been to make business pay the bulking part of the bill.
any change in this method. if it IS continued far into the peace period
ahead, its effects will be most unfavorabte and paralyzing:
TO keep production from falling off and to increase it, thus fur
nhhing full employment for labor, is more essential now than ever, in
What Encouragement to enlarge old industries and establish new
ones is there when profits, if made, are to be eo"'isratsd by the gov
1ne sovelnment's policy of taxation is to seize a huge percentage
purpose of: First, renewal because wear and tear every year eats
e enormously into capital in the aggregate; second, for extending the
Now probably none of these necessary things in preserving and
increasing the countryis business ever enters the thoughts OF tax
makers at Washington. Their idea is to allow just enough in a bust
The Very ability to make profits honestly, and this is by no means
an easy thing-it takes rare qualities to grow up a successful business
this very ability is penalized by the rough, unecononc autocrats
probably billions of dollars we're wasted in the unbridled purpose of
war lasted. But the armistice did not stop extravagance of admin
funds out of of the he app appa "s, fEs rich ici treasures les Of Il business sh s It will not not s stop,
except rt Us h tear of publicity ai through congressional Investigations putsa
places a heavy penalty upon those most able, by It" thrift and sag sagseity
prosperity, by putting upon them the greatest draft for funds to
i As Mr.! s Georss sn ID W yS%ft.m ssys sz'' ::Taxes on sS ;Scamss nd f5 speft d ns~s
"sn % %ir cease ss s to sfsivs! 4 Ta %an as ,h s' pascs ne lo ns"1 ss Sg b snan:s
to warrant a%ssa pashng the hsn admission s%1u fee e. and ,n+ taking the Ne risk *" Co..
some years to raise larger amounts by taxation: Accomplishing this
ON omd ths present Sc hi lines 1s% w1 t thu su and w masno business in shs enterprises .%l Sms;.1 The he
widely distributed and, SO split up and spread around widely, the
levy ceases to be a burden. 1t is contributed to by millions in such
practically infinitesimal amounts that the operation becomes a pain
less one.
A tax on sales of l per cent would raise $4,000 100000 or 4O0O,
100000 every year. would be easily collected, and the ordinary con-
sumner would not feel it at all, while in larger transactions it would
weigh no more heavily than a stamp tax on documents. This, in addi-
tin to the income tax, would raise all the funds needed.
Political parties, in future, will have to face taxation problems,
and the part, that makes the burden least oppressive will win the most
favor. The tax makers have thus far made the levy where the larg-
est amounts collected would affect the least number of votes.
Dentistry holds no dread equal to the politician fear of subscrib-
ing to something which by law will affect the larger number of his
constituents. Each little pin prick he apprehends will cost him a
vote; So that any broad measure that ultimately will benefit the
whole country. in after results and will eventually enhance the pros
perhy Of every individual voter be fears to stand up for.
What the country demands il a cessation from political class rob
berry in taSation-the practice of holding up the man in the street who
is carrying the payroll just because he is a shining mark-and a seri-
Gus attempt to make taxation fair, just, equable, and thus least dam
aging to prosperity.
The republican party received last November the award of ponu-
lar favor as evidenced by the vote.
1t should profit from this demonstration by studious invesiga-
ton of methods of procedure in tax legislation which will entitle it to
continue to merit and to increase this popular favor.
What better way than for the organization to employ = n exnert
commission mansi to take up this whole subject of taxation and formulate a
scientific plan, Just and workable; to adopt the plan when agreed
upon; and to make it a part of their working campaign platformi
.uc,on Rm, for enonx.h Minimum uu.s.. iptct., ~. u.,., -. .....-