Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-19
GLASS DECLARES
FOR DIRECT TAXES
AND RIGID SAVING
Virginia Senator Opposes
Such Lcvies as That on
Excess Profits.
WANTS LAWS REVISED TO
TIGHTEN PUBLlC'S LOAD
Insists on Sweeping Economies
in Government Outlay 10 Aid
Living Conditions.
II, SENATOR CARTIER GLASS.

written !or the United Press; copy
right, 1921. by The United Prcss.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. lS.-An oppor-
tGnlty 10 ease The burden ct unusual
lWing,cost siill being carried by the
American people now is before Con
. gross. whica soon must undertake. :,
general revision - the revenue laws
enacted during the MAR.
y far-reach!ng tendency toward
permanently reduced price levels FOL,
all commodities can be brought about
by Congress through careful readius,-
,nent OF the Incidence OF Federal
taxes.
Direct forms OF TAXATION should be
substituted wherever possible 70. the
indirect forms into which the war
forced our national fiscal policies
Application cf this principle 10 tax
law would believe. bring beneficial
results 10 tho entire population which
ought u be measurable IN millions OF
dollars subtracted from the agcrc-
gate now paid out by the American
reopie for necessities.
The excess profits tax is one form
Of Indirect tax and the protective
tariff another. Both have AN APP
higher costs OF commodities because
all Indirect taxes are multiplied many
times over before being paid by the
consumer. The eNcess profits tax
shoQid nc repealed or radically mod.
fed.
For Personal Income Tax.
Congress. in rcadjustinE the meth
eds % collecting revenue. should de-
pend TO the fullest extent possible
on the personal income tax. which is
the least harmful means Of meeting
governmental Expenditures II is =
: direct tax which, when graduated in
/. accordance With the means OF Tho
taxpayer, ia shifted only with great
difficulty and then 10 Il very limited
extent.
Governmental expenditure IS tho
most vita! factor in Increasing the
cost Of living. Increased costs were
: experienced in AL of the countries
involved in the world war. Bat in
= the United states these Increases
I were net so great as in most Of the
countries associated with us. THIS
r WAS due TO the financial policies
/. adopted here.
Bonding tho government TO meet
ago in the United States This meant
the elimination of one of the big fac
tors in increasing living costs w,
still have The revenue laws of tn.
War period and with them their in.
equali,ics, which could not be avoided
at the time these laws We're enacted
These Inequalities can now he eilmi-
mated, which means one more step In
the job Of de;nching the United states
from the war period,
Urges Rigid Economy.
To make possible complete dctach-
mcn; however, We must practice the
most rigid economy N governmental
expenditures. 1t is TO be- hoped TIA:
the entire country VIII take q Mrin
stand in demanding that Congress
. deny every pIceosal .fcr expenditures
I in new he!!ls".r .ti,t'contnuancc or
expansion 6c Old !ys0less they repre-
sen; imperative and unQnrstioned
!. need. Rchukr should be quick and
sharp TO those elements Of the popu-
ia,lon which propose governmental
: expenditures intended 10 benefit
single group or portion OF :. commu-
nifty st ths expense Of the whole.
The burdens which would result fall
most heavily upon those elements OF
the population least ahir 10 bear
thcID. Increases in living costs re-
suliing from governmental cNpcndl-
lures form an Indirect lax which
bears heavily upon IN" poor, while
the rich cscapo since expenditures
for the necessities Of life absorb
practically the whole income Of the
poor .nd but Il negligible portion &C
/. tlte inoolnc Of the rich.