davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

healing of the nations is sure. 1t
is a fine motive, but cite it, on it's
intellectual side, only in passing.
The new constructive achievement
that is to be recognized in this deco
rative fabric resides in the disposi-
ton of the figures and, above all, in
the determination of the color
scheme. Importance is to be at
tached also to the artists style.
In the paintings Mr.. Tack has
shown in New York in the last few
years observers have noted strik.
ing method Of applying the paint to
the canvas. 1t has been laid on in
short, blunt touches, resulting in a
kind of dappled surface. Mr.. Tack
has in this way secured. a fine effect
/ of broken tone, broken, however,
only to fall into a peculiarly suave
fusion when studied at a proper dis
tance. Distance with him is abso-
lutely necessary. He has not quite
the magic Of his nearest prototype,
the French Henri Martin. Some of
! his pictures, indeed, have left an un-
fortunate impression, because they
have been shown in a gallery too
small Seen at too close range his
method seems crude. But l have
had the opportunity to survey the
Winnipeg decorations in an adequate
perspective, and so I can testify to
the complete success of what has
hitherto occasionally seemed but a
dubious experiment. In the new
paintings Mr.. Tack's broken, dappled
surfaces take on a superb unity. His
noble fgures-and there has always
been a measure of nobility about his
figures--are poised as in a vaporous
loveliness Of truly vitalized color.
He paints as it were a great ex-
panse of blue and gold. Other hues
enter into the composition, notably
hues of rose and violet and pale
green, but the notes of blue and gold
sound most triumphantly. In all
the other panels outside the dome
he carries out the same idea OF
stately and simple symbolism. There
are six pendentives in the legisla-
tive chamber in which allegorical
figures represent the grand virtues
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
AS High as 73 Per Cent

Taking up the income tax, Mr..
Kahn points out that at its highest
point our income tax reaches 73 per
cent, and continues
while we thus take away up to
three-quarters Of his income land
even more if we include other taxes)
from the capitalist engaged in busi-
ness, or investing his money in sup
plying funds to our industries, ac-
cess is wide open for other forms of
capital to the safe and tempting ref
uge offered by tax-exempt securi-
ties. All municipal bonds, state
bonds, farm loan bonds and-unless
specifically otherwise provided
Federal bonds are free from all tax
alton, except inheritance taxation.
There are about fourteen billion dol
lars of such tax-free bonds outstand-
ing (apart from partially exempt
Liberty bonds), and more are being
created all the time.
"Under the existing schedule
of income taxation, the induce
ment to buy tax-exempt bonds
is so great and the consequent
demand for them so strong, that
ready and eager market at 8
comparatively low rate of interest
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
The Benefits

much can be said for such a tax
from both the economic and moral
points of view. Among other desir-
able effects, it would reach those
who, by holding tax-exempt securi-
ties, now escape the burden of in
come taxation, and it would thus go
a long way to eliminate the undue
advantage now attaching to tax-ex-
empt securities and to correct the
resulting evils which I have pointed
out before in discussing that phase
Of our tax problem.
while a tax of this nature In
wolves certain complexities in its de-
tails and working, they would by no
means be insuperable; in fact, they
would, think, be less formidable
than those of the present income tax.
The committee might also, I
should think, reach the conclusion,
quite irrespective of the theory sug-
gested in the foregoing paragraphs
/ to recommend the imposition of
small percentage tax, say, per cent,
on all sales of commodities and prod
ucts and presumably of real estate.
Such measure would be productive
of an immense amount of revenue
and would not be harmful to any
one.
a similar tax was imposed In the
course of our Civil War and appears
to have functioned so we'll and to
have met with such ready acceptance
that it was not repealed until sew
eral years after the close of that
war.
The exact form which such a tax
should take is debatable. 1t nigh.
be imposed on the seller according to
the aggregate sales effected, the tax
to be computed quarterly, seni-an-
nually or annually. Or, it might, on
every transaction, be paid by the
purchaser, in which case it should
not be included in the selling price,
but specifically added to it as a sepa-
rate item, probably best in the shape
of stamps. Or, it might be made
applicable to retail sales only.
> AT any rate, whatever may be
the differences of opinion as to the
various ways of applying a. sales tax
l feel confident that as far as ths
principle Of such tax is concerned
a great majority of the men engaged
4 IN business, large or small, woulc
welcome it"
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
al Decorations for New Manitoba Parliament Buildings
On the Walls Of the Legislative
Chamber Are Panels Repre-
senting the Six Virtues

