Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-08
SALES TAX ILLOGICAL.
ASSERTS MONDELL
By DAVID LAWRENCE
LEASED Wire Service to The Journal.


Copyright 1921
WASHINGTON. Oct. 6.-Republi-
can Leader Mondell told President
Harding today that sales tax was
not only Illogical but impossible of
enactment in the house. The presi-
dent didn't commit himself but said
1t was a matter for the two houses of
congress to work out.
Nr Mondell's visit followed sew
eral conferences which administra-
ton senators had with Mr.. Harding
in which they urged him to throw his
influence in the scales in favor OF
so-called manufacturers sale tax.
The controversy between the advo-
Gates and opponents OF a sales tax
has reached a climax inside the adj
ministration camp. The house is IN
sistent that the bill which 1t has
passed be used as a basis for tax
legislation and Mr.. MondeH indi-
Gated that there would be no objec-
tion In the house II the senate nsde
certain changes in the nuisance and
transportation taxes. In other words
tha formula Of taxation prepared by
tha house will be adhered to by Its
leaders and the other method pro-
nosed by Senator Smoot will be Wig
oroussy opposed.
idea in House =,
sswe worked in the house" SAID
Mr.. Mondell. con the theory tnas
people wanted the tax burden A., iitt leu
sheet TO the gentlemen who are al,
yocating a sales tax it is Illogical
ana adds to the burdens OF the tax
nayar Nor is it the simple tnlng
thst ia claimed. How for instance
will a sales tax be computes, ,s on th he
wool grown in my state. n VIII q he
rpiaceS on warn or on cloth? 1t VIII De
PASSED on just as surely as any osne'
'H The Republican house leader de,
clared that a new sytem OF Its In
would have ITS. emoar Tbe govern
MAY n,any machinery would, Of course
haya RI he changed so as to coiiecI
+bs nav taxes. Furthermore. tnS ne, :.
ia no certainty in MT. Mo MO- aeias
ontniou that the manufacturers sa .,IS
tax wouldn't bring with 1t more eVtIs 3
than it was designed to cure; ne
Snoiared too that the house bill was
~, NO means a perfect measure. put
Fiat II did tend to relieve the people
~ ths abnormal and unusual taxes.
He saw no hope for the amenoInen'
nroposing that the repeal OF the eA-
cess profits taxes to be mace eheo-
tive as of last January; . +ho+
When it was suggested to MN ina
yrarv business interests may nave
soften behind a sales AK because
os Sheir disappointment over the fact
that excess profits taxes Will not
be Immediately repealed, Mr.. Mon
deli insisted that such a step was
also illogical.
ne argued that he could hardly
believe that members of congress
would support so burdensome meas
rregas a sales tax in order to insure
relief to few tax payers from the
excess profits tax. Mr.. Mondell
said he originally favored making
the repeal retroactive but that ne nao
been won over to the other new pc
cause it had been represented to MIN
that the firms which are asked 70
raw excess profits taxes Nor The cal
endar year Of 1921 have 1'ready pass
ed on that tax to the consumer VINO
has paid it and that 1t would be I'M
fair to let one set Of tax payers pay
while another set benefited by the
While talking with the president
Mr.. Mondell expressed himself on The
subject of a recess of congress at
the beginning of November as had
been gossiped for several days. The
Republican leader drew out PAD
and wrote q list Of half dozen
major subjects pending IN congress
ruch as the treaties with Central
European countries, the tax bill, the
tariff, the railroad bill and the bill
TO fund foreign debts.
when all those are disnosed of"
10 said with smile, 81 think we
an adjourn the special session"
That was only another way of say