The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-03-27
Eniturtal DigrBt
An Independent Analysts Of Leading Cur.
rent Events as Reflected In the fub.
Lie Press Of the Country
The Demand for Simpler Taxes.

mot one man In . hundred can at down
and intelligently fill out his income tax blank
without consulting an expert" declares the
Wheelins Register (Dem.). and there are thou
sands Of people in the United States who VIII
h. glad to indorse this testimony. Conse-
cnentlv the recommendations Of Secretary OF
the Treasury Houston, that our system Of fed
eral taxation be simphned, meet with general
.nnrov.l. though there is disagreement a. to
the precise methods to be substituted.
One Of Mr.. Houston's most important rec
concentrations is to remove the excess profits
tax altogether, and to establish in its place
fat tax of 20 per cent on und1striouted earn
ings. Furthermore, the same rate OF taxation
would apply to corporations, partnerships and
individuals Unfortunately. 'One well known
partnership" the New York Times lind. Dem)
quotes Mr.. Houston as saying, paid $l,l2S,oV
more taxes than it would have paid II the
business had been incorporated. and there are
many examples OF the reverse eject IN bur-
cens on corporations" Mr.. Houston, then'
would make it impossible for business to
affect its taxation status by Incorporating. or
refusing to incorporate.
"If We can't have lower taxes, at least let
US have simpler taxes and less Objectionable
taxes" urges the Arizona Gazette und Dem.) s,
hut there are many that believe reduction is
nossjble at the same time. The Wheeling In
telligencer (Rep.). calling attention to the
striking fact that 'the head of every family
is having, directly or indirectly, $3.50 annually
in taxes" believes that rigid economy at
washington can reduce at least portion OF
this" and the Florida Times-Union (Dem)
says:
"The important thing is not a reduction OF
taxes, but a reduction of expenditures. 1t
would be the height Of folly to reduce taxes
until the expenditures Of the government are
cut to reasonable figure What changes
have occurred in conditions that make 1t neces-
sary for the United States to spend more money
than it spent six years ago? The war is ended;
its activities are fnished-why keep on the
payrolls of the government men and women
whose services were needed while the struggle
was in progress, but are not needed now?'
The New York Tribune (Rep.) agrees that
'the immediate and fundamental need at Wash
ington is to eliminate deficits and balance the
governments accounts. 1t will be time there
after to simplify and reduce taxation or to
consider proper additions to our normal peace
expenditure" But in the face Of the demand
to reduce taxes by issuing more bonds, the
Fargo Courier-News (Non-Part- league) pre-
fers mot to decrease taxes. but to increase
them to a point where they will meet e3pendi-
lures" since bond issue increases still fur
Their the imitation OF the currency, raises little
higher all prices, and makes more probable a
final financial crash"
Yet one measure for increasing taxes seems
| to be unpopular. That is the proposal OF
Chairman Fordney of the ways and means
ffov. 80
| allowed to heads of families on their income
computations ut is doubtful" says the New
York Globe (Ind.), if such measure will be
| tolerated by public opinion" For, says t he
Globe:
'"rhe principle that great wealth should
| pay not only greater sum but at greater
| rate that small wealth is fixed in the law and
| in the popular consciousness. 1t is no argu-
ment against the principle that it tends, though
ever SO slightly, to equalize wealth. The in.
come tax may, in fact, be used. if occasion
ever arises, to prevent that dangerous accumu.
| lation of wealth in few hands that has ruined
more than one democratic state 1t is 9
weapon that in ordinary times should be use6
sparingly, but one that should be kept intact
for all emergencies"
| The Wichita Eagle nnd) calls the eng
gestion the "rawest taxation proposal ever/pu
into words in all the history of taxation.| II
means, says the Eagle, eff man makes onl,
SIS month and has family Of eight, tax hin
exactly the same proportion OF his income a.
you levy against Henry T. Doherty, billionair,
bachelor bunk merchant" And the Cantor
News lind. DEM adds:
"If members of the house want to know
Just how much attention the people are pay
ing to their deliberations in Washington. the,
may be able to learn something by advocatin,
the removal Of the $4,000 exemption on in
comes 1t will create political issue tina
VIII be understood by practically every vote,
who is earning his own living"