Evening star., 1943-03-02
Tax Debate Held Dependent
On Meaning of = Few Words.

To the Editor OF The Star
The main source OF the income tax
muddle seems to be definition; namely,
that when in paying our taxes we used
a previous years income for computation.
1t was that year for which We were
paying
Hence, it is inferred. We all owe for 4
years taxes, though we did only what
we were told to do.
This sounds not wholly unreasonable
but can be shown to be incorrect.
We may take 1t that tax computed
for the current years income would be
above question by any one. If that had
been the rule when the per cent tax
began In 1888, we would have paid in
1888. and for the first time. And that is
just what we did as it was, under the
other rule. Hence no delinquency.
Twenty million Americans are not
dead beats for taxes. So when Con-
gressmen say 1t should be principle"
to strike q compromise between cancel
lation of one year Of tax liability and
collection Of two years in one" they are
condemning many to suffer an injustice
based on false thinking. Some are fully
paid up now. with no liability to be
Cancelled.
1t is true, though, that those due to
pay when their incomes first grew to
taxable size were excused from paying
until the year after that happened.
But rates were much lower then. until
1912. Some incomes were taxed eight
times as much In 1912 as in 1910. Hence
the glib phrase tax liability" covers
a proposal to fine some taxpayers eight
fold for what previous Congresses in
structed them to skip.
There, therefore, is nothing more to be
paid on 1912, with one exception-when
the error from change OF income was
large-that is, when the income was
either appreciably larger or smaller than
corresponds to the payment made last
year. The way out is, in principle. to
amend last years payment SO as to make
it fit last years income.
WALTER p. WHITE.
Analogy Between Miss Thompson
And Capt. Rickenbacker Discussed.
To the Editor of The Star:
After actually getting into her column
concerning Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker.
the fairness, logic and importance Of
Dorothy Thompson's observations are
impressive. But many of us wish that
she had omitted entirely those predatory
remarks, admittedly written in bad tenn
per. -,
Capt. Rickenbacker Is not merely an
airplane stunt man," receiving atten-
ton only because Of publicized exploits.
AS an able and experienced executive
Of one of our principal airlines, it is
reasonable to assume that he has some
knowledge Of the countrys economic
life and some appreciation Of the prob
lens between labor and management.
There are many signs that Americans
generally are getting sick and tired Of
the thesis that only the experts" may
speak on public questions, that only the
experts" are qualified to formulate plans
and to act. Government by experts"
Is coming into disrepute, since they never
selves any better than lesser men.
There also Is a growing suspicion that
In many instances the degree Of ''ex-
pertness" Is determined by individual
brass and publicity build-ups.
Our country was not founded, nor
its greatest documents written by "ex-
perts"-but by simple men. to Judge
them by modern standards, who pos
sessed integrity. honest conviction. moral
conscience and native common sense.