Evening star., 1923-03-18
BY THOMAS II. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President OF the u,

FORMER Vice President OF the u. 8.
HERE is one trait common to
all the peoples of the earth, re-
gardless of the form of govern
ment under which they may
live. Every one Of them must have
national hero. A monarchy furnish
es the national hero to it's people
without effort upon their part. THAT
10 one Of the good things, perhaps the
best. about a monarchy. On the other
hand, democracy puts in one-half of
it's time creating. and the other half
destroying it's national heroes.
Sometimes it is a great warrior. like
Grant; sometimes. a great patriot.
like Lincoln; sometimes great
statespen. like Webster; sometimes a
great prize fighter. like Jeffries. or
base ball player. like Babe Ruth.
or even a descredited movie clown.
We tire of them all and seek a new
race. A man who might have been
the greatest American hero had he
lived in this day unfortunately has
disappeared from public life. He was
child born out OF due season. He
made the proud boast that in twenty
years service as a public legislator
he never failed TO vote for an appro-
priation. and never voted for tax.
How sad II is that he is gone from
our midst. If he were living today to
explain to the people how they night
have all the appropriations they de-
sired and yet pay no taxes to meet
them his claim to fame would be en-
during.
II is a. far cry back to pre-revolu-
tionary days. when our forefathers
raised a row over the imposition OF a
tax which now would be deemed so
small as not to merit contention.
trine Of taxation without representa-
tion. wish that these gentlemen
who kicked up such a muss with
Great Britain over the question and
established an infant repnblic in
which mon were not TO he taxed with
out representation could come back
and see the practical working of the
government which they founded.
predict IL would be somewhat difficult
for them to understand that in state
and nation taxes are not levied by the
people who pay them. Well might
they fear that national and state
tsxation had managed to become 90
interviewed as to establish back of the
system the danger of confiScation.
1t is becoming apparent to thought
ful men that II the present method Of
procedure goes on we shall he driven
20 the single tax idea. whether we
Ia blished as the law that no state OF
the Union could tax the securities is
sued by the United States as tax ex-
empt. and that the general govern
ment could not tax the tax-exempt
securities OF any state or Of it's subdi-
Cf nd -;
lions of tax-eSempt securities have
heen issued The states and their sew
eral subdivisions. animated by a de-
sire for public buildings. highways.
parks and other improvements have
been duplicating the general govern
mert in the issuance Of non taxable
bonds. In one county with which !
am familiar tax-exempt securities
now entant exceed 25 per cent OF the
taxable value Of It's property. No
wonder that Secretary Mellon is
1t is not at all surprising that the
business of the nation moves with
iaggard footsteps. Taxes levied by
state and nation are so high that a
person investing his money in nom
taxable securities stands to receive
more income therefrom than he Is
likely TO make in business with all
its hazards. There must be a consti-
tutiona! amendment prohibiting the
issuance OF tax-exempt securities or
the craze for public improvements
must stop. Otherwise. many of the
states will find them selves in the sit :
uation Indiana was in eighty wears
ago when she went wild over canals
and plank roads. Perhaps bankruptcy
is the only thing that will cure the
fever OF public Improvement
There are some things that NAV
be done TO lessen the evils of taxation