INTERNAL-REVENUE HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE SIXTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON THE PROPOSED REVENUE ACT OF 1921 MAY 9-27, 1921 REVISED AND INDEXED WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1921 PREFACE. On April 12, 1921, the President, in an address to a joint session of the two Houses of Congress, urged "a prompt and thoroughgoing revision of the internal-revenue laws." On May 4, 1921, the chairman of the Committee on Finance, after conference with the committee, gave out the following statement: INTERNAL-REVENUE HEARINGS, The Committee on Finance will hold public hearings relating to internal-revenue revision at Washington, D. C., beginning Monday, May 9, 1921. It is the purpose of the committee to hear first the proponents and opponents of the sales tax. In order to avoid duplication of arguments and suggestions, it is suggested that persons having the same problem to present agree upon one representative to present their views. The hearings will be conducted in room 312 of the Senate Office Building. Sessions will begin at 10.30 a. m. It is desired that witnesses endeavor to prepare their statements in such form that their presentation will not require more than 30 minutes. Perons wishing to be heard should, if possible, apply to the clerk of the committee prior to the date set for the hearings for an assignment of time. In making such application the following information should be given: Name, business address, temporary address in Washington, business or occupation, the person, firm, corporation, or association represented, and the subject concerning which testimony will be given. All briefs and other papers filed with the committee should have indorsed on them the name and address of the person submitting them, his business or occupation, and the name of the person, firm, corporation, or association whom he represents. In accordance with the foregoing notice, hearings were held May 9 to 27, both inclusive. With the exception of four cases in which members of the committee requested witnesses to appear they did so at their own request. The stenographic minutes of each day's proceedings were printed and distributed usually on the day following, and 1,000 of this first print were thus available for distribution through a mailing list of requests and on personal application. Copies were sent to each witness with the request that he make necessary corrections for clearness in his statement and return the revised copy to the clerk. Such corrections have been observed in preparing this revised edition of the hearings. In this edition the chronological order of the statements has been disregarded and the testimony and papers submitted for printing in the record have been grouped in accordance with the principal subject discussed by the witness. At the suggestion of the members of the committee witnesses frequently digressed from the subject of their appearance to discuss other phases of the revenue laws. No attempt has been made to divide and distribute the testimony of any witness according to subjects, but the complete testimony of each has been ineluded under the principal subject discussed. LEIGHTON C. TAYLOR, Clerk to the Committee. 5 |