The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-07-06
MONDELL LAUDS
TAX REFORM
EFFORTS,
Former Congressman Explains
Moves to Bankers at Hot
Springs Convention
BY RICHARD HATTON.

The interest created in Washing
tac financial circles by the very
able address delivered by Frank w.
Mo1dell before the recent annual
convention of the Bankers Associa-
tiDn at Hot Springs has resulted
Z IN a desire upon the part OF numer-
Gus people, both in and out OF the
barking profession, to hear more
on this important subject from one
who has given it deep study and
concentrated thought.
Speaking today of his present er-
forts toward Federal tax reduction
and reform, Mr.. Monden said: rue
old maxim which joins death ana
taxes as the inevitable twin evlIs
serves as a forcible reminder that
taxes are an unwelcome :. though
unavoidable factor in the scheme or
human affairs only to be JUSTIFIED
when levied and expended wisely
and eouftably from the standpoint
of the general public welfare.
Emphatically expressing his ap-
proval of the tax reduction efforts
of President Coolidge. Mr.. Monden
continued: 1.-The finest record In
human history Of far-reachlnS'
sound and sensible economies IN
government, and of stupendous re-
duction in national taxation. is that
which has been made under the ad-
ministration of Presidents Harding
ana Coolidge. The world has never
before witnessed a reduction in the
cost of government, or a hftlng Of
national tax burdens which In any
way compare with what has beeh
ACCOMPLISHED in these United States
under the last and the present AT
ministrations.
Lauds Budget.
Mr.. Mondell lauded the present
budget system in the highest terms
and attributed much of the success
of the present working out or Gov
eminent economies to the. success
full operation of the budget plan.
TThe budget system, however, ne
declared, could not have been Ell
fective except for the earnest, de-
termined and conscientious support
of a policy Of thoroughgoing econ
omy by Presidents Harding aud
Coolidge, and the faithful adherence
to that policy by Congress"
Pointing out what has been &C
complished, already in the matter
Of tax reduction, Mr.. MondeE said
Between the fiscal years 1870 and
1926. the annual Government ex'
penditures were reduced from about
six-and-a-half to about three-and-a'
half billion dollars. or from $54 to
SGT per capita. AT the beginning
of that period, nearly two-thirds OF
the total taxes paid by the Ameri-
can people were for Federal pur'
poses, while, at the present time
Federal taxes constitute but one
third of the tax total. Early in
this period the budget was bal
anced, and the present fiscal year
closes with a handsome surplus
Surely, this is a record Of which we
may all be proud, and fine enough
that credit may well be given tC
sll-in Congress, in Administrative
station, and in private hfe-who
have contributed to this unparal
1eled accomplishment
Pointing out the continued neces
.sity for carrying on the battle for
tax reform, Mr.. Mondell expressed
satisfaction with the splendid prog
ress that has been made in the
reduction of Government expendi-
lures, but, while expressing ap-
prevail of a continuation of the
present policy of economy. he point
ed out that. since the war. we have
made much better progress In tax
reduction than we have in tax re-
form. I'm fact" he continued.
without wishing to criticise, any
one. and with a desire to give full
credit for all that has been accom-
plished, nearly seven years after
the close of the world war, we have
a tax rate which cannot possibly
be justified as a permanent peace
time program, unless the views OF
our people in regard to sound tax
policies have been entirely revo
lutionized."
Plans Nuisance Taxes.
Answering a question as to what
he considered the key to tax reform
at the present moment. Mr.. Mon
dell said: II believe we have
reached d tir1e when it ought to be
possible to get rid Of all the so-called
nuisance taxes which came as a
rart Of the war levy. 1t should
also, be poss BILE to reduce somewhat
the corporation taxes in line with
deduction in individual income taxes
end to abolish or greatly modify the
gift taxes: to greatly simplify tax
methods: and to reduce somewhat
the tax burden all along the line.
But I desire to emphasize the