On Fri, 26 Jan 1996, Alan Horowitz wrote:
The first was in a monograph which was putting forth the proposition that FDR ardently desired to become involved in the war. By the way, FDR was the man who made wage income, subject to federal taxation for the first time.
I don't remember where I read the second.
To me, both stories are plausible.
In fact, before FDR, wage income was taxed; however, it was one large check at the end of the yeraar (or the beginning of the next, really). The high cost of WW II made it a necessity for the gvm't to have more money at a particular moment, and not wait for year-end. I can't remember when the amendment constitutionalizing (is that a word) the income tax was passed; however, the income tax (and wage income was most certainly taxed) was AFAIK implemented by the end of the 19th century. I might be wrong on dates here; the general principle still stands... Jon Lasser ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jon Lasser <jlasser@rwd.goucher.edu> (410)494-3072 Visit my home page at http://www.goucher.edu/~jlasser/ You have a friend at the NSA: Big Brother is watching. Finger for PGP key.