Nogales international., 1926-12-05
TAX RELIEF

Amidst so much talk about tax relief, the most
vital point Of difference between the two political
parties on tax reduction has not been emphasized.
This relates to tariff tax reduction
There are loud shouts for tax reduction for IN
come taxpayers who naturally represent the prosper
Gus element at present. but not the slightest mention
of the grinding tax burdens arising from existing
extreme high tariffs which from time to time be-
ing raised rather than lowered "Tax reduction" IN
the mind of the Coolidge administration seems now
to mean the lowering of internal taxes and the rails
ing of tariff taxes.
To those seeking honest and equitable tax rellef
the partial and contradictory view is wholly indie
fensibe and hypocritical No one denies the exist
ence of the most prohibtve and oppressive system OF
tariff taxation known to fiscal history The eX-
cesses the nustices and the anomalies of the Ford
ney tariff without world parallel today except
in the case of Russia.
These colossal tariff injuries seriously affect living
COSTS production COSTS freight COSTS and wider and
better foreign markets for our surplus. Every un-
biased economic authority knows this to be true, and
vast number of excesses and excrescences could
we'll be scraped off the Fordney tariff system with
out the slightest injury to any efficient industry
economically justfiable in this country.
IF the time is not over-ripe for some measure of
relief frn tariff exactions it has been and
er will be. The amazing thing is that not over Is
percent of our population are substantial benefcares
And yet many victims among the remaining 95,OOO-
Of ur present system of monstrous tariff taxation
900 people shrug their shoulders and intimate that it
is not possible to bring about decent and honest tariff
revision.
This pusillanimous idea is not only confession
that IS percent Of the people under the helpless
domination of the other Is percent but that popular
government therefore, is failure in this country
If this astonishing notion is true, why talk about re-
lief for the majority Of the people in any respect?
xI,oJro ho6
quailed before small but powerful minority, the JET
ferson and Jackson school of political and economic
thought would have secured control OF our gov
eminent and never would even have made serious
fight for control.
! Until the official treasury estimates are made
public around the first Of December it will be diff
ficut to make careful study of receipts and ex-
penditures and forecast for the next fiscal year and
definite tax program.
Agriculture is in deplorable condition. It is
weighed down by heavy state local and tariff taxes
Tariff taxes conceded to be the chief seat of the
agricultural disease. Why should not senators and
congressman really interested in farm relief now
strike at the seat of the disease instead of lodging
and walking around it in pursuit of inadequate
remedies?
There are enough members of the two houses of
congress protesting to be interested primarily in
agricultural relief to deadlock an unwilling govern
ment at Washington compel public attention to tariff
inquities and force consideration of tariff relief
along with other tax measures should they will to do
so.
Congress at the same time would have oppor-
tunity gradually to eliminate any remaining tenpora-
ry war taxes and to make such income tax adjust
ments as to provide relative fairness to the indivd
ual the partnership, and the corporation taxpayer
and should do to the extent the treasury condition
will permit
There should be comprehensive and equitable
tax relief, embracing both internal and tariff taxes
keeping in mind, however, the agricultural and other
groups suffering most at present from dispropor-
tonate tax burdens.