The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-29

Nevertheless such papers as the Phil
adelphia Record (Ind. Dem.) declare
that the "chief reason" for the COM
plicated nature of our taxes lis that the
provision of revenue Is not the only
purpose of the tax laws but that they
were designed ito penalize wealth and
secure a more equitable distribution OF
property. The prime purpose OF
the tax laws should be to provide the
necessary revenue, and not to accom-
plsh certain sociological ends" But
actually ii hasn't worked that way, says
the Louisville Post (Ind.), for this war
taxation in time of peace works direct
~ in the interest of the large individual
taxpayers, and it adds enormously to
the cost of living. The time has come
to curtail, if not to abandon, the excess
profits tax"
Whether any tax revision can be un-
dertaken during the current session OF
congress lis doubtful MANY members
this is campaign year" observes the
New York Journal Of Commerce Qnd.),
"and they do not wish to work for sew
eral months upon an amendment OF the
taxing law" and the Sioux City Tri-
bune Qnd). notes that both parties
consider taxation changes a subject
loaded with dynamite, and the politi-
clans don't care to play with explo--
siyes on the eve of national election.
But % the time to act is now" declares
the Chicago Daily, News (Ind.); OBJ
stacles will not melt away of their own
accord" Furthermore. If our legis-
lators do not act before June the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram (Ind.A Dem,)
thinks "the president can be depended
on to call them back into special ses-
sion in the very midst of the national
campaign. He is not going to. permit
the solution of important problems to
lie over until after the election If be
can help it."
Need of Tax Revision.
Members of congress who have no
| doubt heard from their constituents on
the subject have been wondering why
1.-THE tax reforms suggested by Secretary
of 4he Treasury Houston should be
postponed until 1922 if it be true, as
alleged, that the present legislation is
creating gross injustices and is Grip
plrS the accumulation of capital. Those
who have been willing to express them
selves have asserted that there was no
reason why the subject should not be
| Immediately taken up, although certain
CT them have expressed the opinion
that the prospect Of adopting a measure
would be remote" unless congress
were to be held indefinitely in 'ses-
sion.''
This merely seems to mean that
| good many members of congress arb
| anxious to go home, especially as this
| iS campaign year and that they do not
wish to work for several months upon
| an amendment of the taxing law. Their
argument is not good one. 1t was
possible to pass the income and excess
profits tax laws originally with little
delay because the government needed
the money, and even thes later or more
complex legislation now on the statute
| books did not take very great white.
| If congress can amend or undo this
| legislation as quickly as it could enact
1t in the first place there will be- no
reason why 1t should not promptly in
| troduce the neeCed reform measures.
Here we have a situation in which the
| public at large is absolutely overbur-
dened with taxation, many of its fea-
| lures presenting inequalities of the
most glazing sort Tax administrators
| and successive secretaries of the
| treasury have stigmatized the working
of the law as tending to prevent the
| accumulation of capital and placing an
altogether unreasonable burden upon
special classes in the community New
| ertheless, there Is disposition to hold
off and defer the effect of action for
| some two years. Neither the indispo-
sition OF congress to continue in session
nor the unwillingness of tax admins
| traitors to let go. of their present meth
DDS until they have extracted the last
possible dollar, nor the petentialities of
f; the tax question In the campaign should
| be allowed to defer action upon mat
| ter which is as urgent as this is,-New
| York Journal of Commerce Qnd.).