He paints Mercy" and "Under-
standing" "Magnanimity" and
Tolerance" In one group he typi-
fes Faith, Hope and Charity" anc
in another Prudence, Fortitude and
Temperance"
Seven Ceiling Panels
Up on the ceiling in seven panels
there are flying figures bearing
scrolls on which are inscribed the
names of the ancient codes from
Babylonia and Egypt to Rome and
the Britain of Magma Charta. In
two panels on either side of the dome
he has painted heroic youths, me-
MORALS to those thousands of Cana
dians who gave their lives in the
great war. They stand for "Cour-
age" and "Vigilance," Sacrifice"
and Loyalty" the guardian spirits
Of this "pemple of Justice"
Throughout free use is made Of
inscriptions, but the decorative
scheme as a whole is fairly unique
in that it embraces not a single one
of the usual trite accessories, the
ancient properties" which so often
begin with scepters, weapons, books
and tools and trail off into jugs and
jars, pots and pans.
Mr.. Tack has relied altogether
upon the serene beauty of his fig
ures, immobile but delicately ex-
pressive attitude and restrained
gesture. And first and last he has
sought just to fill his vast spaces
with softly glowing color, as though
he would enforce his high ideas by
a subtly beguiling process of sensu-
Gus suggestion. He does not cAal-
lenge the beholder, but wins him
rather through the gate of revery
into world of spiritual aspiration.
1t is beautiful conception, brilliant
ly realized. 1t is one on which our
Northern friends are to be congratu-
lated. And at the same time the
American school of mural decora-
tion is to be counted lucky, for these
paintings demonstrate that it has
in Mr.. Tack an artist of originality
and power who is. breaking new
ground.
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

(from 41a per cent to 5 per cent?
is offered to pretty nearly every
township and county, thus greatly
facilitating wasteful spending by
municipal and other local govern
ments.
Il am advised that it is not feast
bic under the constitutional limita-
tlons of our governmental system,
nor would it be fair, to remove the
tax exemption from such bonds of
the tax-free class as are now out
standing.
Would Need an Amendment
"Nor, as l am informed, would it
be possible, according to the pre-
dominant opinion of legal authori-
ties, for Congress to subject even
future issues of state, municipal and
county bonds to taxation, unless a
constitutional amendment be adopted
to that effect.
PERSONALLY, do not favor the in
stitution of taX-exempt securities,
because | believe it economically un-
sound and socially Objectionable
but we are confronted with a condi-
ton, not a theory.
"The discrimination which per
mits the owner of liquid capital to
escape all direct taxation by the
simple process of buying municipal
or other tax-exempt bonds becomes
naturally all the more effective and
accentuated as the income surtay
rate increases.
"The existence of that mass OF
non-taxable securities is therefore ar
additional consideration among those
which should have bid our legisla
tors pause before raising the scale
of direct taxation to unexamplec
heights; it is an interchangeable
argument against the fairness, ap
propriateness and productivenes Of
enormous super-taXes."
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
War Tax Justified

"The social and moral arguments
for an unsparing war profits tax are
to my mind unanswerable. TO per
NIT individuals and corporations to
enrich themselves out of the dreadful
calamity Of war is repugnant to
ones sense of right and justice and
gravely detrimental to the war
morale of the people. Moreover, the
effect of the war profits tax in max
ing for higher prices is considerably
mitigated through circumstances and
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

