The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-12-15
(Official City. State and County
Newspaper
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER. LEVINGs
& BREWER
Qncorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
Becoming Tax Conscious

Becoming Tax Conscious
In the days of the easy dollar when
paper profits mounted, people paid
little attention to their tax state
ments. They were riding the tide Of
an inflated prosperity. Now that the
bubble has burst, taxpayers are seek
ing to place their taxes upon lower
levels. This is reflected in the num-
Der of county and state tax associa-
tons. Congress is being memorializeu
from all quarters to watch federal ex-
penditures. The people have almost
overnight, as it were, become tax con-
sciouS.
It is a healthy trend. Our govern
mental experts who seek to multiply
the functions Of government and swell
the public payroll, must constantly
seek new media Of taxation to pay for
these frills. Extension of government
into many kinds OF experiment and
fields Of activity has cost billions and
will continue to burden the taxpayer
for years to come. Even II a halt is
made now, the piper must be paid for
past excuses. More reason for eau
ton in budget making.
Minnesota Is now agitating an in
come tax which is being resisted quite
vigorously by the people of that state.
North Dakota's experience with the
income tax is being used to convince
u neighbors Of the blessing of a
state income tax. Minnesotans inter-
ested in the income tax should study
carefully the operation of the tax here
before plunging into that method Of
raising more money for political ex-
periments and the expansion Of gov
ernmental functions. It has been the
experience in most states that the
greater the tax returns, the more pub
lie payrolls mount and there is really
no shifting Of the tax burden at all.
Those who have great wealth have
found means Of legally evading an
income tax. In North Dakota, capital
actually has been driven out of the
state. Industries which might have
located in our midst have Rugged the
borders Of neighboring states which
have no income tax. It cannot be said
that the income tax in North Dakota
has been m unmixed blessing. 1t has
retarded industrial development.
m-advised income taxes, In effect
and in practice, increase the cost OF
living to the multitude. whitney
Warren Of New York. writing to the
New York Times. sums up the situa-
ton very well In this:
What is fundamentally and
economically wrong with the
country? The suppression of the
excise tax occasioned by an unen-
forceable law and the tax on CAPT.
tai gains r directly or indirectly
responsible.
49, The prudent moneyed
men have for some time placed
their wealth in non-productive,
non : taxable securities, federal,
state and municipal"
Now - no time to devise new means
Of harassing = tax-burdened public
Under existing tax laws, more reve.
hue must be raised to meet deficit.
occasioned by diminishing tax reve.
nues. But it should be apparent tt
every legislator that the present gen.
Grafton cannot be overtaxed to pay
for the war. The federal government,
has gotten into its present predica.
ment. to some extent at least, by toe
rapid retirement of the public debt
It Will be necessary to spread the pay
ment over a greater period in tn,
hope that some Of the foreign nation.
meet their war obligations to thi
country. It may be necessary to sup.
port q moratorium, but not II that !.
leading up to cancellation Of foreign
debts to this country.
l,,o< . C<,.-