The Post War Federal Tax System - Address before the Controllers Institute - September 22, 1943

Sep 21, 2026

Roswell Foster Magill’s address discusses the formulation of a federal tax system after World War II, focusing on what the Federal Treasury will require, the unavoidable items of expenditure, and citizens’ expectations for government functions. He frames tax reform around core attributes such as simplicity, adequacy, fairness, and the proper balance between federal and state responsibilities. Magill also examines how taxes shape investment, business transactions, and family arrangements, arguing that postwar tax policy must support incentives for healthy economic activity and risk-taking.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

The Post War Federal Tax System

Tax Revision Necessary

97-84162-26Magill,Roswell Foster The post war federal taxsystem [New York] [1943] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 308 2 Box 732Magill,Roswell Foster,1895- The post war federal tax system,by Roswell Magill.Anaddress before the Controllers institute,September 22,1943.New York,N.Y.,Reprinted by Tax foundation 1943j1p.1.,12p.21”. Another copy in Business.1943 1.Taxatlon—U.S.1I.Tax foundation,ine.,New York.π.TItle.43-173653LIbrary of CongressHJ2377.M354698965·?83UP CoPY336.2 Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Librarles. ## RESTRICTIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: mmREDUCTION RATIO: 10:/ MAGE PLACEMENT:IAIA IB IB DATE FILMED: 13197 NITIALS: TLM 26871 ## TRACKING\#: 2017 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. ## THE POST WARFEDERAL TAX SYSTEM byROSWELL MAGILL 308 2 Boy732 An Address before the Controllers InstitnteSeprember 22,1943 Reprinted by TAX FOUNDATION30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZANEW YORK 20,N.Y. Dept.of Eoonomles APR 271944 PR MAY 28 1946 CARLY this year Dr.Roswell Magill,professor oflaw at Columbia University and former UnderU Secretary of the Treasury.published an imporSecretary of the Treasury,published an impor-tant volume,"The Impact of Federal Taxes."Heexamined the deficiencies of the federal tax systemagainst the background of the postwar responsibilitiesresting upon industry to provide full production andemployment.He raised the issue as to whether thefree enterprise system could survive under any suchmounting burden of regressive taxation. In a speech before the Controllers Institute,Dr.Magill presented his program for suggested revisionsin the tax laws.In accordance with its policy offurthering discussion on this vitally important sub-ject,The Tax Foundation is reprinting and distribut-ing Dr.Magil's stimulating and provocative paper. Dr.Magill,of course,has had wide experiencein dealing with these fiscal problems of the govern-ment.In 1933-34 he was Assistant to the Secretaryof the Treasury and in 1937-38 he was Under Sec-retary of the Treasury.During the latter period hewas in general charge of the Bureau of InternalRevenue. THE TAX FoUNDATION 308 Z 04732 THE POST WARFEDERAL TAX SYSTEM JaJ7o SOME of you,it must have seemed that the.characternd scope of this address were comparable with one onhow and when we will win the war with Japan.Both are ad-dressed to problems which lie very much in the future.Bothwill be affected by great imponderables,as well as by numerousevents that cannot be foreseen in detail today.But if it is nottoo soon to discuss international organization and internationalmonetary affairs after the war,it is certainly not too soon toconsider what our domestic fiscal policy ought to be.The firststep in securing a tax system that is bearable is to considerwhat the nation's fiscal needs are going to be,and how bestto meet them. We have now a considerable fiscal history,and,though thenation may be young,our ideals and ideas,our ways of life,our demands on business and government are pretty well estab-lished.Most of us would like to see continue the civilizationwe knew before the war.It is certain that governmental modi-fications affecting the budget will occur,like social security;and changes in the relations of business and government,likethe establishment of the Secuities and Exchange Commission.But it is still a reasonable assumption that the philosophy onwhich our tax system,as well as our government,is built,willremain.At least,this is the basic premise of this address. What major factors,then,will govern the formulation ofour federal tax system after the war?Here we could considereach of the basic attributes of a good tax system normally citedby fiscal students:si

FAQs

What factors should guide the formulation of the U.S. federal tax system after the war?

The address emphasizes determining the Federal Treasury’s likely requirements, unavoidable federal expenditures, desired government functions, and the relationships between federal and state responsibilities.

Why does Magill argue that tax revision is necessary after the war?

He explains that taxes materially shape investment forms, business transactions, and family arrangements, so Congress must ensure the postwar tax system creates incentives for business activity needed by a healthy economy.

How does the speech link taxation to business behavior and economic outcomes?

Magill questions whether businessmen can afford to take risks and undertake new enterprises under existing tax burdens, warning that the tax system may tilt incentives toward low-risk outcomes instead of growth.

Sep 21, 2026

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