The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-03-09
AN UNJUST TAX.

ily on the poor and lightly on the
rich isn't the sort of thing that we
mean bv the word American. Secre-
tary Mellon of the treasury pointed
out the other day that when we per-
NIT the issuance of tax-exempt bonds
that is the kind of taxation we get
He used careful banker words, but
what he meant was that the rich buy
these bonds and go free of taxation
while the poor are left to carry the
load.
Ten billion dollars has largely been
invested in state and municipal tax
exempt bonds. They are still being
bought at the rate of $5,O00,000 day;
counting in the federal issues, we
shall soon have 25 billions or more
of tax-exempt wealth. Money is being
taken away from useful business.
Moreover. what the states and the
federal government save by low rates
of interest is more than balanced by
the loss of taxes No one really pro-
fits except the rich tax dodger. AS
ProfessorSeligman of Columbia, points
out every other nation taxes unearned
income higher; we tax it lower.
Some people argue that because we
would have to amend the constitution
to get rid of these exemptions, we
might as well give up and accept the
evil Since when have Americans
been in the habit of meekly tolerating
an injustice just because it is hard to
abolish.-Co1lier' Weekly.
"a "a "a
The Sunset magazine, a western
publication that is in touch with wes-
tern affairs, in particular pats the
Idaho farmer on the back, calls him
a "good sport and admires the way
he goes to it" and holds him up
to the world as an example of pluck,
energy and nerve in the face of diff
culties that would have the tendency
to discourage most any man. The
articles goes on to state that the Idaho
farmer has faced and overcome con-
ditions, and has done it cheerfully,
and will reap his reward for the very
good reason that his difficulties have
been but temporary and the same es-
sential foundation that made him sue
cessful in times gone by Is still with |,
him and he will realize on his as
sets. The magazine calls on those who
feel that they have cause to grumble
to follow the good example set by
the farmer of south Idaho who is
working his way out alone and I'M
assisted almost, and is saying mighty
little about it, and in so doing is
winning admiration. The article con-
cludes "If you are waller stay
away from Idaho as they have use
only for builders who waste no breath
in the emission of doleful sounds"
"a Pa -
MODERN EDUCATION.
President Hibben of Princeton, IN
his recent speech to the university
alumni. reflected dissatisfaction with
modern education that is being shared
by a larger and larger number of edu-
Gators. His complaint is really
against the exaltation of knowledge
as an end in itself The class recita-
ton. the seminar, the recurrent quiz
are, in his opinion, merely means for
pumping facts and theories into the
collegiate mind. And he believes that
the process is about as successful as
pumping water into a reservoir with
a perfectly draining bottom of sand.
Thousands of teachers and teaching
executives will agree with him.-New
York Globe.
"a - ~
Secretary Wallace of the depart
ment of agriculture waves a danger
flag that should be needed when he
supplies of lumber in the United
States have passed and that scienti-
fic and economic program of conser-
walton and reforestation must be pro-
secuted. This is directly in line with
the work of the school of forestry at
the University of Idaho, under the
direction of Dean F. G. Miller The
danger is being pointed out and the
men are being trained to take up the
work of intelligently and scientifically
solving the problems Of conservation
If the nations forest resources.
"a "a -
We read somewhere the other day
L.,~>,ov, rofur0 o1Uouc 1oouac tho