The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-05-14
PROPOSED
SALES TAX



their constituents on the subject o
taxation. Anything which is propose'
is opposed. naturally. People don
like taxes-"nohow." as the coloret
gentleman said In a popular song
The effort to learn what people woult
be in favor of, or least against, Is {
perplexing one.
Perhaps Nevada Is to be as ea3il,
suited as any State. Communications
SO far received in the Office of tn,
Representative of Nevada In Congress
are all against the so-called sales tax
Congressman from other states are
receiving demands for 1t. In some
caaes, according to report
In this matter, as In most others OF
nationwide scope, legislators are
compelled at last to depend to a great
extent upon opinions expressed by
newspapers of different localities. In
other words, the newspapers are the
present-day means of ascertaining the
views of a large number of citizens
in a short time.
Extracts of opinion from score of
newspapers, made at Washington to-
day, show that what Secretary Mellon
says about the shocking expendi-
ture" of the government and the need
of retrenchment Is correct. There
seems to be resentment against the
proposed levy on automobiles, and
while omission of the sales tax has
stirred up its supporters to comment.
many writers seem satisfied that 1t
has been put aside.
The st. Louis Star independently
finds Mr.. Melons attempt to relieve
business of the tax milestone about
it3 neck without attaching that weight
to the necks Of the common people"
sincere, but "pitiably inadequate" as
"he admits" The army and Navy is
the answer. the Star believes, and we
should move instantly and effectively
toward worldwide relief Of these ter
rible burdens"
, The Cleveland Plain Dealer Cinde-
pendent. democratic) takes a some
what similar view, and suggests as a
remedy departmental reorganization
and substantial economics" while the
only hope" visible to the Cincinnati
Commercial Tribune (republicatn) Is
cuts in current expenditures"
The Buffalo Express Independent,
republican, puts the case tersely:
Individuals who pay their personal
bills know that earning capacity must
be greater than spending. In the case
Of the government earning capacity
is represented by taxing power. The
government has surpassed its taxing
power. The only recourse is retrench-
ment."
As to the recommendations made
by Secretary Mellon, as the Quincy
Whig-Journal (republican) puts 1t,
they are half good and half bad, as
they appeal to the interests which
feel that they are hardest hit" The
Syracuse Post-Standard (republican)
finds the program Simple, straight
forward and clear" proposing mot
only the reduction Of taxation. which
investment and industry require, but
the substitution of taxes which shall
sustain the national revenue unim-
paired"
The Pittsburgh Gazette-Times ire
publican) declares they hold the
prospect of securing needed revenue
and "of so distributing the exactions
that industry and commerce will be
the least handicapped
On the other hand. the Chattanooga
News (democratic) sees nothing very
original" in the proposals which, says
the Louisville Courier-Journal demo
cratic), attack the taxpayer just as
hard, but in a different spot" The
Baltimore News Independently is will
ing to accept what is offered as
makeshift, at least.
In discussing the various phases Of
the tax revision, the New York Globe
independently mentions the fiat ad-
ditional tax on corporations" to re-
place the excess profits levy and a
reduction of surfaces. in which meas
ures "the Secretary seems to be fav-
oring the wealthier taxpayers" but
which, the Globe believes. really rep
resent a betterment of the existing
system.
The Albany NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
(republican) says: what is the use
of a high tax rate which yields moth
ing? Excessive tax requirements
have driven free capital under cover
when It ought to be available for in
vestments in order to keep business
going"