Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1923-01-26
PATRIOTISM and
PAYING OF TAXES
GO HAND in HAND
So Says Judge Goodcell
in Talk to Elks and
G.. of C..

Judge Rex. b. Goodcell. internal
revenue collector for the Southern
California district, addressed Il com
bined meeting of members of the
Chamber of Commerce and the E,ks
in Elks hall last night, on the duties
"a 4 patriotic American in his rela-
tions with the tax collectors depart
ment. Mr.. Goodccll was to have adj
dressed the members of the Cham
Der of Commerce at their regular
weekly dinner at the Barbara Worth
hotel, but due to the late hour dim
her was served, and previous tn
gagement to speak to the Elks.
Judge GoOdceli asked permission of
the chamber to combine both meet
ings, at the suggestion of the Eiks,
and this was done.
In discussing the subject Of Fed
Cral taxation, the speaker stated
that no money spent by any citizen.
brings him return, dollar for dol
lar. that can compare. with the ben
Gifts derived from tax money. Look
ing at the question of taxation from
the standpoint of ''What do ! Get
ont of it," instead of "What does
it cost me?', Judge Goodcell ennm
Grated long list of blessings en-
loved BIZ the American citizen, be
cause of the taxes he pays. lnclud-
ed among these were, good roads,
schoolhouscs. health and sanitary
inspection of food products, protec-
tion of army and navy, the oppor-
tunities for trade and commerce be-
tween different states. and between
the United States. and other coun-
tries.
Sum Is Insignificant
The valuc and safety of every
thing the American citizen holds
dear, is dependent upon .he stabil-
itv Of the United States govern
ment, Mr.. GoOdcell maintained. and
this in turn is dependent upon :he
full payment of taxes by every cit
izen. The seldom thought of facts
that the homc and family of every
citizen are secure from invaders,
that the food we purchase is clean
and wholesome. that we are protect
Cd from oppression no matter where
we may he i'm the world are all made
ossible by the taxes paid to the
government.
"While the taxes imposed by the
government might seem to be excess
sive,' said Mr.. Goodcell, "when
one stops to think that the average
sum paid to the government in taxes
bv the American people is not Suf-
ficient to keep one child in II private
school for one wear, the sum fades
into insignificancc. In proportion
to the money spent for amuSements,
the amount paid for taxes should
never he noticed by the average cit
i2en.
Operating Cost Is Low
"Thc Bolshevik and the soap box
orator tell of the enormous sum it
costs the government to collect the
taNcS, even gong SO far as 10 say IT
costs 80 per cent of every dollar col
leetcd to operate the tax collecting
department. In saying this they lie,
because the average cost If tax col
Letting throughout the country is
less than seven-tenths of one yer
cent, ami in the district of Southern
California il il less than onehalf If
one per cent
Mr.. Goodcell recalled the sacri-
fices that were cheerfullv made by
everyone in the United States dur
ing the world war, and the wonder
full spirit of loyalty that pcrmeatcd
the hearts Of all 1t was considered
privilege then he said, TO do any
thing for the welfare Of the coun-
try. :"