foresight and integrity, and hard,
wearing work-much of it not com
pensated.
without going into shades Of en-
cyclopedic meaning, I would define,
for the purpose of this discussion,
financier as a man who has some
recognized relation and responsible
ity toward the larger monetary af-
fairs of the public, either by admin
istering deposits and loaning funds
or by being wholesale or retail dis
tributor of securities"
Are Not Criminals
The foregoing are the salient
points Of Mr.. Kahn's endeavor to
show that finance and the financier
are not necessarily criminals per Sc.
If he has proved his point one may
profitably read his criticisms on our
existing tax system and his sugges-
tions for change.
"To those who take the view that
criticism Of our existing surtax
schedule Is necessarily the 'squeap
of a rich man or affected by the
bias Of greed" he says, II would
point out that the rich man has little
to 'squeaI about on the score of the
income tax, provided he will Join the
ranks of the idle rich. All he has to
do, if his conscience and disposition
permit it, is to turn his back on
work, risk and constructive effort
and place as much of his capital as is
or can be made liquid into tax-ex-
empt securities-and to the extent
that he does 80 all direct taxation
ceases to trouble him.
"Whatever may be said by theo-
rists or--on paper--proved, it Is
demonstrated by the actualities that
every one of the taxes now in usage
affects all the people in its conse-
uuences, direct or indirect, however
hidden or remote may be- the casua
connection.
"The system and method of taxa
ton inaugurated in 1917 and con
tinued since have played very con
siderable part in boosting prices fa-
beyond the inevitable and natura
effect of circumstances inherent IL
the situation. In saying this | an
not giving expression to an opinion
based upon general observation, bu
to what l have actually ascertaine'
by taking pains to follow in concret
instances, from producer to retailer
the process of the cumulative effec
exercised on prices by our existing
taxation.
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
Raises the Cost

the government
Raises the Cost
The excess profits tax has tended
Furthermore to increase actual cost
of production, inasmuch as costs
naturally are deducted before taxa
Bile profits are arrived at, and, there
fore, under the operation of the ex-
cess profits tax there is not the same
lnducement as unde- normal circum-
tances to keep cost down as much as
possible, but in fact rather the re-
verse. 1t is a fact we'll known to
those familiar with business prac-
tices that there has been gross
wastefulness in certain lines of ex-
penditure, such, for instance, as ad-
vertising, since the excess profits tax
went into effect and as direct con-
sequence of it.
"Nor is there any longer any in
ducement to employ accumulated
profits in the business without CAPT
talizing them-a practice largely
employed heretofore in conservative
ly managed businesses and naturally
tending to lower cost Of production
"On the contrary, there is every
inducement to capitalize every JUS
tifiable item-and this makes for
higher cost.
"The objection to a very heavy
excess profits tax in peace time rests
not so much on equitable grounds as
on the ground that on the one kanc
it does not, and cannot, accomplish
the social purpose aimed at, and or
the other hand it tends to hurt
trade, discourage enterprise and
burden the public. Our excess profits
tax certainly has not stopped, bu
rather has intensified what is com
monty termed 'profteering'"
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

the figures in those Byzantine
mosaics which lend such splendor
to divers churches in Rome and
Ravenna. In the center he places
Justice" She is attended on either
side by Knowledge and "Wisdom.'
Then on each side of the trio are
figures symbolic of "Humanity."
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
American Development

When American mural decoration
had it's first great opportunity at the
Chicago Fair in 1892 the turn taken
by our school was practically inevi-
table. Prior to that date we had
developed one or two painters who
knew how to deal with a great wall.
The late William NJ. Hunt had re-
yealed notable decorative gifts in
his work at Albany. John La Fargo
had proved himself even moro eff
tective in various productions, and
in his beautiful Ascension" in New
York he had painted a masterpiece.
Beth Hunt and La Fargo were men
with whom mural decoration was
bound to remain an essentially per
sonal art.
At Chicago the situation was diff
ferent. In the domes and other
spaces decorated there the painters
were mostly men trying hands un-
trained in this special field of en-
deavor, and their inspiration-the
inevitable one, as I have just indi-
cated-was not personal, but aca-
demic. They leaned heavily upon
modern French precept and example,
when they did not go even further
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

