Evening star., 1925-09-03
ARTICLE ".

Iumbermen looking somewhat
anxiously toward the future, would
pause in their timber-cutting to cut
taxes. Unanimously the spokesmen
for this $l2, coo, ,00e, 900 industry agree
that the imperative need of today is
tax reduction. Federal, State and
local they would have it, but par
ticularly State and local. Lower
taxes. most of the industry's leaders
assert, are not only essential TO in
creased prosperity but must be Sc
cured to keep present good times
from slipping toward depression.
II takes 100 years TO grow a forest
100 wears of taxation at from 81 to
S3 an acre. When the forest is grown
it won't fetch an amount equal TO the
taxes paid while growing it, plus in
terest on them. Such is the succinct
way one of the leading figures in the
lumber world puts it. He, like all the
rest of his associates, answered tax
reduction" when asked by this CORE
spondent TO state the chief need of
TODAY TO attain a greater degree of
prosperity.
That question was answered similarly
by big men of other big industries, but
nowhere in America has the answer
been so ringing, so unanimous or so
emphatic as in the realm of lumber.
Make no mistake of IT; the lumber
industry is sincere in the conviction
that without speedy tax reduction all
along he line the days ahead are
beset with difficulty.
Taxes on the Increase.
Among the great lumber companies
of the far Northwest is the Long-Bell
Lumber Co., master of a young en-
pire and maker of cities overnight.
Here is what it's vice president and
manager, ]. u. Tenant, says:
Instead of our taxes growing less
with the depletion of our assets the
total tax is more; this can only be ac-
counted for by the fact that the tax
ing authorities feel that it is an op-
portunity to place the tax burden on
the timber owner while the oppor-
tunity is there to do so.
THE burden of taxes has become
very pronounced, and is increasing by
leaps and bounds yearly in order to
provide funds to meet the ever-in-
creasing cost of Government, State
and local administration"
THE greatest need to increase
prosperity is the reduction of taxes,
both State and national" says E. A.
Frost, president of the Frost-Johnson
facturers of yellow pine and hard
wood. THE situation should be
met by Congress by reducing national
taxes to a minimum consistent with
the safety needs of the Government.
When this is done l think splendid
results could be expected, and imme-
diately."
Florida sends the same word. Says
NJ. l.. F'leishel, vice president of the
Putnam Lumber Co., Jacksonville:
For industrial revival and business
prosperity we need a revision in in
come taxes. Why? Because capital
Is needed IN this line of endeavor in
stead of in frozen securities. Much
can be accomplished by the abolition
of tax-free issues. With tax revision,
l believe a, tremendous revival will
take place soon."
From F. c. Knapp, Peninsula Lum-
Der Co., Portland, Greg, comes word
that: Tax reduction is quite neces-
sary and will be exceedingly benefi-
cial, but / cannot admit that it is the
only panacea for present ills. Pre-
sumably this question will automatic
ally adjust itself, to great extent, If
the honest business men of the coun-
try are left alone to work out their
problems and salvation"
w. S. Rosenberg. secretary and
treasurer of the Winton Lumber Co..
Gibbs, Idaho. states that the chief