The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-26
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

| 4 S the new deal progresses, whether it is sue
cessful or not some one will have to paw
! the hddler. Therefore, the question of taxation
pound to loom large in public discussion.
| Some advanced liberals such as the people's
| lobby, hold that tax reform must be one of the
cardinal items in any program of special re-
construction.
1t is very doubtful if prosperity can be re-
stored under the captalistic system unless a
vast amount of additional money is spent in
public works projects which will have to be paid
for to large degree out of increased taxation
| Therefore, relevant literature on taxation is
highly timeful and useful.
DR.. Untereiner has brought out a brief and
clear survey of the present tax burden in the
United States along with suggestions for tax
reform (The Tax Racket: What We Pay to Be
| Governed. BY Ray E. Untereiner Lippincott 81
| He is sensible enough to recognize that the
increased tax burden has not been wholly due
to the greed of grating politicians. 1t has been
caused in part by the carelessness and indiffer-
ence OF the American population. Like most
commentators, however, he fails to indicate that
the World war was primarily responsible for the
vast increase in federal taxation.
In his suggestions for tax reform, Dr. Inter
| elmer suggests greater Capitalization and more
uniformity. He emphasizes the fact that the
time to eliminate abuses is in a period of de-
preston when the people feel the pinch of added
taxes. In periods of prosperity people accept
heavy taxes with relative complacency.
Mr.. Knight gives us great deal of concrete
detail in one specific phase of tax abuses, name
ly, the deviseS used by the very wealthy to evade
their income taxes (Where Are Our Large Fell
lows? By Albert R. Knight. Business Methods
Publishing Company So He tells us how this
was managed by the Gulf Oil Corporation, which
is controlled by the Mellon family The book
is an excellent supplement to Harvey O'Connor's
volume on MELONS Millions"
PROFESSORS Respy and Studenski have
L. rendered real service to economic science
and craftsmanship by editing and pre-
pairing for publication the comprehensive SYM
postum on public finance presented at the ma
tional conference on the relation of law and
business at New York university Current Prob
lens in Public Finance; National Conference on
the Relation of Law and Business Commerce
Clearing House. $3.25).
Not only are the major problems of public
finance covered in comprehensive fashion, but
we get every conceivable point of view there
upon, ranging from the attitude Of Colonel Nc
Cornnick Of the Chicago Tribune to that of the
late Morris Hillquit of the New York bar.
The book also includes an excellent chapter
on the need for and Justification of additional
taxation in order that the government may as
sumo properly directed control over industry and
social relief.
While the volume does not possess the unity
ana conference Oh d SySUeIudGIC IeAGUOOk vi pun
lie finance by a single author, it covers wider
field and represents the pooling of large
amount of official and diversified knowledge
In Judge Green's volume one finds more
systematic treatment of the problem of taxation
(The Theory and Practice of Modern Taxation.
BY William Raymond Green. Commerce Clear
ing House $2.75). 1t is particularly gratifying
to have this volume from a man of wide prac-
teal experience in the problems of taxation
TN marked contrast to men like James M Beck,
l. Judge Green fully realizes and lays stress
upon the primary Importance of the World war
in creating the staggering burdens of taxations
which exist today. AS he does well to point out:
"The public debt of the United States was
less than S65,00000O in 1850; in 1916 it was
S97l 563 900, and in 1919 it was $25, 234 100000"
Judge Green's volume is highly suitable as
an Introductory textbook on taxation, and it is
to be heartily recommended to American citizens
who wish a clear introduction to the whole prob
lem of contemporary taxation.
Mr. Harding has produced ringing rebuke
to those writer's like James M. Beck who are
always complaining about the growth of an ex-
tensive federal bureaucracy and increasing taxes
CTNT: These National Taxeaters. BY T. Swan
Harding. Long & Smith. So. He shows that
the vast majority of our expenditures go to pay
ing for wars for which men like Beck and other
bellicose politicians have been mainly re-
sponsible.
He further proves that the government make
far better use of its funds than do the pluto
Gratis who would have retained the money for
federal taxation. AS an actual matter OF fact,
the government is lamentably short of funds for
really constructive purposes.