agencies which are operative when a
country is at war.
"Quite different in spirit and eff
feet is the excess profits tax, mis-
leadingly so called, which Congress
has deemed we'll to impose and to
continue after the war had come to
an end. That measure establishes as
normal earnings an arbitrary and,
in the case of many industrial &C
tivities, inadequate percentage Of re-
turn on invested capital, and by
complex, confusing and generally i'll
devised system, taxes at high rate
all earnings above that percentage.
at lays heavy and clumsy hand
on successful business activity. 1t
is grossly inequitable in its effects,
and, to d large extent, the greater or
lesser degree of its burdensomeness
is determined by purely fortuitous
circumstances. 1t puts fine on
energy, enterprise and efficiency. 1t
leaves untouched the man of wealth
who neither works nor takes the
risks and responsibilities of business,
but merely collects his coupons. It
is bound to operate unfairly, freak
ishly and unevenly, and greatly en-
hance the cost of things.
"There can be no question that,
owing to the increased cost Of living
or the decreased purchasing power
of the dollar, the farmer, the wage
worker, the man and woman living
on salaries, are entitled to proper
tionate increase in income.
"But the enhanced cost of living
and the diminished purchasing
power of the dollar affect the owne,
of industrially invested capital nc
less than they do other callings
Moreover, in addition to these fac
tors, he is subject to a heavy excess
profits tax and, if his income i.
large, to an income tax Of unparal
leled severity.
However, we may leave out O,
account for the purpose of my argu
ment the relatively small number O.
those in possession of large incomes
When I speak of the owners Of in
dustrially invested capital, I meal
primarily the storekeeper, the aver
age merchant and the millions O
men and women who derive all O
part of their income from investmen
in securities of corporations.
Need of Larger Returns
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

Grafton Of mankind. The second
verse of the last chapter of the Book
of Revelation says:
con either side is the tree of
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

These represent young and old, rich
and poor, the strong and the weak.
Behind them is the "Tree of Life"
the symbol of generation after gen.
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

marked distinction be made between
such portion of PERSONS income s
IS used constructively in savings, in
vestments or enterprise, and such
portion as is spent on his scale of
living. A tax based on that theory
would be calculated and paid at the
end of a twelve-months' period, just
as the income tax. 1t would, no
doubt, exempt expenditures of GER
tam minimum sum per annum, say,
$1,000 for single and $4,000 for mar
ried persons, would be applied mod
erately to moderate expenditures,
and would be severely progressive on
large expenditures.
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
The Work Of Augustus Vincent
Tack Unveiled in the Capitol
In Winnipeg
back for their ideas, back as far as
the Italian Renaissance.
A Ripenesl Art

ooeh Aol theil lueaS, DaCk as lar as
the Italian Renaissance.
A Ripened Art
Well, lot of water has flowed
under the bridges since then. 1t is
long time since we began and
many important things have hap
pened. Painters young in mural
decoration then have come to ma
turity in the art. Some of them have
died, leaving fine monuments behind
them. Looking back over this period
of about quarter of a century, we
can see that it brought forth
group of experts in the making of
a certain clearly defined type of
decoration, type significant of
clean-cut architectural balance. The
familiar lunette has had its central
figure around which symbolical sub
ordinates have been ingcniously
grouped. The fanking spaces have
been filled as though by mathemat-
ical calculation. The prevailing
style has been workman-like and con-
servative. There has been too much
to admire in the art of this period
for any disparagement Of it to be
opposite now. But it is an art which
has ripened to that point where
change is to be expected. There
have been repeated signs of change,
in fact, in the last few years. Mr..
Tack's work at Winnipeg, for ex-
ample, makes a remarkable contri-
button to what might be called
new movement.
Symbolic Work
1t is work of symbolism, the
illustration of religious and philo-
sophical ideas, but before any sum-
mary of what Mr.. Tack has to saw
there should come note on his way
of saying it, for it is in this that his
conception of mural painting points
in novel direction. His principal
space is half dome, in which he
has ranged number of hieratic
figures. Here he has shown his
courage. Instead of the stereotyped
grouping mentioned above he has set
his standing figures in row, faint
ly, but only family, suggestive of
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

life, and the fruit of the tree is
twelve, and its leaves are for the
healing of the nations"
The Motive
There we have the motive of the
decoration. It's lesson is that if
justice prevails in the world the
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

