The Washington herald., 1921-07-11
URGES ECONOMY
and SOLONS' AID
IN REDUCING TAX
Tregoe Says Trade Must
Be Granted Proper
Freedom.
TO FILE PETITION
Legislators viii Be Asked to
Take Prompt Action in
New Enactment.
O. FILE PETITION

NEW YORK. July 1o.-caliing up
on the $1,000 manufacturers. whole
saIers and bankers comprising the
membership Of the National Associa-
tion Of Credit Men TO petition their
Congressmen to formulate new Fed
eral taxation laws, J. II. Tregoe. sec
retary tonight issued a
message urging government econ
omy to reduce the burden now borne
by. the taxpayers of the country.
"Every member of the National
Association of Credit Men should do
his share toward securing needed
government economies and should
write his representatives In both the
House and Senate and urge immedi-
ate action in the formulation Of a
new and reasonable taxation law"
reads Mr.. Tresoe's message.
The present Federal tax laws
should be reformed at the earliest
possible moment. Business must be
encouraged and not depressed. Bus
mess must bear a fair share of the
nations burden. but must be grant
ed proper freedom for development
and a relief from everything that
will tend to hinder its development-
Goes On Record.
The National Association of
Credit Men at its twenty-sixth an
nuai convention, held in San Fran
cisco last month, went on record as
being in favor Of immediate action
by Congress In formulating a new
taxation system which will manifest
the good faith of the government
and evidence its intention to econo-
mize and to do its share in the re-
cuperation of business. This call
must be needed. to neglect the call
would prove unfortunate and cause
an uneasiness and impatience in the
nation which by all means Congress
should avoid.
we suspect the subject of Fed
eral taxation has not received. the
study II should. and for the reason
largely that up until 1917 the income
of the nation was derived largely
from customs and excise duties, and
the direct cost of government fell
but lightly on the people. The pres
ent burdens of taxation, however,
are causing a great deal of concern
and We submit very frankly the be-
lief that more study should be given
to the subject and a clearer grasp
OF 1t acquired by Congress.
oRers Statistics.
From 1891 20 1901. the income Of
the government averaged about S.
100000 a yea.. The cost of govern
ment for this period was a little
more than s7.soo.ooo a year. During
the second war with England. frcm
1912 to 1915, the cost of conducting
IL together with the operating ex-
penses Of the goversment. was ap-
proximately $3.50, 100000. Coming
down to more recent years, the
period of the war of the Confed-
eracy from 1861 to 1865, cost togeth-
er with the operating expenses OF
the government a little more than
$S.0oo.oo0.ooo. From 1880 to 1901, a
period comprising our war with
spain. the income of the ,vernmcnt
averaged about S445,0oo, 900 a year,
and the cost was about S4i3, 1000. 600
year. From 1902 to 1915, a period
OF nfteen years. the income Of the
government averaged about $685.
100000 a year. and the cost averaged
about $s1S.oo0,eO0 a year. Place
these figures side by side with the
income and costs of government
from 1918 to 1920 inclusive. The gov
ernmental expenditures Of 1920 ex-
ceeded the expenditures from 1871 to
1865 inclusive, a period Of seventy
one years. The fervor of our patrio-
tism brooked no interference with
the expenditures that tended to the
success of our efforts to defeat the
Central Empires. without dwelling
upon the waste caused by our un-
preparedness, We must dwell very
forcibly on the need OF economy in
governmental expe nditures and are
lief OF people from the heavy bur-
Aens Of our present taxation"