The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-04-23
a. LANES p. HoRMADAY.

BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
Washlngton.- is small prob
ability Of any revenue legislation dur
Ing this session Of congress. Recent
~ there has been a good deal Of agita-
tlon in favor of eliminating In large
part or entirely the present tax on eX'
cess profits and the substitution of a
straight ! per cent tax on all sales TO
consumers, hut the majority members
of the ways and means committee OF
the house Of representatives and OF the
senate finance committee have not as
vet seen their way clear to give their
approval 10 such legislation. The eX-
cess profits tax has never been popu-
lar, but It Is a good revenue producer
bringing in more than $l,000OOO0OO a
year, and the government Is reluctnnt
to abandon it.
The treasury statisticians have not
been able 10 furnish congress with de-
pendabe data relating 20 the probable
revenue that could he derived from a
sales tax. II Is pointed out that there
is no sure way of arriving ut the
amount of money that would be
brought in by applying l per cent
tax ON all retail sales for the reason
there are no reliable Statistics relat-
ing to the total retail sales OF the
country. In a rough way ii has been
estimated that q sales tax would bring
in as much money as Is derived from
the excess profits tax, but the men
who are dealing with the governments
finances are not at all certain that II
will turn out that way.
Treasury Faces Deficit
Everybody concerned realizes That
now is 10 time for taking steps relat-
ing to the governments finances IN
less there is certainty as TO where
those steps will lead. The United
States treasury is now facing large
deficit, aud ii Is a grave question as
to whether the government can get
through the next Is months without
another bond issue. 1t certainly Will
have to issue more bonds, the treas
ury officials say. if there shall be any
reduction i'm the revenues assured I'M
der existing legislation or If there shall
he additional appropriations calling
for the expenditure Of enormous sums
of money. The ways and means com
mittee and finance committee mem
hers are also confronted with the ques-
tion ms to what effect, IL any the abol-
ishment OF the excess profits tax and
the substitution of Il sales tax would
have politically. This is really the
big stumbling block in the way of fa-
vorable action by these committees on
the proposed repeal Of the excess
profits tax. OF course, the revenue
brought in by the excess profits
tax comes from the excessively
prosperous individuals and corpora
tons. In the end many economists
argue however, that this tax, like all
others, is paid by the consumer 1t Is
argued, for instance, that the collec-
ton Of this tax on excess profits has
great deal to do with the high cost of
living. Economists differ as TO whcth
err this is. the fact, but they agree on
the general proposition that in the last
analysis this tax is charged up to the
consumer and in this may, of course
does boost the cost Of living.
A universal sales tax would, of
course, have to be paid by the CON
sumner. Under the plan which the ma
tority members of the ways and means
committee and the finance committee
have been considering the retail mer-
chants would collect this tax for the
government.
Army Life Is Attractive.
Enlistments in the various branches
Of the federal military service
are on the Increase II men con
tinue 10 volunteer their services
the new peace-time army will he
obtained with ease, The many new
army features. and particularly the
educational advantages offered, are
unquestionabiy responsible for the
larger interest in the army; and then
there are now 10 branches of the serv
ice TO choose from. Men will be ac-
cepted for three year service only in
any infantry organization serving In
the United States. Panama, or Alaska,
but will not be accepted for Philippine
or Hawaiian service. This includes
general assignment, service in the
seven divisional camps and on the
Mexican border The motor transport
corps can accept white soldiers only |
who are trained men for general as
Segment. Men otherwise suitable
who have not had special training for
this work may be enlisted for the |
motor. transport service schools at !
either Camp Holabird Md; Camp |
Normoyle. Tex, OF Camp Boyd, Tex.
Upon the completion of this special |
training, their wishes for assignment |
viii be considered and if compatible |
with the needs of the service they will
be sent to the stations which they Sc
lect.
Tank corps recruits will be sent to
Camp Meade, Nd, for special instruc-