Reducing

Some ladies protest. Say they: "I can reduce my diet but I can't reduce my figure." Some gentleman have scoffed. But the ladies may justify their assertion with some show of cogency by pointing to some figures issued by the Treasury last week.

In 1924, the Federal Government greatly reduced taxation. The result should have shown in the revenue for the fiscal year just ended (1924-25). It showed--but showed very little. Taxation had been reduced--but taxes had decreased very little. The figures for the taxes paid during the last two years, before and after tax reduction:

1923-24 1924-25 (in millions) (in millions)

Income tax $1,842 $1,762 Miscellaneous taxes 954 822

Total $2,796 $2,584

The reduction amounts to only About 7 1/2%.