Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-13
No Taxation Relief.

HE business man might as well recon-
cile himself TO the present system OF
Federal taxation for at least one more
year. There is not the slightest reason at
this time to believe that tho present Con-
gress or the incoming one will be able to
revise or 10 reform existing taxes until
late next summer or autumn. Even after
this job is finished, the Treasury must have
Few weeks In which to prepare the regu-
latlons and organize the collection machin-
cry before new tax system can be put
into full operation
II is quite true that both political parties
by platform pledge and specific promises
on the part OF their candidates have held
out the hope of an early overhauling of
the war taxes which were imposed hur-
rlcdly to meet an emergency. But pledges
are one thing and performance quite an
other Political leaders might easily prom
Use quick relief from burdensome taxes but
parliamentary leaders know that it is not
so easy TO carry those promises into effect
AS matter OF fact. members OF Re-
publican organization OF the House and
Senate are totally at sea upon the question
OF Federal taxation. They are not sure.
IN the FIRST instance, OF the amount of
money II will be necessary to raise for tho
coming fiscal year. Nor are they sure OF
any means OF eSacting that revenue from
The American people. Some OF them talk
baihc!y OF Il billion dollar tariff" and
yet most men who think at all must real
Hc that any tariff which would ne, a bill
non dollars. on paper, would he SO high as
10 become prohibitive. il put into operation
Traffic viii bear Just so much duty and no
nore Imports will cease if the tariff is
so higa as TO make them unmarketable in
this country.
again. the country has been told over
would b" repealed. In time it will be re-
pea!ec, no doubt, but not until the House
and senate have found some substitute
.of tnat ley. The revenue derived from
TIC p1chts TAX !s still needed and must be
raised from some source, but no congression-
a! !sade. has yet appeared with a workable
scheme for abolishng that tax and for
th. sho5ti,ut!on al another as productive OF
Federal incoIa.
7aits taxes and consu mption taxes have
been considered in thia connection. and
WINE either a?stem might serve the pur
pose 70 enact either would be TO pass the
burden on 10 the consumer direc, in.,..d
OIL making the consumer pay il indirectly
Is by no means certain that Congress
"o"ia accept the responsibility for sucb
" measure. IL would be so unpopular az
- cost scores Of members their sea,s
ne iasi o! the proposed substitutes for
,nc Woh'a tax IL higher tar upon in
oi'idna! incomes This might serve the
purpose 81 The government Profits even
."'i's pass TO Individuals. in most bust
hcsscs, and II the tax should he assoecod
upon the individual incomes, after pro6,s
arc divided, instead or upon tho nroa,s
themselves. the revenue might he ob,ainod
""hou' interfering with the normal pro.
cesses Of industry
IN any event. 1T seems unlikely tina, the
present congress will act upon taxation n,
an ana II the problem il passed alonp ~
,"c next Congress. it viii be many months
Dc.olc a new fiscal system can be devised
debated and egislated upon.