The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-05-22
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HOW EXCESSIVE
TAXES BLIGHT A
NATIONS LIFE
Productive Effort Stops Il Gov
eminent Takes Undue Share Of
Profits, Says Treasury Official.
WEALTH IN RUSSIA FLED
BEFORE THE TAxGATHERER
Men in America Prefer Golf to
Giving Fruits Of Three Days Work
a Week to income Taxes {.

The blighting effects Of excessive
taxation, leading to a nations econom-
ic destruction. are described in the
current issue Of the American Bank
ers Association Journal by Garrard B.
winston, Under-secretary of the Treas.
ury. Citing possible effects on the
Ford Motor Car Company. he declares
that "the value is so large and its
ownership so centered 1t is conceiv.
able that collection Of Inheritance
taxes may check, If not destroy, that
unit of policy which has created and
expanded that industry and thus pre-
vent its future prosperity. OF what
avail. then, Is it to any government II
it collects one hundred million dol
lars once in estate taxes and destroys
a source Of income upon which 1t can
rely for revenue year after year?
Success of the Ford Company does
not mean simply that Mr.. Ford and
his son have grown wealthy. 1t means
employment of tens Of thousands OF
men and women: that mines, forests.
railroads and vessels are brought into
use; that the public has received an
efficient and inexpensive means OF
transportation: that the farm is in
touch with the city. and the worker
with his Office" Mr.. Winston says In
part:
Wealth Flees Oppression
upon first impression 1t might ap
pear that nation could take all OF
the earnings of its citizens or all Of
their property. The Soviet govern
ment proposed to appropriate all in
strumentalities Of trade and COM
MERGE Yet. when the state reached
out to grasp this wealth, 1t disappear
ed and left nothing but a few tangible
objects, such as gold and jewels,
which were easily transported to 9th
er countries Wealth in Russia ceased
to exist.
"If income tax rates are placed so
high that capital in productive bust
ness no longer gives net return com
mensurate with the risk, capital will
60 out of productive business. lie idle,
go abroad. go into tax-exempt securt
ties. or find other ways of avoiding
the tax Ii income tax rates are SO
excessive that man Of ability finds
he must work more than three days
week for the government he will be
come discouraged and decide that the
result is not worth the effort Less
mil ho mill
be realized from the tax.
Recently a letter came to the
Treasury from a small farmer. He
owned a few acres which in 1913 were
assessed at 5000 and on which a tax
Of $l3 was levied. In 1924 the as
sessed value increased to $4,000 and
the tax to $123. but the farm failed
to produce any more. Taxes exceed
ed the rental value of the land and
more than the net earnings Of the
property were taken by the state The
farm was abandoned and now pro
duces no tax
often there come to notice cases
where a particular improvement lie
not made. or a particular business is
not started. because after deducting
taxes the risk exceeds the value of
the expected return Men have drop
ped business. spent their winters in
Florida and their summers abroad.
because what they are permitted to
retain under present tax rates Is not
worth the labor they must give to
acquire It. They prefer golf to the
further development of the country.
unscientific Taxes Destroy Nation
.Unscientific methods Of taxation
may actually destroy the very earn
ings or property which 1t should be
the principal interest of a govern
ment to foster When it reaches the
limits of what is known as its taxa.
BILE capacity a patton has begun to
die II taxes are raised too high. q
country will slowly but surely de-
stroy itself It win use for daily con-
sumption the seed corn on which its
future life depends. and the spirit of
initiative and adventure In its peo-
pie will finally disappear. One on
more of three things happen: The
quantity Of consumption Is cut down.
which means a lowering Of the stand.
ard of living. or capital accommodations
for extensions. improvements and
new undertakings must diminish. re-
sulting in slowing up Of progress
and lessening eventually OF taxable
revenue; or. thirdly. slackening Of
effort on the part of the citizen win
take place when too large part Of his
earnings are taken in taxes.
"The effort in taxation should be
TO. find the tax which win continue
to raise money over period Of years.
Invariably. with an excessive tar. its
yield has fallen OF year by year,
while each rate reduction Is reflected
IN an increase of taxable income. II
the Treasury is to be assured a con-
tinuance of revenue. our citizens
must prosper II they are to prosper.
the appropriation by the state OF their
earnings and property must be based
upon economically sound principles"