Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-01-27
FAIR
ENOUGH
By Westbrook
Peeler
OUR Congress has made an
" absurd and horrible mess Fl


the income tax, originally in
tended 10 raise money but now
used frankly to handicap the
efficient, diligent and/or just
plain lucky few who are able to
make big money. just as good
golfers are compelled TO concede
strokes TO the dubs.
That change in intent seems
to be fixed now, so there is no
use arguing about il for the
time being. although the case
might be reopened under a sin
cerely reactionary government
after the war.
But it is possible TO simplify
the law and the return, and
this should be done right away,
because il is no exaggeration TO
say that as matters stand right
now. nobody understands the
business Of reckoning tax, and
the best authorities just guess.
1T is certainly bad law which
compels the citizen To appeal
10 a lawyer or accountant 10
untanPle the idlotic confusion or
its language. or waste time
from his work 10 go into a
huddle with treasury agent
who doesn't really understand II
himself. but goes by arbitrary
interpretations from above.
1t is bad law. too, which
suddenly tags a citizen for
sun, payable in enc year equal
TO his entire income for that
year, or exceeding IL; but that,
too. is a little way off the point
OF todays essay. VI
TIIE taxpayer with fixed IN
l. come certainly has right
10 know how much he IS going
10 owe for the current year so
that he can adjust his living
expenses and other commit
ments and earmark the tax
money as he goes along.
The withholding tax principle
o. is the -surpst and most conVen-
tent for both government and
citizen IN the case OF the per-
son whose income consists of
salary. commissions. bonuses
and royalties; but II is used
only sparingly and thus is no
help 10 a great majority of the
most productive class OF income
taxpayers.
CONSCIENTIOUS people want
~ TO pay their dues and would
prefer never TO touch that por-
ton of their earnings at all
on the contrary. they would
be greatly relieved If the law
were so revised that their GOV
eminent took down its own
share first by means Of check
Oft at the source.
This would eliminate not only
the ordeal of preparing the
crazy return which. IN many
cases, takes several days OF
great concentration and requires
professional help, hut also the
bout with the reviewing agent
who comes around long after
ward and makes the victim GO
over the whole thing again.
TIIESE agents formerly Al
Il least had political malice
and bullied the taxpayer and hit
with arbitrary rulings in thG
treaSurys favor on questio Il,
which could have been decide
the other way.
Henry Morgenthau took mo-
ice Oh iflls hDbSt 10 lNt tNitHN
OF warning his men TO cut II out
after publicity had shown up
specific instances OF spite
against individuals. 1t may
have been discontinued. but even
so there are many taxpayers
now subject 10 this bothersome
review who could be relieved OF
the task by the checkoff.
I'VE personal exemptions now
Il adays are mere tokens, 10
use a word which our European
friends used 70 employ when
they would send US so cents
every now and again on account
of their debts for World War ]
II would be better TO elmi-
nate these deductions entirely
and the paper work which they
require, and adjust the matter
by lowering the rate on the
earlier brackets.
1t is not only the amount OF
the tax and the high rates IN
the upper brackets which bur