The Washington herald., 1921-08-12
Railroad Rate Taxes.

IN gone to the business world than that the
~ House Ways and Means Committee in
framing the tax measure, has decided to repeal
al the railroad traffic taxes. If The Herald might
be permitted to make a suggestion, it would be that
this should take effect at with the final pas
sage Oh the bill. AS planned it is not to take
effect nntil January I.
n This bill is expected to pass the House and go
to the Senate the latter part of this month. 1t will
probably be ready for a committee report to that
body when it reconvcnes after its thirty days va
cation Unless the debate is needlessly long drawn
out the expectation is that it will pass by Novem-
ber l. AS related to railroad traffic it can be ap-
pied at once without any delays. That tax is OF
nature which requires formaitics, nor readjust-
rnents to end its collection.
Naturally the movements OF freights will be de-
layed so far as possible from until the bill be-
comes law There will be a general holding back
Of shipments this which is so consider
able an amount on commodities to be material
This will be felt in the distribution of coal, already
delayed, and in the farm crops movement, as
we'll as in ores metals and primary steel products.
q, 1t is very important that this delay OF ship
nients should be for short time as possible. 1t
is decidedly material business whether 1t ends IN
November. or extends to January l. When the
date comes there will probably be let loose con-
siderable food OF shipments The railroads will be
rcadY for it. but they be better prepared II the
accumulation is not for the more extended period
Crop shipments normally very heavy early
in September. 1t is essential that they shall not
be held back for any cause longer than IS abso-
Iutcy necessary. Indeed while this feature OF the
tax revision should be made retroactive OF the
present date, it might be very helpful to have it
effective as to commodities from September I, to
expedite grain shipments and coal distribution. It.
seemsevdcnt that the ireest possible flow OF trans
portation should be encouraged not hampercd dur
ing the entire fall period which always marks gen
raFbusiness revival, and that especially the prod
ucts OF the soil which form the bulk OF the annual
increase OF new wealth. should not be held from the
full market demand.
Moreover, if remission OF the tax which applies
to travel is made effective the passage OF the
BILL it will be Christmas gift which will be mighty
acceptable to all our people This is the time
Of the year when all wanderers long for home. 1t
Is issaaperiod OF pilgrimages to the home shrine and
nothing is moro wholesome for our national life
than the encouragement OF this return to the source
oi our stability our moral strength and patriotic
devotion.
For thousands the difference OF this tax may
be the deciding difference between to so and not to
60 With all, it will be this or just so much more
turned into the channels OF trade in the form OF
gifts Congress can spread great flood OF haPpi-
ness by this ono little amendment and it will open
the food gates OF railroad revival by making the
tax repeal as TO commodities effective at once on
the signing OF the law. or, better still, on Sep
tember l.