The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-12-07
BLAINE BITTER IN
WASHINGTON SPEECH
Makes Characteristic Attack on TAX
Dodgers" and Demands Removal
of All Secrecy.
fBy Associated Press

Washington, D. C. - Repeal of
the secrecy clause in both federal and
state income tax laws was urged by
Gov. J. J. Blaine speaking before the
convention of Progressives here today,
as one effective way of making wealth
bear its just burden of taxation, which
he said, it is now escaping.
Quoting Andrew Mellon, secretary of
the treasury, as saying that the gov
eminent IS unable to collect taxes due
it from incomes and surtaxes on excess
profits, the Wisconsin governor assert
ed that what Mr.. Mellon meant was
that "the profiteers and rfilHonaires
escape income and surtaxes by max
ing false returns, sometimes through
innocence, perchance, but often
through fraud and deceit or by legal
devices and tricks Of the trade"
Governor Blaine characte cized the
men and corporations failing to pay
the whole of their income taxes, as
tax dodgers who are undermining gov
eminent by their activity. He asked
that the income tax secrecy clause be
removed so that the names of the tax
dodgers might be made public.
Attacks millionaire" Dodgers.
''We hear much eloquence about Jaw
law" the governor said. Seldom,
however, does such eloquence ever re-
late to the millionaire tax dodger-
the man or the corporation that APP
propriates to himself or itself money
that belongs to the government. We
hear it Numbered from public officials
and platforms that law must be en-
forced It is just as important to COM
mand respect for the law affecting tax
alton as it is to command respect foi
any other law.
''The secrecy clause in the federal
income tax law and in the income tax
laws of some states, is one Of those
devices of which wealth has been es-
Gaping its debt to the government by
the way of taxes.
"a tax return is covenant OF the
taxpayer with his government, and
that covenant should be an open cove
nant. The secrecy clause in the tax
laws is the veil that shrouds the tax
return and PLACES it in dark corners,
thus inducing, promoting and fostering
not only mistakes but cheats and
frauds on the government"
Points Wisconsin Experience.
Governor Blaine pointed to the ex-
perience of the Wisconsin tax COM
mission which has uncovered during
the past three years nearly 100000
in taxes which would have gone un-
paid had the corporation income state
ments been accepted without investi-
CATION. He expressed the opinion that
repeal of the secrecy clause would
these incomes open to the public and
force honest returns.
eff the income tax returns were open
to public inspection, he said, "the dis
honest tax dodger would hesitate to
lay bare a fraud to a cheat on the
government, knowing that he would
be detected. No honest tax return
need fear publicity, and it is only the
return made by the men or corporation
that evades the law that needs the veil
of secrecy drawn to shut out from pub
lie view the fraud and the cheat.
"The honest taxpayer should be pro-
tected; the criminal tax dodgers and
profiteers should have the light of
publicity threwn upon them. The Sc
crecy clause penalties the honest tax
payer, and rewards the criminal pro-
fiteer and tax dodger."