Evening star., 1941-04-25
0'Mahoney Advocates
Tax Policy 10 Foster
Free Enterprise
Realty Tax PorIey Also
Hears PIeu TO Creote
Special Study Group

UlyJ SOulllllIGcc CIIdI SCQ tONdy llioI
this Nation has failed to realize that
production is the source of all
wealth and that there can be no
successful tax program without en-
couraging production.
He told the National Conference
of Real Estate Taxpayers at its
opening session at the Mayf1ower
Hotel that Government should
foster and encourage free enter
prise by a wise tax policy. Invest
ment of money by individuals in
private enterprise, he added, can be
successfully carried out only by
guaranteeing to private enterprise
freedom from monopoly and big
| government.
Senator OMahoney addressed the
conference after Myers Y. Cooper,
former Governor of Ohio, had pro-
posed that Congress create ma
tional commission on taxation to
evolve a long range tax policy for
the three levels of government, ma
tional, State and local.
Other tions.
In addition to proposing COM
mission on taxation, Gov. Cooper
made these other recommendations:
/. Place a ceiling on the real es-
tate tax rate
2. Give greater consideration TO
the earning power of property In
matters of tax assessments.
3. Coordinate taxation to pre-
vent overlapping and unwarranted
confiscation of earnings and values.
f. Amend the Federal laws so as
to permit not less than 10 years for
liquidation of real estate to meet
Federal inheritance taxes.
S. Make Government income
producing property pay for local
costs of government on the same
basis as privately owned property.
6. Reduce the cost of government
by prudent spending of public
money in harmony with the public
income.
Understanding of Facts Emphasized.
Describing The recommendation
as highly desirable" Senator O'Ma-
honey suggested that what is needed
most today is an understanding of
the facts.
In these critical days" he told
the conference, lit is important for
groups like yours TO appreciate that
the present war is the result of the
failure of Europe's leaders 10 solve
the same economic and social prob
lens which we ourselves have not
yet solved
The Wyoming Senator, pointing
out that Government has expanded
as enterprise has become more the
activity of groups than Of indiVid-
uals, warned against the danger Of
a government growing so strong that
the individual will be powerless be-
fore it.
President Roosevelt in letter to
the conference, read by Mr.. Cooper,
conveyed his greetings to the dele
gates and expressed hope that
the conference may result in fruitful
suggestions for the better co-ordIna-
ton of tax policies among all units
of government in the United States" :"
Mr.. Cooper said successful dag
nosis of the tax situation could re-
suit in great reduction in the cost OF
Federal, State and loval governments
and would remove the guess work
that permeates the whole taxing
structure"
He said successful diagnosis OF the
tax situation could result in great
reduction in the cost of Federal,
State and local governments and
would remove the guess work that
permeates the whole taxing struc-
! ture"
Calls for Rigid Economy.
I'VE must go through with our
| tremendous preparedness program
regardless of cost" Mr.. Cooper de-
clared. But while public attention
! is focused on huge Federal spend
ing. only the first fraction of which
can be paid for through the new
| So. 500 900. .O00 tax program, let us
not forget that the home base must
be kept sound. We must practice
economy in the conduct of local gov
eminent as it has never been prac-
ticed before If we are to come out
! of this conflict with the opportunity
preserved to start over again with
AN assured future and TO continue
the American way of living"
| Mr.. Cooper. who is president of
the conference, called for "a new
Magma Charta of taxation to mod
ernize the structure to the end that
no man shall be called upon TO go
beyond his ability to pay in meeting
| the costs of government"
In suggesting creation of a tax
commission, Mr.. Cooper declared the
problem "tranScends partisanshlp"
and that it obviously must be
kept out of the political zone in
the studies and recommendations
made"
Says Roosevelt FavOrs Commission.
He said both President Roosevelt
and Secretary of the Treasury Nor
genthau have expressed hearty ap-
prevail of the proposed national
commission.
The problem of assessment of
real estate for tax purposes TO take
into account the actual income
value or use value of a property
and the practical operation of an
overall limitation on the real es-
tate tax rate are major subjects
before the taxpayers conference.
The meeting has brought together
urban and farm real estate groups
from all parts of the country to
advance a program of cooperative
action which is already in progress
in some States. Specifically, the
conference is seeking readjustment
of a tax situation which requires
some real estate owners to pay on
| their properties from two to four
times as much of the gross income
for taxes as do other economic
groups.
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