The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-04-06
NO ACTION ON TAX REFORMS IS
 EXPECTED NOW

Washington, April 6. = Secretary Houston of the Treasury in letter to the House Ways and Means com mittee has put at the disposal of the committee every expert in the Treas ury department in an effort to either induce or force some revision or revenue legislation during this ses- sion of Congress.
 Not only has the Secretary offered the services of his assistants, but also he has offered to the committee all the detailed information at the com mand of the Department and has himself expressed willingness to join in any movement relative to the question of taxation reform.
 Despite this latest endeavor, it is apparent the House Ways and Means committee will do nothing at this Ses- sion of Congress. Whether it is fear that prevents Congress from tacklins the question, or whatever the cause, | members of the committee indicate plainly that nothing will be done at this time.
 The decision of the Republican leaders to refrain from removing the inequalities which crept into taxation | legislation during the stress and strain of war will mean that not until l 1922 will the country be relieved of 1 these burdens. When Congress meets l again next November, there will be an expressed desire to await the 1 recommendations of the new Presi- l dent in the following March. Then ! the subject will be debated at length i and the taxable returns under a re- vised schedule cannot be made appli- cable until the 1922 taxation period Under existing conditions it would I require not more than one week of solid hard work on the part of Con- | gress to remove from the law at least some of the inequalities. Pointing | out how much needless trouble is caused taxpayers and the injury busi- ness suffers and how little need be l done by Congress to relieve the legis- | Iation of all these burdens, Secretary 1 Houston said:
 l 'tComp1exity in tax laws violate the most fundamental canon of taxation ! that the liability shall be certain and l definite. It is not merely 8 source of irritation, labor and expense to
 the taxpayers but when cojoined as | it is in the present law, with the 1 heavy rates of taxation which wal
 exigency has forced upon us, it be comes a major menace, threatening
 enterprise with heavy but indefnablt future obligations, generating a clout of old claims and potential back taxe!
 which fill the taxpayers with dread creating to be sure an attractive
 source of additional revenue, bu
 cIogging the administrative ma
 chinery and threatening indeed it
 possible breakdown
 Enforcing the present law ma.
 cause concern to business in the flu
 ture, Secretary Houston also says
 The complexities of the present laV
 are such that if time is ever foun, l to review the returns of business con
 cerns to avoid their just taxation bu
 cerns it may be found that thes
 concerns owe the government mil lions of dollars. No intent is show
 by the concerns to avoid their jus
 taxation but the firms do not knoI
 what they owe and must pay as the
 view the problem
 Every source of trouble could b } removed by three or four simp1
 amendments to the present legisla ' ton, Secretary Houston shows. An
 though the Republicans admit tha these amendments should and coul X be made without causing the slightes l inconvenience of Congress, it appear
 an approaching presidential electio = and a fear that a vacation will not | d had this summer will prevent bus g ness from enjoying the relief u which it is justly entitled and whic o Secretary Houston Is fighting for.