Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-30
THE DEMAND FOR SIMPLER TAXES

THE DEMAND FOR SIMPLER TAXES
mot one man in hundred can sit down
and intelligently fill out his income tax blank
without consulting an expert" declares the
WHEELING REGISTER (Dem.), and there
are thousands of people in the United States
who will be glad to indorse this testimony.
Consequently the recommendations of Secre-
tary of the Treasury Houston that system
of federal taxation be simplified, meet with
general approval, though there is disagree
ment as to the precise methods to be sub
stituted
One of Mr.. Houstons most important rec
concentrations is to remove the excess profits
tax altogether and to establish i'll its place
a flat tax of 20 per cent on undistributed
earnings. Furthermore, the same rate oil
taxation would apply to corporations, part
nerships and individuals Unfortunately.
zone we'll known partnership" the NEW
YORK TIMES (Ind. Dem.) quotes Mr.. Hous-
ton as saying, paid $1,125,000 more taxes
that it would have paid if the business had
been Incorporated, and there are many eX-
amples of the reverse effect in burdens on
corporations" Mr.. Houston, then, would
make it impossible for business to affect it's
taxation status by incorporating, or refusing
to incorporate.
eff we can't have lower taxes, at least let
us have simpler taxes and less objection
able taxes" urges the ARIZONA GAZETTE
(lnd. Dem.) but there are many that be-
lieve reduction is possible at the same time.
The WHEELING INTELLIGENCER (Rep.)
calling attention to the striking fact that
1.-THE head of every family is paying, directly
or indirectly, $3.50 annually in taxes" be-
lieves that rigid economy at Washington
can reduce at least a portion Of this" and
the FLORIDA TIMES-DEMOCRAT' (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 q reasonable figure. What
changes have occurred in conditions that
make it necessary for the United States to
spend more money than it spent six years
ago? The war is ended; it's activities are
finished-why keep on the payrolls of the
government men and women whose services
were needed while the struggle was in prog
ress, but are not needed noW?"
The NEW YORK TRIBUNE (Rep.) agrees
that "the immediate and fundamental need
at Washington is to eliminate deficits and
balance the governments accounts. 1t Will
be time thereafter to simply and reduce taxa
ton or to consider proper additions to out
normal peace expenditure" But in the face
of the demand to reduce taxes by issuing
more bonds, the FARGO COURIER-NEWS
(Non-Part. League) prefers mot to decrease
taxes, but to increase them to point where
they will meet expenditures since bond
issue increases still further the initiation OF
the currency raises little higher all prices
and makes more probable 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
committee, to remove the exemption of
$4,000 allowed to heads of families on their
income computations. '1t is doubtful" says
the NEW YORK GLOBE Gnd.), "if such a
measure will be tolerated by public opinion. 1"
For, says the GLOBE:
1.-THE principle that great wealth should
pay not only greater sum, but at a greater
rate than small wealth is fixed in the law
and in the popular consciousness. It is no
argument against the principle that it tends,
though ever so slightly, to equaliZe wealth.
The income tax may, in fact, be used, If oc-
casion ever arises, to prevent that dangerous
accumulation of wealth in few hands that
has ruined more than one Democratic state.
1t is weapon that in ordinary times
should be used sparingly, but one that should
be kept intact for all emergencies"
The WICHITA EAGLE Gnd.) calls the
suggestion the "rawest taxation proposal ever
put into words in all the history of taxation"
1t means, says the EAGLE, eff man makes
only $75 a month and has family of eight,
tax him exactly the same proportion of his
income as you levy against Henry T. Doherty,
Millionaire bachelor bank merchant" And
the CANTON NEWS (Ind. Dem.) adds: