Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-08
Proposals Not Here
tofore Advanced Contain
ed In Report; Federal
Poll Tax OF Five Dollars
Is One Of The Provisions.

Washington, Jan. 8.-A comprehen-
sive program for revision OF the fed
eral laws estimated to yield annually
the $4,000 100000 WHICH Secretary
Houston has said the treasury re-
quired. was filed today with the house
committee of the National Retail Dry.
goods association.
enc plan worked out by the trade
organization contains several pro-
posals not heretofore advanced, in
cludlng the assessment Of a federal
poll tax of IS on each person over q
years old. who receives an independ-
ent income. Income tax exemptions
1t is supposed. would be raised from,
$1,000 to $500 for unmarried per,
sons and from $4,000 to $1,000 for
heads Of families.
Exemption Of $4,000.
All business would be allowed an
exemption of $1,000.
Other features carried in the pro-
gram. which was approved through
u referendum of the organizations o.
600 members provide that:
Incomes from salaries, wages and
bonuses, and commissions should not
be taxed at so high a rate as income
from business and investments.
Income derived from business.
whether individual. partnership, or
corporate should be taxed on the busi-
ness itself and be subject to no addi-
tional tax when distributed to partners
!. or stockholders.
All other incomes, including profit
from the sales OF capital assets should
be taxed at higher rate than in
come from business and in a still
t higher degree than income from man
ual or mental efforts.
!. There should be a tax on gross sales
| OF all goods sufficient when added to
all other taxes proposed in the pro-
to aggregate the required s4,0e0.-
100000.
Would Eliminate Some Taxes.
The program would eliminate from
| the present revenue act the excess
| profits tax. surtaxeS; on individuals
taxes on transportation insurance. ad-
missions dues, and on non-alcoholic
beverages and special and capital
stock taxes. stamp taxes, and certain
| excise taxes.
! The normal income rate would be-
fixed at per cent cn the first $4,000
above the exemption while the re-
mainder would be subjected to tax
OF per cent and no surtaxes would
be levied.
Income from business institutions
! would be taxed at 10 per cent on
| e1'ooito duOSStlie eAeiuRll0D.' IN lllS
! connection a Statement by the asso-
citation officials explained that dts
! unction has been made in their pro-
gram between manual or mental ef-
forts and the results Of business in
vestments. the latter being required
to bear the heavier burden.
All other incomes. including "un-,
| earned or investment income and
profits would bear surtaxes ranging
from l per cent on incomes from 500
| 600 to $4,000 to 6 per cent on in
comes in excess of 100000.
! Estimates compiled by the associa-
i tion committee placed the revenue
from the five dollar poll tax at $50
Z! 100000 annually. From income taxes
/ OF all kiAds proposed in the plan. ii
was estimated the revenue production
| would be approximately $1.S2S 000.-
| 600. Customs receipts were placed at
! $36O.00O.000 and the sales tax which
the organization proposed with a rate
OF per cent would yield s1,sl6-
500 900.
| Customs receipts however were
calculated on the basis of the present
revenue act and did not take into
consideration the contemplated
changes now being worked out by the
house ways and means committee.
E; Likewise the estimate of collec-
tions from the sales tax was said by
the association representatives 10 be
very conservative" and they predicted
| that one-half of one per cent may be
ample to raise the revenue needed To
complete the {4,000.000,0 ,0O0 budget.