Evening star., 1936-04-26
BY JOHN JAY DAILY.


With no publicity attendant upon
their actions, so prominent business
men from all parts of the country will
meet in Washington on the last day
of April to discuss ways and means OF
putting America back on sound
business basis.
These men are members of the
Business Advisory Council for the De-
partment of Commerce. with George
H. Mead. a paper manufacturer of
Dayton. Ohio. as chairman. Daniel
c. Roper, Secretary of Commerce. is
chairman ex-offcio.
Working with the council are such
men as Myron C. Taylor. chairman
of the United States Steel Corp /;
Thomas H. Dimes, Denver banker;
Lincoln Filene, Boston merchant:
George A. Sloan, investment banker
Gen. Robert E. Wood, president Of
Sears, Roebuck g. Co., and others Of
the same caliber.
OF all political faiths, representing
real cross-section of America and
most of its industries-large and small
these so business men are seriously
considering recommendation of new,
long-range tax policy for America. 1t
is understood they have made their
own separate study of taxes and tax
alton. From source close to the
council it is learned this survey may
be presented to Secretary of Comerce
Roper who, in turn, might offer it to
CongreSS-for consideration.
British Policy Cited.
Not only have these men tackled
the tax problem from the national
standpoint, but it is believed they may
advocate America adopting the policy
in vogue in Great Britain-a long
range tax program that would yank
taxes out of politics No one. of
course, knows what will be done until
after the meeting here on April 80.
A significant fact is that the coun-
Gil meets here at a time when Con-
greSs is wrestling with the new tax
bill-one that has stirred up interest
in all walks of American life.
If these men actually have con-
crete outline for long-range tax
plan, one that will do away with par
tisan politics in shaping tax bills, they
will be welcomed by some legislators
ard ridiculed by others. 1t is be-
lieved they are willing to place their
proposals before Congress, through the
medium of the Commerce Department.
Long-range tax planning has be-
come popular in several European
countries, experts claim. Even the
present tax bill, now before Congress,
is said to be modelled on a plan in
stituted by Norway Is years ago. The
exception is that Americas new tax
bill is only a temporary measure. All
American tax bills are temporary
measures. What the business men
want Is something Of permanence,
even if the permanence lasts only 10
or II years. That, generally, is what
they mean by long-range taxation
measures that will not be tickered
with every one, or two, or three years.
Point to Possibilities.
Under the present system of formu-
lating tax bills, anything can hap
pen. That is what proponents Of long
range taxation say They point to the
possible increase of individual ircome
taxes. As early as next week, an up
ward revision Of these taxes may be
considered by the Senate Finance
Committee as a substitute for new
processing taxes. The Treasury has
made estimates on proposals of this
nature. One of them is the lowering
Of exemptions for single persons from
81 900 to $500. Married persons would
be taxed on $4,000 basis instead of
the current $2,500. With such re-
visions, Treasury officials see an addi-
tional revenue of $45, 900, 900. BY in
the rate of tax from 4 to
per cent a further yield of $121, ,000,-
BOO might be obtained.
These are the little irritating notes
hat come to annoy the American
people every time new tax bill is
brought before Congress. business men
'ay, and the tax bills have way Of