The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-04-30
3. IAMEs P. HoRNADAY.

Bv JAMES p. HoRNAoAY.
washington. There Is small prob
ability Of any revenue legislation dur
ing This session Of congress Recent
~ there has been a good deal OF aslta-
tion in favor of eliminating in large
part or entirely the present tax on eX-
cess profits and the substitution OF n
straight per cent tax on all sales 10
consumers but the majority members
OF the ways aud means committee OF
the house Of representatives ana Oh 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-
Iar. but II is a good revenue producer
bringing in more than $1,000 000,O00 n
year. and the government is reluctant
10 abandon 1t.
The treasury statisticians have not
been able to furnish congress with de
pendable data relating TO the probable
revenue that could be derived from q
sales tax 1t Is pointed out that there
Is no sure way of arriving mt the
amount of money that would be
brought IN by applying ] 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 n rough way it has been
estimated that 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 1t
will turn out that way.
Treasury Faces Deficit.
Everybody concerned realizes that
now is no time for taking steps relat-
ing TO 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 grave question as
TO whether the government can get
through the next Is months without
another bond issue. II certainly VIII
have to issue more bonds the treas
ury officials say, If there shall be any
reduction In the revenues assured I'M
der existing legislation or II there shall
be 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-
ton as TO what effect, IL any, the abol-
ishment of the excess profits tax and
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. or course, the revenue
brought in by the excess profits
tax comes from the excessively
prosperous individuals and corpora
lions. In the end many economists
areue 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 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 10 be paid by the con
sumer Under the plan which the ma
jority 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 to volunteer their services
the new peacetime army win be
obtained with ease. The many new
army features, and particularly the
educational advantages offered, are
unquestionahly responsible for the
larger interest in the army: and then
there are now - 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,
hut win 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 at
either Camp Holabird. Nd: Camp
Normoyle. Tex, or Camp Boyd, Tex.
Upon the completion of this special
training, their wishes for assignment
win 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-
ton In the tank corps school, after