Objects

Its objects shall be to formulate and announce, through the deliberately expressed opinion of an annual conference, the best informed economic thought and ripest administrative experience available for the correct guidance of public opinion, legislative and administrative action on all questions pertaining to taxation, and to interstate comity in taxation.-Constitution of the National Tax Association, Art. I, Sec. 2.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Organization of the Conference

The temporary and permanent chairman, secretary and official stenographer; address of welcome and response to the same; meeting place, accommodations for delegates, and all necessary preliminary details for each conference; and also the program of papers and discussions, shall be arranged for the conference by the executive committee of this association. All other details of the organization and work of the conference shall be arranged by the delegates present in such manner as they may from time to time decide. -Ibid., Art. III, Sec. 8.

Time and Place

An annual national conference on taxation shall be held under the auspices of this association during the month of September in each year, or at such time and place as its executive committee may determine. The details of each conference shall be arranged by the executive committee in cooperation with such special and standing committees as may be created by this association at its annual meetings for such purpose. — Ibid., Art. III, Sec. I.

Personnel

The administrative personnel of each annual conference shall be composed of three delegates appointed by the governor of each state, and public officials holding legislative or administrative positions charged with the duty of investigating, legislating upon, or administering tax laws.

The educational personnel of each annual conference shall be composed of persons identified with universities and colleges that maintain a special course in public finance, or at which that subject receives special attention in a general course of economics; members of the profession of certified public accountants; and public men, editors, writers and speakers who hold no educational or official position but who have developed a special interest in the subject of taxation.-Ibid., Art. III, Secs. 2 and 3.

Voting Power

The voting power in each conference upon any question involving an official expression of the opinion of the conference shall be vested in delegates appointed by governors of states, universities and colleges, or institutions for higher education, and state associations of certified public accountants, each of whom shall have one vote.

Voting by proxy shall not be allowed.

No member of this association shall have the right to vote in any annual conference by virtue of such membership.-Ibid., Art. III, Secs. 4, 5 and 6.

Resolutions and Conclusions

The last session of each annual conference, or so much of it as may be necessary, shall be devoted to the consideration of the report of the conference committee on resolutions and conclusions. The report of this committee, as adopted by the conference, shall be its official expression of opinion, and it shall not be held to have endorsed any other expression of opinion by whomsoever made. The voting power of the conference upon an official expression of its opinion is limited with the purpose of safeguarding the conference from the possibility of having its expression of opinion influenced by any class interest; or consideration for those who devote their time to the work or management of this association; or favor for tho e who contribute money for its support. The annual conference will be the means used by the association for carrying into practical effect its purpose to secure an expression of opinion that will formulate and announce the best informed economic thought and ripest administrative experience available for the correct guidance of public opinion legislative and administrative action on all questions pertaining to taxation, and to interstate comity in taxation.-Ibid., Art. III, Sec. 7.

Program and Rules

The program as printed and distributed shall be adopted and followed with such modifications as may be required by reason of absence, vacancies, or other cause. The usual rules of parliamentary procedure shall control. Each speaker shall be strictly limited to twenty minutes for the presentation of a formal paper. He shall be warned two minutes before the expiration of such period. The time of a speaker may be extended by unanimous consent of those present. In general discussion each speaker shall be limited to five minutes and no person shall speak more than once during the same period of discussion until others desiring to speak have been heard.

Voting Power. The voting power of the conference, upon any question involving an official expression of opinion, shall be vested in delegates in attendance, appointed by governors of states, territories, provinces or possessions, by universities and colleges or institutions for higher education, and by state associations of certified public accountants. No person shall have more than one vote by reason of his appointment as a delegate from more than one source. The voting power shall be by ayes and nays, unless a roll call shall be demanded. On all other questions the voting shall be by vote of all in attendance. The receipt of reports made to this conference by committees of the National Tax Association shall not be considered as expressing the opinion of the conference on the subjects treated.

