The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-22
BY FRANCIS f. WARREN


they contribute.
BY FRANCIS f. WARREN
With congress in a turmoil over
proposed important changes in our
revenue laws and being swamped
with oceans of advice from econo-
mists--real and theoretical-vith un.
favorable business conditions, signs
OF depression, stagnation. passing cf
dividends, withdrawal of money from
investment and failures here and
there, the only clear ray of light is
one that points out the why of the
condition and that why seems to be
the present methods of taxing incomes
and excess profits, methods so dras-
tic that in some cases they amount
10 practical confiscation
Figures, often tricky things at best,
Indicate that with $500 600. 900 on
deposit in this country. distributed
among 11,500,000 depositors that every
depositor should have $50 and every
inhabitant $62 On the face of il,
this may seem d small sum for the
average "free-born American" to show
for period of toll that may be many
years, yet taken in comparison with
the average of only $15S per depositor
in the worlds figures of savings, it is
10 be seen that we citizens of Z. S. A
did heed the warning, guiding cry CT
war times. economy. thrift and con-
servatism"
We Remain Sane.
With savings depositors to the
number of onetenth of our population;
with Liberty bond holders estimated
to number between fifteen and twenty
millions-less, of course. than there
were during and Immediately follow
ing actual war times-we may safely
depend upon the stability of our cor
poration and believe that our Tom
Jones and Bill Smiths and other
stockholders are not holding a listen
ing ear in the direction of the voices
that preach radiCalism, communism,
or some other ism, by whatever name
that may propose departure from the
safe and sane policies of our govern
ment.
AS Observation-Disclosures, all of us are
keenly alive to the fact that, in the
smooth running of our corporate ma
chinery, we must raise money for our
expenses with the least possible dis
turbance to business progress If we
NOulu dlldlu the highest SuCC65S.
Much has been said and written
about the tax scheme in Canada.
which has without doubt brought into
he Canadian treasury a huge sum,
and apparently no burden has been
felt by the taxpayers. Indeed, one
writer referred to the levy as "a pain
less tax" and, If any tax can be
truthfully called painless, the sales
To- 1f
description. IT became effective IN
May, 1920, and, in its first years of op-
Grafton. levying a rate of two cents on
the dollar. yielded $4,000, 900 in reve-
nue.. A similar levy in our country
would, it is estimated, yield about six
hundred millions annually. Without
doubt it would be fair to all: would
put a premium on economy, and yet
could not be said to carry any extra
imposition uron the luxuries and ev-
trayagances OF those who do not want
10 be economical. The distribution
in other words. would be universal;
the collection would be economical;
chances for dishonesty and evasion
would be minimized
Congress Hesitates
But regardless of the fact that our
''h SOdi-tlN ndo diTeduN mad cOQSld-
cradle experience with sales taxes as
imposed by the Acts of 1917 and 1918.
Tue administration of which has been
satisfactory and successful, there
scenes to be hesitancy on the part
OF congress to do away with the oner.
Gus. annoying lines of taxes so diff.
cult and expensive to collect. and to
adopt instead-even on tr!al--some
sort OF sales-tax plan.
chambers OF commerce, business
and commercial organizations of all
sorts throughout the entire country
and many individuals generally. have
advocated the proposition as the most
intelligent, fairest, and least oppres-
slVe OF all forms of taxation. The in.
dorsement of many others would no
doubt follow if more thought were Civ.
en- by the mass of taxpayers to the
tact that the men of modest incomes
are really finally paying the big sur.
taxes of the rich-for it is q fact that
the more the latters incomes are
taxed, the more is added to the price
OF the product from which such in
comes are derived A sort of endless
chain affair. and veritaby a chain
that has us all bound tight
How much better would be more
universal distribution OF the burden
Tor we must have taxes. and incomes