The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-09-17


stiff surtaxes.
But If you lose $4,000 the next
year on similar sales you can de-
duct only $4,000 from your income
in computing the income tax.
Politically, Of course, the theory
was that the $1,000 exemption would
let out all the small fry, and there
were not enough Of the big fellows
to make an effective protest.
But now the Treasury wants to
change the whole thing, go to the
British system, for reasons having
no connection whatever with the
political change effected after Mr..
Morgan's testimony had surprised
the country.
The Treasury's studied conviction
is that it costs more to collect this
capital gains and losses part OF the
income than it is WORTH
It is not disturbed by the enor-
nous trouble to which it puts the
man or woman making out an in
come tax checking the date on
which the property or securities,
were bought, the exact price, less
commission, etc., and then the date
of sale, less expenses, etc. But 1t is
highly disturbed by the tremendous
job of going over these returns,
checking them for error, and then
checking back to the original
sources to discover if the taxpayer
is (1) correct in his calculation and
(2) honest in making them.
OF course, tens of thousands OF
such returns are from people who
do not pay any income tax at all.
Their gross income exceeds the
minimum at which a return is
required, but their exemptions
bring them below the taxpaying
level.
Politically, however, real scrap
may develop.
Lack Big Names
Lack of nationally known names
of the right political and geographi-
cal background is one OF the reasons
why there is SO much pressure on
Governor Alfred M. Landon to
change his campaign tactics, 60 af-
ter President Roosevelt roughshod,
and make what might be called a
"rousing' campaign.
The Democrats have wealth OF
| such names. Vice President John
N. Garner does not allow his name
| to be used much did not in the
1882 campaign-but there are plenty
of others. From the standpoint OF
Democratic ampaign strategy
there is no geographical barrier; q
man from Maine is just as good as
man from Texas.
There was a time when the Demo
cratic publicity bureau might have
| hesitated to use the name OF Senator
/ William G. McAdoo, for example
Too many people were bitter
against him because Of the fgh'
that developed at Madison Square
Garden, with its religious back
ground, There was time when the
Democrats would have hesitated t
use the names of lot Of Southern
senators and prominent house mem
hers. They feared the cry of South
ern domination" might be raised
against them in the South and West
| 1t is rather curious how suci
things rise, become important, ant
just fade away But it just SO hap
pens that in this campaign the Dem
ocratic party is not distuI bed a
possible reactions against any Q
its possible speakers or givers 0
interviews because of factiona
groups or geography.
Whereas the Republicans ar
handicapped both ways. There i
the most earnest effort to retail
the All Western complexion TO
the Republican ticket that de
yeloped at the Cleveland convention
There is also an equally earnes
effort to suppress most Of the oil
guard names, or anything as
ISOLATED in the mind with them.
Serious Problem
AS there are few nationally know
Republicans in the South Whic
carry any weight, and as the ne,
crop of Republican leaders bot
East and West have not had sui
fcient advertising to make then
carry much weight with the de
sired audience, the problem is yer
serious indeed.
Three of the Jest known name
among Republican senators, Jane
Couzens of Michigan, Hiram "
Johnson of California, and Georg
w. Norris of Nebraska, are sur
porting Roosevelt.
When the list Of prominent Reput
licans is whitfield down, outside tn
two candidates and the chairman
the Republican National committee
there is only one which stands OF
with sufficient prominence, and I
whom there is no objection. Thi
is Senator Arthur H. Vandenber
of Michigan. There is Herbert
Hoover, of course, prominent il
deed, but also with serious liabil
ties in that SO many people are s
strongly against him. Anyway, whs
the Republicans want is not a con
parison of Roosevelt days wit
Hoover days. but with Coolidg