National Tax Association

[Report of the Committee on Resolutions]Source: Proceedings of the Annual Conference on Taxation under the Auspices of the NationalTax Association, Vol. 12 (JUNE 17-19, 1919), pp. 529-533Published by: National Tax AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23400535 .

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BESOLUTION S OF THE CONFERENCE 529

(MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE RESUMED)

Permanent Chairman Armson : Is the committee on reso

lutions ready to report.

A. b. Peckinpaugh of Ohio, Chairman : Your committee on

resolutions has had under consideration and recommends for

adoption the following resolutions : ' ' That the Committee on Inheritance Taxation be continued

with such additional members as the president may appoint and with power to act, subject to the approval of the executive

committee."

[Adopted.]

Mr. Peckinpaugh: "That the conference extends to the

chairman and members of the committee on Model System of

State and Local Taxation a vote of thanks and wishes to ex

press to them its appreciation of their efforts in preparing the report of the committee for the consideration of the conference.

"

[Adopted by rising vote.]

Mr. Peckinpaugh: "The Conference learns with deep re

gret that impaired eyesight is responsible for the non-attend

ance of Allen Ripley Foote, Esquire, the honored founder and

first president of the National Tax Association. Mr. Foote holds the unique record of having participated in each one of the eleven conferences held up to this time.

"The delegates of this Conference therefore take occasion

to extend to Mr. Foote fraternal greetings and to make formal

record of their hope that his health may soon be completely restored and that his present absence may prove to be but a

temporary interruption in his long series of attendances."

[Adopted.]

Mr. Peckinpaugh : There is another resolution upon which

a sub-committee was appointed, and I will ask Mr. Thomas of Louisiana to read that resolution.

34

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530 NATIONAL TAX ASSOCIATION

L. E. Thomas of Louisiana : There was a special committee

appointed by the resolutions committee this morning on the

question which is embodied in this preamble, and resolution:

"Whereas there should exist the closest cooperation and

mutual helpfulness between the taxing authorities of the

federal and the various state governments, in the interest of

uniform, fair and just assessments, therefore,

"Be it Resolved, That the president and executive commit tee of the National Tax Association be requested to seek such

legislation through congress and the state legislatures as will enable and authorize the various taxing and valuation boards

of each, to impart to the other, any information they may have

and which may be desired by the other with reference to in

come taxes, both general and special, inheritance taxes and

the general valuation of property that may fall under their

respective jurisdictions, the same to be duly safeguarded from

general publicity. ' '

That is the resolution which we present for adoption; 1 move its adoption.

Chairman Armson : Are there any remarks on the reso

lution 1

T. S. Adams: 1 might read a substitute resolution that ap

peals to me somewhat.

"Resolved that the conference requests the executive com

mittee of the National Tax Association to take such steps as may be necessary and expedient, looking towards cooperation and

interchange of information between state and federal officials

charged with the administration of substantially similar taxes, under due safeguards against general publicity."

I think this is a subject which needs in a particular way, all the wisdom we have. I fancy that probably ninety-five per cent of the people here would say that the wholesome and

theoretically sound and proper attitude towards this subject,

was one of widespread publicity at some time in the future.

Eventually these facts should be known, should be available. T was quite early on this ground and chanced, as I said, to

have written the provision of the federal law, dealing with the

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RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONFERENCE 531

subject at the present time, which says the income tax returns

shall be public records and on the request of the governor, under regulations to be prescribed by the secretary of the

treasury and approved by the president of the United States, shall be available to state officials with respect to corporations, I believe that some day in the far future complete publicity is going to be a wholesome thing and the best thing. I think most of us believe that. But we have to recognize two other

great practical facts. The first of these facts is this, that

specific items of information will be used by incompetent and careless officials in a destructive way. The second is that a careful state tax commission, wise, discreet, fair, and similarly federal officials can, during long years of careful effort, build

up confidential and wholesome relations between themselves and the taxpayers that are infinitely valuable, and which we must not destroy. We have here one of those curious difficult

problems of growth. Twenty years from now, this discus sion will be laughable, but until that twenty-year period is

reached, we are in danger of doing a very harmful thing, and we have to proceed with caution and with the discretion that befits men who have worked in this tangled, difficult, complex subject for years. Under the circumstances, what seems to be the hub of this whole suggestion is that the exe

cutive committee, having years and discretion, want to go as fast as we can safely go and may perhaps be better trusted

to take those steps than if we act through a resolution framed

hastily at this particular time. I want to see more and more

publicity but I don't want to see it come too rapidly so that that thing, above anything else, in my opinion, that the federal government is trying to build up—the absolute con fidence of the people—may not be destroyed by what may hap pen. I am sorry that it may happen ; but occasionally a very enthusiastic official, angered at some particular company, over

looking for the moment the widespread under-assessment of

property generally, may single out some particular individual or corporation for punishment, utilizing as his principal weapon, information given under entirely different circum stances and designed to be used in an entirely different spirit. These problems are not strange. We have them in our family

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532 NATIONAL TAX ASSOCIATION

life ; we have them in a thousand places ; where the desirable

thing to be obtained must be obtained cautiously. You have to go with slow steps toward the goal you want to reach. After all, this executive committee of old and wise and trusted men, should perhaps better be entrusted with this difficult question of saying how fast we shall go.

Moreover, gentlemen, remember this thing: by existing law and the regulations of the president the returns, of any cor

poration whose stock is listed on the stock exchange may be examined by the federal government. Furthermore, under

existing law, the stockholder holding as much as one per cent of the stock of any corporation, may examine its returns. We are going forward to this goal we all want to reach. It is a matter of rapidity of progress. I think if it is left to the executive committee they can be more properly trusted to

take these steps.

[Substitute adopted.]

Me. Peckinpaugh : ' '

Resolved, that the conference extends

to the governor of the state of Illinois, the mayor of the city of Chicago, the Chicago Association of Commerce, The

Chicago Atheltic Club and to the general reception committee, as well as to the management of the La Salle Hotel, its thanks

for the manner in which the conference has been entertained

at the present session."

[Adopted.]

George G. Tunell op Illinois : Before we adjourn I move

that a vote of thanks be extended to Judge Armson for the

skillful manner in which he has conducted directly, and

through the temporary chairmen, the sessions of the National Tax Conference.

[Adopted by rising vote.]

Chairman Armson : I thank you for the resolution. I have

felt it a pleasure and an honor to be the permanent chairman

of this convention and if I have served with a reasonable

degree of satisfaction I am repaid.

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ADJOURNMENT 533

According to the printed program we were to have an

evening session tonight. It has been thought by some of the

delegates that we could end our business and dispense with the evening session—the round table session. What is the

pleasure of the conference? Shall we close or do you desire

to have an evening session.

Mr. Steele : I move that the conference be closed and that

we adjourn.

[Conference adjourned.]

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