The Washington times., 1919-12-05

bC u4lClChtiy uQllulCu tHC
enforcement Of any other law. The
same appeal which is made to the
people generally with regard to
the enforcement Of any law holds
true Of the Prohibition Enforce
ment Act. 1t is always futile to
proceed much in advance of pub
lie sentiment, and our duty, there
fore, is to appeal to the people
on the lines of law, obedience and
enforcement. This appeal should
gain a responsive chord in the
heart of every man and woman
who loves his country and re-
spects law. We are already en-
couraged with the results Of
these appeals, for the public is
supporting in remark kable man.
ner the prohibition law
81 do not believe as a rule in re-
wards for spying on American
citizens. / would rather approach
them from the open, and use the
reward system only in extreme
cases where it is necessary to un-
cover fragrant violations and ap-
prehend violators. This policy I
have endeavored to pursue in tax
enforcement. 1t is believed every
loyal American already can be
brought to see that it is his or her
duty to assist the department in
enforcing the prohibition law
without compensation therefor"
During the fiscal year ended June
so last the Internal Revenue Bu-
reau paid out only $5,361.12 upon
eleven claims for reward.
The development of the "spy"
in the secret service Of the bureau
will depend upon the response to
the appeals that have been and will
continue to be made.
Taxes To Be Slowly Reduced.
"Are the high income taxes fairly
permanent? Will they last for
many years?" l inquired.
with the league of nations we
hope wars will be avoided" the
commissioner answered. "If we
can so hope, I believe we are now
collecting the largest amount Of
taxes annually that will be sought
from the American people in a
hundred years to come. The pres
ent fiscal year will, in my opinion,
be the apex of the century tax
cone. The amount Of this years
taxes will be $500, 100000. We
will probably slightly exceed this,
as we have been exceeding the esti-
mates that the Congress has made
thus far under the war tax laws.
"The revenue requirements for
several years will, in all probable
ity, average about $4,000, ,0O0, 600,
while the Government is paying
off its war debt. The tendency,
however, will be gradually down.
ward until we reach point
around $4,000, coo, 900, which should
sustain the Government under nor
NAL conditions, compared with the
expenditures of the Government
of about one-half this amount be-
fore the war. Of course, it will
take several years to reach this
1crnal estimated status of $1,000
900, 0,0O0,7
The public, Mr.. Roper be-
ieved, will accept the income
tax for the future years that
will be necessary, as the best to
be found.
Wants 1t Simplified.
"I believe the income tax plan
of collecting revenues for the
support of the Government is
sound and equitable" Mr.. Roper
observed, "but it should be made
as simple as possible, thereby re-
ducing the expenses of collection
and making it less inconvenient
for the public to understand and
comply with.
81 feel sure that the people are
in favor of the income tax prin-
ciple and will be more and more
appreciative of it and responsive
to it as the law is simplifed and
made easier to comply with. The
objective, therefore, is to make
each taxpayer feel that he is
being treated as others in his
class"
"But are there not many in
equalities in the law"