Evening star., 1937-05-02

| 600 was expected, but only about
| 81 800 900 had been collected in nine
months. Extension of time for these
the June quarter, but shortage of
s70000.0 900 still seems likely
| Social security taxes for the year
were estimated at 1924 900 900. but
collections have hit only $9l 100000
1t is difficult to estimate future re-
ceipts from this levy, but shortage
OF s50,000,000 appears conservative
guess
The tax on railroads and their en-
ployes also is disappointing in the
face OF collections in nine months of
| only s238,000 as compared to esti-
mated yield Of 100000. The
ultimate shortage there may be placed
| conservatively at 100000. 900.
With these expected shortages
totaling about 1855 100000, there may
be some expected extra" return
from excise taxes and liquor and to-
| bacco taxes. Estimated to yield
100000 and sl.l36.0 900, 900, re-
spectively, these two classifications
are now expected to surpass estimates.
Administration Tax Record.
On the record of the last four years
it is not easy to forecast what new
taxes the President and Congress
might favor.
True, Mr.. Roosevelt informed Con-
gress on April 20 of this year that
or hoe hocop,o opporopt tbot tbero
is an immediate need for a careful
survey of the present structure"
On that statement alone it might be
inferred that the long-awaited over
hauling was contemplated, but his
next two sentences lend themselves
more to the Interpretation that he
meant simply that new patchwork
should be added to old. These re-
marks follow:
The Treasury will be prepared
by November next to present to the
appropriate committees of the Con-
gress information as to such loop
holes as may exist in the present
revenue laws and suggestions for such
new or additional taxes as may be
! necessary to meet deficiencies, If any,
in the revenue producing power of
the present levies. This will permit
these committees to study such in
formation and suggestions for the
purpose Of proposing early in the
next session of the Congress legisla-
ton necessary to remedy defects in
the present tax laws"
Roosevelt View in 1882.
That Mr.. Roosevelt has felt strong
ly about the issue of duplicating
taxes for some time was indicated
back in 1882, when he was Governor
of New York. In January Of that
year he spoke sharply, thus:
To-day = everywhere the execu-
tive and legislative officials are seek
ing new sources of revenue and to
nearly all Of them is being brought
home the forgotten facts that sources
of taxation are not without limit and
that these sources cannot with i'm
| punity be tapped simultaneously by
every kind Of government.
I'VE have no system; we have no de-
limitation. Federal and State govern
ments vie with each other in taxing
the same source. State and local gov
| ernments vie with each other in du-
| plicating taxes on the same property
I'VE have heard much in recent
| years about business in government
| and yet I note that those who have
been loudest in proclaiming that gov
ernment should be conducted by busi-
ness men have had neither the courage
nor the intelligence to suggest that the
whole taxing system of America be
put on business basis"
Through succeeding months he
made similar comment as he pressed
his successful campaign for the presi-
dency. First sign of action came with
passage by the Democratic House on
June 8, 1888, of resolution calling
for committee study Of tax avoidance,
simplification of the revenue laws and
possible new sources of revenue.
| The revenue bill of 1894 was 4 di-
rect result of this investigation with
its major provisions being based upon
disclosures of widespread tax avoid
| ance.
Approved in the late Spring Of 1894,
this legislation seemed destined to
stand as the administrators sole ma
jor tax gesture for . two-year period
when the 1885 Congress worked its way
quietly into June with emphatic as