Evening star., 1921-09-13
Editorial Digest.
Simplifying Taxation.

Simplifying Taxation.
II Senator Smoot has his way, In the
opinion Of the press. you can be your
own lawyer in determining how much
you owe your government in taxes This
return to normalcy through simple
ity," as the New York World (demo-
cratic) calls the suggested six sources Of
revenue, is commended generally in edi-
torial comment as an obvious improve
ment over the existing thirty-five
sources. including the nuisance tax
es. though some objection is urged as
to details Of other features Of the
measure.
The Asheville IN. CO. Times (inde-
pendent) thinks that utilizing only
those taxes that can be computed
and discarding levies which raise
more resentment than money" are
virtues mot to be scoffed at" and
the Milwaukee Sentinel (republican)
duction of several million dollars in
the expense Of collecting the tax"
while the Minneapolis Journal (inde-
pendent republican, contrasts the
act. which requires "a lawyer to in
not ne will be wrong" "The great
merit of the Smoot plan is its SIM
plicity." is the verdict of the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat (republican). and the
thinks that latter the Senate finance
committee gets through with the
Smoot bill it ought to be a great i'm
provement over the House bill"
Next to the simplicity of the Smoot
plan. discussion ranges about the
cent
the manufacturers product, which
the Philadelphia Bulletin Gndepend-
ent republican, regards as the chief
feature of Senator Shoots plan"
ocratic) feels that this Feature is the
one that will cause the Smoot plan
the most trouble" The Butte (Mont.)
Miner (democratic) finds that many
labor and farming organizations have
gone on record against it," and in the
News (Non-Partisan League) Mr..
Smoot's plan is a little too simple. 1t
is too obviously an effort to relieve
the tax burden on the rich and shift
it on to the poor"
The Louisville Post independently
questions IL the plan is not merely
cunning device to justify the high
est sort of protective tariff" and adds:
when it became apparent that what
was proposed was to reduce the sur
viduals to exactly the extent that
taxes were placed on the masses of
the people there was revolt In the
west. and the sales tax has been un-
popular ever since"
He imposes too severe tax on
our credulity." complains the Spring.
field (Mass.) Union (republican), re-
ferring to the senator's statement
that the levy will not pass to the
retailer, but even SO, thinks it "a
excess profits. which the ultimate
consumer now pays not once, but
several times" On the other hand.
the Buffalo Times (democratic) is
contention In this particular may be
relied upon to diminish opposition
to the sales tax. as 1t clears up
the ISSUE" and the st. Joseph (Mo.)
News-Press independently considers
it strange that "in this land. where
all are supposed to be born free and
equal. there is sentiment against
the general sales tax for the very
reason of its seeming impartiality,"
and the Boston Post Nndependent
mand for this form of taxation is be-
ing realized at Washington"
The Portland Oregonian (independ-
ent republican,, while cOnceding that
facturer's sales tax" thinks it would
be improved If it 'distinguished be-
tween earned and unearned incomes
and provided higher rate on the
latter" while the, New York Post
elimination against partnerships and
other unincorporated associations
will result. unless compensatory
tax on corporations" takes the place
of the excess profits tax.
no figure in it. while the. maximum
income tax rate is 32," in the opinion
Of the Brooklyn Eagle independent
democratic). is "by far the most at,
while the New York Herald Unde-
penden) regards the measure as
superior in construction and inn
measurably better in its economics"
than the bill passed BY the House.
financier there is no lack of tribute.
the Roanoke (Va.) Times demo
cratic) considering that he knows
more about the cOuntry'S finances
than any other member of either
tanooga News (democratic) referring
to him as perhaps the best informed
on taxation and other governmental
activities Of all republican senator's"
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
(democratic) says:
who are thinking of their taxes will
think him hard-hearted - and he
speaks with something like authority
in the Senate. He is better acquaint-
ed with ledger figures than with fig
ures of speech. He possesses the
saving virtue of common sense"
The Springfield Republican Unde-
pendnet) foresees that the acceptance
Of his plan would add greatly to his
prestige: it's rejection would be Sc
rious blight upon his ambition to fig
ure as the most influential party
leader in matters of finance" Sem
ator Smoot has the right idea," says
the New Bedford (Mass) Standard
(republican), what is wanted in
tax measure zig new DEAL"
Twenty Cent Cotton.