Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-20
A VOTE ON TAX PROBLEMS

An interesting tabulation has just been made on
the votes cast by the members of the national Economic
League on a number Of questions relating to taxation.
The Economic League is a national body with a member
ship of some 1000 men prominent in American public
thought and affairs, who consider and discuss matters OF
public interest, and who sometimes are invited to express
their opinions by vote. In the balloting on questions Of
taxation $50 votes were cast and the result indicates a
marked unanimity with reference to most Of the subjects
under consideration.
Although 30 per cent of the $50 members who returned
ballots voted in favor Of retaining the income tax, about
rs per cent voted against the excess profits tax, which has
been characterized by leading thinkers of America as
vicious, in that it serves to paralyze legitimate business
and to keep commodity prices out of proportion to what
they would be with more reasonable tsxation on business
or inductry.
About one-half of the voters expressed themselves
as gavorins retention Of the present minima Of taxable
income; of those voting in the negative two-thirds ia
vored lowering the minima. A majority were opposed to
the present rates Of surtax upon incomes in excess Of
$4,000, all but 10 per cent favoring diminishing the pres
et rate. About 10 per cent voted as favoring retention
of the inheritance tax.
The questions asked and the results obtained follow:
Vote
as Yes No
l.. Should the income tax be retained as one of
the principal sources Of federal revenues. .4s5 IS
=. Should the present minima of taxable in
come be retained? 234
If the answer is no, should the present
minima be
\ (a) Raised? so 80.
(b) Lowerel7 ...
5. Should the present rates on surtax upon In
comes in excess of $1,000 be etained?....1s 277
If the answer is no, should the present
rates Of surtax be
ta> Increased? .................... II -.
(b) Diminished? =.
4. Should the excess profits tax be retained as
a source of federal 1858
5. Should the federal estate commonly called
inherhance) tax be retained? ...........36 1888
6. Should a direct tax be levied by the United
States upon the site value Of land; !. e., the
portion of the value of land due to the pres
o-a4 o-l ~o%-;${nc 80 ~ 1~o-.r:4
natural advantage" mineral deposits, har-
Dor frontage and the like .......:....163 317
Z. II your answer is yes to the preceding ques-
ton, should the federal constitution be
amended. so that such a tax could be levied
at a uniform rate throughout the United
States, instead of being apportioned among
the states in proportion to population as
at present required? IS
8. Should the policy # the United States with
respect to a tariff on imports be
(a) A tariff for the protection of home in
dustries: = ... -.
(b) A tariff for revenue only ?........1s5 =.
(c) Free trade q. e., no tariff whatever) 81 e.
9. Should congress undertake a survey of the
ultimate effect Of various kinds of taxes to
determine
(a) What taxes involve administrative ex-
penscs disproportionate to the revenue
collected? --... ",
(b) What taxes, il any, directly or indi-
rectly. increase the cost Of living by an go
amount materially: in excess of the rev.
enue collected? -: T.. w. .
Co What taxes, il any. could be levied d.
that would directly or indirectly reduce
the cost of living 81
10. Is it advisable for the United States to pay
off it's bonded indebtedness as rapidly as the !" :.
nonds mature! 2oe zfs
II. Should the federal power of taxation be ~.
used as an indirect means of imposing reg
ulations in behalf of the public health, NOR
ais Or safety which congress would have no
rcwer to impose directly? -. -. ...........l5 800