Evening star., 1944-02-09
joint Congress Action
To Simplify Taxes
Proposed by George
10000, 900 Could Be
Spared Need for Filing
Returns, Senator Thinks
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
Chairman George of the Sen
ate Finance Committee proposed
today that Senate and House
committees work together on
early simplification and stream
lining of the income tax struc-
ture.
Senate George said he believed
approximately 100000 of the 50,-
100000 taxpayers could be spared
the need of filing any returns at
all beginning in 1945 "by making
their final tax obligation the with
holding levy against their wages
and salaries"
Meanwhile, Republican members
of the House Ways and Means Com
mittee issued a statement demand
ing immediate action, and Chair
man Doughton called the commit
tee together today for preliminary
discussion of the possibilities of
shearing some of the red tape out
Of the tax laws.
WOulQ hOlQ hearings.
Senator George suggested to Mr..
Doughton that a joint committee
made up of members of the Senate
Finance and the House Ways and
Means Committees attack the sim
plification job, hold hearings, then
report back to their respective COM
mitteeS.
The House group has before it a
suggestion by Representative Robert
son, Democrat, of Virginia that, as
quick cure for some of the current
confusion, the Treasury arrange to
make out the tax returns of several
millions of taxpayers having incomes
below $4,000 Those persons are
eligible to use the short form
return.
Mr.. Robertson would have the
Government give them the option of
simply filing with the Treasury a
statement of their earnings. family
status, and credits, then let the
Treasury compute the tax and sub
NIT its bill.
ldA ouI eau oppOSeS lued.
That simply would be a temporary
way to deal with the 1943 returns
pending enactment of a general
simplification law. The Internal
Revenue Bureau, however, has
termed the suggestion impracticable
claiming the bureau has not suf-
/ ficient help to do the figuring for
the taxpayers.
The Republican Ways and Means
members threw their support behind
a bill by Representative Carlson
Republican, of Kansas, which they
said would bring about reforms as
follows:
l. Only one tax on incomes would
be imposed, with single base and
single set of rates and exemp-
tions.
2. Persons whose tax is substan-
TALLY paid at the source through
Withholdings would be excused from
filing returns except at their own
option.
3. The use of the short form re-
turn would be permitted up to
5000 gross income, instead of
$4,000 as at present.
January Is Declarations Proposed.
4. Drastic simplifcation would be
brought about in both the short and
long form returns.
5. Taxpayers would be given until
January IS, following the close of
the taxable year, in which to file
amended declarations of current
tax liability, thus eliminating all
guesswork.
James G. Patton, National Farm
|ers' Union President, today urged
Mr.. Roosevelt to veto the $2,3l5,-
100000 new tax bill and demand a
showdown with Congress"
"The farmers I represent" said
Mr.. Patton in letter to the Presi-
dent, don't like paying taxes any
more than any one else. But they
would rather pay taxes than waste
their money in higher prices. They
would rather pay taxes to the limit
of their ability than to pass the debt
on to the men who are now offering
their lives for them"
A similar appeal was made yester-
day by CIO President Philip Muir
ray. The bill, already criticized by
Mr.. Roosevelt as "unrealtistic," was
characterized by Mr.. Murray as a
betrayal OF every principle OF
sound wartime taxation
!, Wn~L TT