The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-09-23
UNITED STATES SENATOR

Adjournment of Congress does not
mean the end of Congressional acti-
witty until the next session. The re-
cess period is marked by studies on
the part of House and Senate COM
mittees, preparation of department
tai budgets, the gathering of stat
istical information for Congress and
investigations, such as that now be-
ing carried on by the Senate Com
mittee on Agriculture in connection
with new farm legislation.
Not the least important of these
between-session activities is the
studies being made of the country's
tax system. Treasury and Internal
Revenue experts, working in conf
JUNCTION with the full-time staff OF
the Committee of Congress, are
now laying plans for tax legislation
when Congress again convenes in
January, or earlier, if special ses-
sion is called.
While this behind the scenes"
activity is primarily designed to
simplify existing tax laws, plug
loopholes and otherwise improve the
tax structure, it is an open secret
that consideration is also being Civ
en- to means of improving the whole
tax structure. Whether that Will
lead to removal of certain taxes and
the levying of others, is problema-
tic. Should the income tax base be
broadened and Grrccial taos e''''2! :
mated? Would better knowledoe
on the part Of taxpayers of what
they actually pay be preferable to
hidden taxes such as we now have?
These end other questions are being
asked by those concerned with the
interest of the taxpayer, as well as
the necessity for providing adequate
Federal revenue for necessary gov
ernmental functions.
With it all, there is growing rea-
lization among members of Congress
of the need for better understand
ing of the fundamentals of taxation.
Some favor inclusion of the subject
as a part of citizenship training in
the schools. There is much merit
in this contention, in the opion Of
in this contention, in the opinion of
many Congressional leaders.
They contend, and rightly so, that
too little thought is given to Fede-
raj funds. For example, it is not
unusual to hear some advocate of a
Federal project say: Government
money will pay for it, there will be
no cost to U.S." Such is not the case
The only source of Federal revenue
is the taxpayer, and it is the taxpay-
er who will pay for any Federal
project or activity, whatever the ma
ture and wherever it is located.
1t has been contended that hid
den taxes, indirect levies of ma
ture resulting in taxpayers having
little idea of what they pay, is large
ly responsible for widespread lack
of interest in Government. If the
students of our schools obtained a
greater appreciation of the routine
facts of government, with more in
formation on revenue and expendi-
lures, they would have more inter-
est when they became voters. They
would be more eager to 60 to the
ballot box and help correct evils and
be more attentive to the selection of
public officials.
One writer declares, and with
some reason, that America repudi-
ates rather than plans. His meaning
is that there is more interest in the
part of the electorate in repudiatlng
something that has been done, than
in selection of officials who have an
eye to the future. Support of this is
found in the fact that only in times
of national distress, or with some
outstanding issue is before the peo-
pie, do the voters throng to the polls
in great numbers.
Many believe that the interest of
young people in the affairs of gov
eminent is certain to have a whole
some effect and mean that there will
be a steadily growing interest in
governmental affairs. And there is
no phase of these affairs of greater
importance to the individual than
the taxes he pays and the return he
gets for those taxes.
Better national understanding Of
conditions is the answer.