The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-05-14
TAX RATE Of ONE
PER CENT URGED
AGITATION FAvoRs ELiMlNA
TloN OF PRESENT ASSESS
MENT ON PROFITS.
pEAcE-TIME ARMY ASSURED
Thirteen Branches Of Service, Partle"'
larry the Educational Advantages
Believed to Be Chief Inducements
conoress Favors Women's Bureau.
=. IAMes p HoRMApAY.


WashItgton.-Th is small PROB
ability Of any revenue legislation dur
ing this session Of congress. Recent
~ there has been a good deal OF aglta-
ton 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 safes 10
consumers, but the majority members
Of fhe WAYS and means committee OF
the house Of representatives ana OF the
senate finance committee have not as
vet seen their way clear to give their
approval 10 such legislation. The eN-
cess profits tax has never been popu-
lar. but Il IS a good revenue producer
bringing in more than $l,OO0,GOo,OoO a
wear. and the government is reluctant
TO abandon 1t.
The treasury statisticians have nor
been able TO furnish congress with de-
pendable data relating TO the probaoie
revenue that could be derived from a
gales fax. Ii is pointed out that there
is no sure way of arriving ut the
amount of money that would be
brought in by applying a l per cent
tax on all retail sales for the reason
There are no reliable statistics relat-
inp TO the total retail sales OF the
country. In rough way 1t has been
estimated that q sales tax would bring
i'm 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 no time for taking steps reiat-
ING 10 the governments finances UNI
loss there Is certainty as to where
those steps will lead. The United
States treasury is now facing a large
deficit, and II Is a grave question as
TO whether the government can get
through the next IS months without
another bond issue 1t certainly VIII
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
be additional appropriations calling
for the expenditure Of enormous sums
of money. The ways and means com
mittee and finance committee men,
hers are also confronted with the ques-
ton as to what effect, If any, the abol-
ishment Of the excess profits tax ana
the substitution of sales tax would
have politically This is really the
big stumbling block In the way of ia
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
lions, 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 n
great deal to do with the high cost of
living. Economists differ rs to wheth-
er this is the fact, but they agree on
the general proposition that in the last
analysts 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-
sumer. Under the plan which the ma
iority 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 IL men con-
tinue to volunteer their services
the new peace-time army will be
obtained with ease. The many new
army features, and particularly the
educational advantages offered, are
unquestionably responsible for the
larger interest in the army; and then
there are now 13 branches of the serv-
ice TO choose from. Men will he 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
Signment. Men otherwise suitable
who have not had special training for
this work may be enlisted for the
motor transport service schools al
either Camp Holabird. Md; Camp
Normoyle. Tex, or Camp Boyd, Tex
Upon the completion of this special
training, their wishes for assignment
will be considered and if compatible
with the needs of the service they will
he sent TO the stations which they Sc
lect
Tank corps recruits will be sent t
Camp Meade. Nd. for special instruc
tion in the tank corps school, after
al, -