Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-19
SOUND ra1Nur1ns

on subjects Of finance u Otto n.
Kahn, ons OF tho best known Of New
York's financial leaders, In an in
~teresting address delivered . short
time ago Mr.. Kahn discusses prob
lens of .ta1ation. Among other things
he discusses the sales TAI. Tere are
many persons Of lesser standing than
Mr.. Kahn who believe they know all
about taxation In all ito forms. Mr..
Kahn has had longer and wider ex-
perience In these matters than most
men, but he does not profess to know
it all In the subject Of the sales tax
he is frankly in doubt. He gives It
as his belief that a trial should be
given to q GROSS sales tax on commodi-
ties. limited. to one-third Of one per
cent. He does not present this as a
solution. but as an experimental plan
which he belives will have merit The
modesty Of such q man is in strik-
ing contrast with the cocksureness Of
: lot of others who know nothing
whatever about the subject.
In the address referred to Mr.. Kahn
gave his opinion Of the manner in
which the whole subject Of fl
nance and taxation should be ap-
which the whole subject Of public fl
nance and taxation should DO ap-
preached by the business men OF the
country. On this topic he said:
II have said that I am not pre-
pared ID yet to commit myself to
any definite Recommendation on this
controversial question. But there is
one Recommendation which I do ven-
ture to make, generally relating to
the subject: namely, that the bust
ness community go slow in sponsor
ing any methods of taxation, which
may give valid ground for the i'm
preston that, in their contribution to
the thought Of tax revision, the rep
resentatives Of business are unduly
concerned with conserving their own
interests, and aiming to curtail their
proper share Of the fiscal burden
which the country must bear as q leg
acy of the war.
II am not moralizing, I am speak.
ing as a practical MAJ from the point
of view of what I believe to be the
intelligent s~elf-interest of business.
When our spokesmen come forward
and claim to be heard and needed
concerning a national problem. az is
their right, we must be Sure that what
we propose IL, not only economically
sound and practically wise, but that
it is in accord with modern concep-
tons of social decency and fairness.
I'VE r asking for relief from
those taxes which are particularly irk-
some to business. It is undeniably
true that their effect is oppressive and
gravely harmful on all the people and
the greater number, probably, will be
inclined to see in the elimination Of
those taxes which are most objec-
tionable to business, a relief primar-
lily to business. It is. therefore. rdoub-
ly incumbent upon US, in the stand
which we takes as to the selection
Of methods for providing that relief,
to avoid the appearance of selfish
Sinking. We all know how large q
part popular Impressions have in
forming public opinion and how long
it takes for the slowly developing
proof of facts to .rectify such impress
sions when once they have taken hold.
Business has a rightful claim to
an important place at the council ia
BILE of the nation, a place to which it
vas called all too rarely for the past
eight years. Various indications JUS
tify the belief that the people as well
as the political parties have come to
appreciate more than for a consider
able time back, that it is to the det-
riment of the country to conduct the
nations business without giving prop
er weight and consideration to the
views, land without enlisting the CO.
operation of the business community.
"Auspioiously and g%ratifyingly,
among all callings and in all sections
Of the country, the sentiment ap.
pears to be broadening and deepen
ing that, in the face Of the problems
which confront the nation, there is
need for all we'll meaning elements
to pull together"