War Taxation
Some Comments and Letters
Otto H. Kahn
1917
War Taxation
Contents
| Some Comments | Pages 7 to 42 |
| Letters | |
| I | |
| THE INCOME TAX | Pages 43 to 60 |
| II | |
| RETURN UPON TAXABLE AND TAX-EXEMPT SECURITIES | Pages 61 to 70 |
War Taxation
The recent publication of a little pamphlet entitled "Some Comments on War Taxation" elicited numerous interesting comments by the readers. The points to which these comments mainly related were the statements contained in the pamphlet that:
First.If our neighbor Canada continues her present policy of not taxing incomes, or if she imposes only a moderate tax while rates of income taxation in America are fixed at oppressively and unnecessarily high rates, there can be little question that the ultimate result will be an outflow of capital to Canada, and that men of enterprise will seek that country.
Second.Moneyed men not having their capital engaged in active business, if they are so constituted that their consciences permit them to evade their share of monetary sacrifice, can put their funds into tax-exempt securities.
In reference to the foregoing points, I have written two letters in answer to correspondents. These letters contain an elaboration of certain arguments and viewpoints set forth in the original article on War Taxation and also refer to some additional phases of the subject. Those who have done me the honor of perusing that article may possibly be interested in reading these letters.
In order that they may be presented as a part of the argument as a whole, the original article with a few additions and slight revisions is printed in the first part of this pamphlet, followed by the letters.
O. H. K.
52 William Street,
New York, July 5, 1917.
SOME COMMENTS ON
WAR TAXATION
This is a reprint, somewhat amplified, of an article printed recently in the New York Times. The original article was written before the recommendations of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives were reported.
In a timeof patriotic exaltation and of universal obligation and readiness to make great sacrifices to bring a most just and righteous war to a successful conclusion, the voice of sober argument and matter of fact considerations is apt to grate upon the ears of the people.
That voice is all the less likely to be popular when the arguments it puts forth may easily lend themselves to the interpreta