Evening star., 1924-10-27
Income Tax Publicity.

Income Tax Publicity.
Advocacy of the publication of the
individual income tax returns is eX-
pressed by Senator La Toilette in a
statement which goes SO far as to de
nounce the course of the Treasury Of
ficials in warning the newspapers that
The law forbidding publicity was not
specifically repealed. MIR. La Toilette
holds that the publicity provision of
the later enactment was mandatory,
and in this he disagrees with the Gov
ernment authorities. who regard the
question as doubtful. There is u sug-
Sestlon of anger in tn" statement
which may be attributed TO the fact
that the publication actually took
place. thus depriving the third party
candidate of the chance to accuse the
Republican Secretary of the Treasury
of having ignored the law.
1t is intimated that 80 far from
yielding TO the present demand for the
repeal of the publicity provision, those
who are responsible for its adoption
sion seek to go further in the matter
Of spreading the tax returns before
the people. One suggestion is that
they will seek to have lists of tax
payers printed in the Congressional
Record. First may come the submis-
sion of newspaper lists for such re-
production. Then may come resolu-
tions calling upon the Treasury for of
ticial lists. which may be offered for
Record printing.
1t is furthermore indicated that as
counter to the effort to secure repeal
those favoring publicity of returns
will seek the further amendment of
the law so as to require the display for
publicity purposes of the complete re-
turns of the taxpayers, and not merely
the amounts computed as the payable
taxes. In other words, the report now
runs, it will be sought TO spread upon
the public records the sworn state
ments Of the taxpayers, with all the
details of their incomes, exemptions
and debts, the fullest possible exposi-
are revealed in confidence to the Gov
ernment.
However the election may go next
week, it is evident that the income tax
battle will be renewed in Congress,
promptly upon reconvening. The pres
ent state of public feeling is undoubt-
edly hostile to publicity of returns.
Whether that feeling will grow to the
point of demand for repeal that can
not be denied depends, perhaps, some.
what upon the complexion of the new
" ELECTED Congress. Before the expir-
ing Congress assemblies the character
Of its successor will be known. If radi-
calism is repudiated at the polls the
demand for repeal will be strong and
insistent
The political effect of the publica-
ton of the returns is a matter of con-
lecture. Resentment cannot be held
against the administration for the fact
OF the law. 1t cannot be held against
the Democratic party for the initiative
which led to the enactment. 1t cannot
t'~St o5iiiiSI tit ISepuDliCdllS LOT OOlnR
what the law commands, though an
effort is being made to make partisan
capital against the Treasury officials
for the confusion of understanding re-
specting the legality of newspaper
publication, for which Congress itself
Is to blame.
The conspicuous fact of the whole
case is that this publicity Of returns
law is a token of the so-called pro-
sressivism in the name of which the
third party leaders are now contend
ing for political supremacy. 1t gives a
pointed hint concerning what may be
expected if that party should gain con-
troll, directly or indirectly, in conse-
quence Of the election SO soon to be
held.