Evening star., 1932-12-26
STATES MOBILIZE
|. FOR TAX REFORMS
February Conference May
Create Agency to Deal
With Congress.
BY the Associated Press.


CHICAGO, December 26.-Thc first
definite step toward substitution of
order for chaos in the field of Federal
and State taxation is being taken here
By the American Legislators Associa-
tion-an officially sponsored organiza-
ton of members of State Legislatures.
The association is calling a confer
ence of representatives Of States and
of Congress for February 3 and A. Out
of this conference may come an agency
of the States prepared to deal with a
committee Of the Ways and Means
Committee of the National House of
Representatives on the subject of double
taxation and ALLEGATION and collection
of State and national taxes.
There now is widespread duplica-
ton that is spreading as governments
look for new sources of revenue. At
present more than 20 States collect
income taxes, in addition to the Fed
eral Government; gasoline and Gig
arctic taxes frequently overlap. with
gasoline now taxed by all States and
the Federal Government: inheritance
taxes are duplicated in many Common
wealths, and now general sales taxes
are being proposed for individual States
as well as the Federal Government.
Besides systems of collection are dupli-
Gated, with methods of collection and
accounting in disordered state.
Coordination Sought.
The proposal, gaining rapidly in
favor, is to bring about coordination
between States and the Nation in the
field of taxation. IN the interest OF
efficiency and in the interest of relief
for the taxpayers.
IF the decision of these issues Is
left entirely to the Federal Govern
ment. it is felt that insufficient atten-
ton will be given to the taxing needs
of the 48 Commonwealths," commented
Henry w. Toll. director of the Legls-
lators" Association.
There should be an understanding
between the Federal Government on
one side and the 48 States on the other.
Perhaps each side should agree to
forego certain taxes. But where dupli-
cation is necessary. both sides should
certainly agree upon a fair basis for
dividing the revenues.
1T is believed that the State govern
ments will receive fair consideration in
the decisions of these questions if they
are able to exercise certain amount
of bargaining power. If the States allow
the matter to go by default, it will be
natural of the Government to allocate
to the Federal authorities those taxes
which yield the most money and those
taxes which are most easily collected.
In that case, the State governments
will have to make shift with whatever
sources of revenue happen to be left
over"
Clamor for Relief.
This whole subject of duplicate tax
alton has been emphasized by recent de-
velopments, involving both Federal and
State attempts to find new means of
revenue-raising. Real property owners
in the cities and in the country are
clamoring for relief from tax burden
that often approaches confiscation.
Their cries are leading toward shift
in the burden of incomes in many
States, and to sales taxes. which in
turn press against taxes levied or pro-
posed for levy by the Federal Govern
ment.
Congress already is studying the sub
ject, but until now States have not been
organized to present their side of the
case The American Legislators Asso-
citation seeks to create for the States an
agency to do the needed bargaining on
a collective basis.
(Copyright, 1897