TNO A GREAT many people a
q proper system Of taxation,
T. when the country is under
the necessity of raising an
unusually large sum of money over
period of years, means seizing
high percentage Of the incomes of
the wealthy and of the profits of big
business enterprises, while leaving
undisturbed the man Of small means
and the small business. There is
certain air Of generosity about this
proposition that makes a strong ap-
peal to the politician whose familiar
ity with figures comes chiefly from
study Of election tables. But it
is economically i'll advised and Ill
conceived. Otto II. Kahn has some
interesting and instructive remarks
on this problem in his latest book,
"0ur Economic and Other Prob
lens" published by the Doran Com
pany.
Perhaps as good an introduction
@ there could be of his study of tax
alton Is contained in his chapter on
High Finance" which Is a defense
Of that term Of opprobrium. 1t
seems that if there were a sufficient
ly widely diffused understanding Of
the meaning Of finance and high
finance the chief function Of taxation
might cease to be so largely consid-
cred to be to attack capital.
Wealth Is Not Finance
"A great many things are being
and have been charged In the popu-
lar view against finance" says Mr..
Kahn, with which finance, properly
understood, has nothing to do. The
possession Of wealth does not make
man fnancier any more than the
possession of chest of tools makes
man carpenter.
Finance does not mean specula-
ton. Finance most emphatically
ooes not mean fleeing the public
nor fattening parasitically on the
industry and commerce Of the coun
'Fy' Finance cannot properly bt
aeld responsible for the exploits
good, bad or Indifferent, Of the mar
"ho having made money at manu-
iacturlng or mining or in other pur
SUITS, blows into town, either phys
"aiiy or by telephone or telegraph
"Hd goes on a financial spree NOR
VI less prolonged.
finance means constructive work
u means mobilizing and organizin
''e wealth of the country so that tn
shattered monetary resources of tn
,"aiVlduals may be united and guide
"''o mighty current of fruitful &C
Opefatlon-a thousand-fold more pc
.eht than they would or could be i
INDIVIDUAL hands.
finance means promoting an
sac'Atating the country's trade q
40'he and abroad, creating ne'
"esi'h, making new jobs for work
men, 1t means continuous study G
- e conditions prevailing throughou
' world. It means daring an
saglnation combined with care an
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
Need of Larger Returns

"By the same token as the farmer,
the wage worker, and the salaried
man, they feel the need of larger
return than formerly.
"But there they run up, first of all,
against the excess profits tax in re-
spect to their own business or the
corporation in which they have in
vested.
"The excess profits tax, until the
present year, ranged from 80 per
cent to IS per cent (under certain
circumstances even so per cent? over
and above an arbitrarily fixed and,
everything considered, low return on
money actually invested in business.
I'm addition to that every corpora
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
The Purchaser PAYS

"That means that it was impos
sible for such a business to make one
dollar profit over and above the mod
crate percentage fixed by statute
without charging something over two
dollars to the purchaser. The gov
arnment takes the difference.
'In addition to that, the govern
ment, of course, takes the individual
income tax.
"And it must be remembered that
most articles before reaching the ul-
innate consumer pass through four
or five different landings.
"The activities of the producer of
the raw material, the manufacturer,
the jobber and the retailer-all are
more or less subject to this same
condition.
Each expects to be able to earn
a somewhat larger profit to take care
of the increased cost Of present-day
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
By Royal Cortissoz

~ UR neighbors in Canada, IA
4 nous for the energy with
Z which they threw them
selves into the war, COM
mand admiration also for the man.
nor in which they have remembered
.he arts of peace during the same
neriod. Despite the most discourag-
;rc conditions work never relaxed
nnon the new Parliament Buildings
Of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and their re-
rent completion has been marked by
ceremonies appropriately jubilant.
New Workers have q certain interest
IN the affair because the mural dec
orations in the legislative chamber,
publicly shown the other day for
The first time, were executed by q
New York artist, Augustus Vincent
Tack. They possess, too, certain un-
usual qualities which invite COM
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25

ton had to pay an income tax Of IL
per cent on it's total profits.
"Let US assume the case of an in
corporated business for which the
excess profits tax amounted to, say,
40 per cent.
New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
The Motive

normal channels into the Golfers of
the government.