The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-13
IRELAND OFFERED DOMINION STATUS
CHANGES MADE
IN REVENUE LAW
ARE DEFENDED
Party Leaders To Get
Draft of Measure
Monday.

Washington. Aug. 13.-Repeal OF
the express tax of 1 cents on every
20 cents of value was decided upon
today by the ways and means
committee.
The committee also voted to
levy a fat license tax of SO on all
retailers of soft drinks and to fix
the manufacturers tax on cereal
beverage at IL cents a gallon in
place of the present manufactur-
ers' tax Of Is per cent on the sale
price.
Washington, Aug. 13.-An official
statement explaining administra-
ton revision program was issued to-
day at the White house. 1t declares
that 'the aim was to establish
methods that would raise the need
ed revenue with reasonable certain
ty, make collections sure and mex
pensive and properly adjust the bur-
dens among all classes of the COM
munity.'
1T is felt that highly important
progress has been made along these
lines" the statement says, adding:
There has been no effort to re-
lleve the rich of their share of bur
dens, but rather to insure that no
class will be left an avenue of
escape from these. A casual anal
ysis of the proposals shows that
what may be described as ''the rich
mans taxes" will produce about
81 800 100000, while the balance
Will be distributed over the entire
community, rich and poor.
1.-The reduction to 80 per cent of
the highest income and surtax
schedules is expected by the ex-
perts to produce actually more rev.
enue from these sources than do
the present much-higher rates.
Experience has shown in dealing
with the excess profits taxes, that
where there is periodic selling this
tax is pyramided, multiplying the
burden of the consumer and induc-
ing speculation and waste which
has been largely responsible for the
intense speculation that followed
the war. 1t is an unsatisfactory tax
on which to base revenue estimates
because its product of revenue is sc
extremely variable, and in the pres
ent epoch of reduced earnings, il
would utterly fail to produce the
amount needed.
Makes Exemption.
"In increasing the tax on corpor-
alton earnings, an exemption is
made of those having earnings OF
81 900 or less-the poor mans cor
porations. The number that would
thus be exempted would exceed 300.-
000."
After reviewing benefits which If
is expected will flow from repeal of
the transportation taxes and sub
stitution of manufacturers taxes for
the so-called nuisance" levies, the
statement concluded:
1.-The whole tax reform program
contemplates freeing business from
what have been found paralyzing and
exasperating restrictions, encourag-
ing to the utmost the resumption of
enterprise and business, removing
every possible incentive to evasion
and fraud, and distributing the tax
burden with the greatest possible
equity among all classes of people,
keeping in mind the purpose to i'm
pose the larger share on those best
able to pay"
Having practically completed re-
vision of the levy sections of the
1918 law yesterday, majority mem
bers of the house ways and means
committee expected to finish wott
on the tax bill today, so as to have
a committee draft ready for consid
GRAFTON by the conference of hous'
Republicans called for Monday.