The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-09-06
Mr.. Harding
Puts Up Fight
viii Insist on Excess Prof.
its Repeal Taking Effect
From Last January
BY DAVID LAwRHNCB.
(Coryr.sht by TIE InteIisencer)

The Harding administration intends
70 put the tuu weight OF It's influence
behind the original proposal OF Setre-
rary Mellon. that the excess 0ro,Es tax
be repealed as ct as January, 10 that
when American business makes ont rs
income TAX return mex; March there
shall be only the corporation tax or
,.is per cent to rLN
The change made n the house bill
whereby ;he excess profits TAX would
ee repealed heS;r0lng 0"I; January
"aS NOT made AT the instance ot the
administration and was 5as>.'e:y ac-
r~pted by RepuhNCa" f"use leaders be-
'auss o. conviction that the senate
"ould alter and Pres!deH. Harding
would bring pressure 20 bear when :he
-ontere-~e comn,;tte" - the TWO houses
tlaaliy had N" mater n hand.
It the house p;aa we're !" prevail. not
only would American business be com
?~,ied - pay excess pron'S taxes next
March. but the 'uln benen, ot the re-
csat would not Re- t"'t until year from
cext March. which would he after the
congressional. elsr;ioH The Reruh!-
IAN leaders are mindful Of the ta"' that
hey promised in ,h- 1920 campaign an
immediate repea, ~ the excess profits
tx and already Leading Republicans.
both inside and outside Of congress are
saying that II the excess profits tax
q not repealed - take cffe"t betore
ma congressional siectinu tHe pledge
will have been fui!s
Another Argument.
Another arEumeH' Hen!C mad" In
favor OF r-peal!ng the EXCESS pr"tt tax
as OF last January g tho fact that this
Is prbeably tho wors' "ear ., tn" eus!-
ress depression following the va. and
that q business ever did need assist
ence and incentive. This ts the lime 70
render adj Furthermore. II "x"ess
i,-ofits axes should Re collected next
March for the year 1921. Il vii, put n
strong weapon in he hands of these
members ot congress who a-e opposed
W the repeal At any tire o' the excess
a-or;,. 'aw. They will be able 10 say
That " the excess profit tax Yielded so
much IN the bad year the chances are =
vii ri.;4 more in other years 20 come.
and TIA, Z should pc retained. The
ia,l vi~ld would be looked upon as a
minimum, tnat could MOI he ignored. IN
o.h~r word. -cagress might Re. put IN
.Ae position ~ rep~alirg tax which
rrIpr: A.~cnra 'he basis snr campaign
CONTROVERSY next spring md sumrn--
when the congressional primaries and
elections ui,t Re in Pull swing.
Possible Salss Tax.
Incidentally. tho idea NJ sales tax.
or r.tha- p-oductior TAX. ms not
N~.r altogether handoaed. senator
Sr,oor IL working on su"s;.tu.- FOR
,hs house tax bill and has aHnoIaced
that The entire tax program can he sim
r.!tted hy means OF a >a,rs tax. Owing
~ Senator Smoors :ntluen'ia! position
n tho administration, il !. obvious that
r. would No, be working tncessantlr
during IN. recess ~ congress Y he d'd
rot have some encoura cement from the
white NouS. u - known thar IN
cabinet discussions a product:"n tax.
pavabi. once md =; :hs sc"r,c "f man
u,actur. ha< hcsr favored. ana ~.
or,- rsa' ohS,ar'. - .N~ emhodr:nS Of
such A tax in the N~w Nil g tho warn
Ing oc tho treasury department that Z
would ,dAs tne iHrom" tx bureau A.
cas-, four ~ H.. months - ar1uatn'
,tse,t with ths host method NJ admins
;e-trS the r4> IA aaA thai tre "o',oH-
ION - he tax would n. Al expensive
proposition.
o. one thing however Ausi1ess men
MAY be certain. Ths administrator In
ENDS 10 stand b. its original promise
:. r.real IN. excess profits TAX as ~
-, Janua-y and ~ Is predicted rs "ah-
l,.- members that PreSi6"1t HartlnS
wiI' probably hara his wsy IN fats
matter when IN. tax hllt IS NJ for final
consideration.