Life — March 31, 1921 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FR nakes tory? Are akers sons? > that reply. uistic The ny of with March 34 Senator Sounder, Tax Reformer Why Not Surrender All Incomes? He Asks By GLUYAS WILLIAMS (Special Correspondence.) (WASHINGTON March 26.—Having lately filed an income-tax return, I am in a position to state with authority that this country needs a thorough revision of its tax laws. My experience was prob- ably no worse than that of many others, though this is the first day since March 15, that the doctor has let me sit up; the final breakdown came, I may say, when I dis- covered that I had inadvertently handed in the work sheet, instead of the regular re- turn, and that, flustered by an altercation with Mrs. Sounder as to who was the head of the family, I had failed to take advantage of that exemption at all. Iam, I have always maintained in the face of considerable opposition, a man of more than ordinary intelligence ; yet if the process of making out an income tax re- turn sends me to bed for two weeks, what must the effect be on those less well equipped to grapple with the problem? If you were to chart the number of insanity cases for any given year, they would, I am sure, show a steadily mounting line that reaches its peak on March 15, with recur- ring peaks as the installments fall due. Plainly, then, the income tax, as at pres- ent constituted, must go. So too must the excess profit tax, for two reasons. First, it has never worked; and second, what with the business depression and everything, there aren't any more excess profits to tax. Likewise, I feel that the tax on certain kinds of soaps, toothpastes, and other articles of cleanliness, should be removed. I realize that this item works a hardship on only a part of the people; yet if allowed to stand the next logical step would be to put a tax on godliness, which might meet with serious opposition. However, if we take away those sources of revenue, we must find others to make up the $4,000,000,000 that our government needs in order just to worry through the year. It’s a fairly tidy sum, first and last. The last time that I was in the House I discussed the matter with Floor Leader Mondell, but owing to the fact that Mr. Blanton, of Texas, was at that mo- ment in debate with the rest of the House, my conference was not an entire success. It was like trying to discuss the Einstein theory in the subway during rush hours. My discussion with Senator Owen, who knows a good deal about financial matters, was also disappointing; for although I could hear everything he said I could not understand a word of it. However, it is scarcely necessary for me to understand the principles of taxation, for I am ap- proaching the subject from the broad and human standpoint, The details I will leave to others. If they say that a sales tax is the thing to replace the present excess profit tax, by all means let us have it. And if they feel that in the income tax a MR. BLANTON, OF TEXAS, WAS IN DEBATE WITH THE REST OF THE HOUSE. 1 DON’T SEE HOW THAT WOULD MAKE ME TAX EXEMPT AS SENATOR M'CORMICK SAYS. distinction should be made between the in- comes from mental and manual labor, I am willing to agree to that; though I am puzzled to know how that provision would make me tax exempt as Senator Medill McCormick says it would. Though I am willing to leave the details to others, on the really vital principles contained in the Sounder Tax Revision Bill, I shall stand firm with all the weight of my 275 pounds. I propose to retain the income tax, as the only means of getting more out of the rich than the poor, but I shall safeguard our national health by re- ducing the 171 schedules and items to the one simple query: What's your income? But the greatest value in my taxation bill is that it promotes Americanism, There is nothing so destructive to love of your country as being compelled to pay it a tax, and you will generally find that your friendly feeling toward your govern- ment is in inverse ratio to the amount of tax that you pay. I wager that if you sneaked up behind any respectable citizen engaged in making out his tax return and whispered, “Long live the Sovict Re- public,” he would throw his arms around your neck and call you brother. This regrettable but understandable feeling I propose to change by the simple expedient of reversing the present pro- cedure. Under the terms of my bill, the government will keep the income, and the taxpayer will keep the tax. This will not noticeably change the present ratio be- tween your income and your tax; on the other hand it will make loyal, contented citizens of many who now are merely taxpayers. Senator Sounder. comicbooks.com