Committees

The following committees shall be appointed: (a) A committee of three on credentials, to be appointed by the chairman, who shall designate the chairman of such committee. (b) A committee on resolutions, composed of one delegate from each state, territory, possession or province, selected from among the delegates duly appointed; but in case of the non-attendance of any such, any person present from such locality may be appointed. The chairman shall designate the chairman of this committee, such person to arrange for its organization. All resolutions involving an expression of opinion of the conference on the subject of taxation shall be read to the conference before submission to the committee, and shall be immediately referred without debate.-Rules of Procedure, see p. 2.

FIRST SESSION

MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 18, 1922

ORGANIZATION OF CONFERENCE

SAMUEL LORD, President of the National Tax Association, presiding.

PRESIDENT LORD: It is my privilege to call the fifteenth annual conference to order. Possibly as a preface to what we intend to do this evening, it will be in order for me to explain to you, and especially the newer members of the conference, just how the conference functions. There is an association known as the national tax association, which is a perpetual institution, to which we invite all of you to become members, and all of you can become members by contributing a five-dollar membership fee, which will entitle you to a copy of the bulletin, which is published monthly during the year, except in July, August and September, and to a copy of the proceedings of this conference. The conference is a separate body from the national tax association. It effects its own organization, makes its own rules, conducts matters to suit itself, and it is called for the purpose of a fair and free expression of opinion in regard to the burning tax questions of the day.

Of course in a large body of this kind, it is necessary to have certain rules of order, and discussion has to be somewhat limited in extent. It is even necessary to apply a time limit to papers that are presented and to committee reports.

I think with this brief statement we have reached the stage where we ought to organize the conference by the selection of a permanent chairman and a secretary, and I shall be pleased to receive nominations for those positions.

CELSUS P. LINK of Colorado: It occurs to me that in years past we have wasted a good deal of time in temporary organization. Really, while there are two organizations, as the chairman has explained, it amounts to one, just the conference. I think we will save time and it will be better business to consolidate the association and the conference at this time. I therefore move that our president, Mr. Lord, and our secretary, Mr. Holcomb, be the permanent officers of this conference.

CAPTAIN W. P. WHITE of Massachusetts: Second the motion. PRESIDENT LORD: I recognize Senator Law of New York.

WALTER W. LAW, JR.: While I think it is particularly appropriate that the officers of the association should also be the officers of the conference, in this particular case it is a very pleasant thing, and I am glad to second the motion made by Mr. Link.

MR. LINK: Members of the conference, the motion has been made and seconded. Are there any remarks?

(No response)

MR. LINK: If not, those in favor say aye. (Ayes)

MR. LINK: It is unanimous.

CHAIRMAN LORD: I thank you for the confidence expressed in this vote. I cannot say it is an unusual compliment because it has become the usual thing to do, but I appreciate it none the less and you have my most sincere thanks.

It is customary at this time to adopt rules of procedure. We have had fifteen years' experience in these matters, and we know pretty well what is needed. Can anyone suggest what rules shall govern the body in the conduct of its affairs?

SECRETARY HOLCOMB: Mr. Chairman, acting upon past experience, I move you that the rules that have been used in previous years, and particularly those that were adopted last year, be the rules of this conference, and in order that they may be known, I suggest that I read them in detail. While these rules are more or less perfunctory, it still remains true that there are times when it will be desirable to apply them with some sort of rigor.

CAPTAIN WHITE: Motion seconded.

CHAIRMAN LORD: Moved and seconded that the rules of the fourteenth conference shall be the rules of the fifteenth, and the secretary will read the rules.

The rules read by the secretary were as follows:

PROGRAM AND RULES

That the program as printed and distributed be adopted and followed with such modifications as may be required by reason of absence, vacancies, or other causes. The usual rules of parliamentary procedure shall control. Each speaker shall be strictly limited to twenty minutes for the presentation of a formal paper. shall be warned two minutes before the expiration of such period. The time of a speaker may be extended by unanimous consent of

He

those present. In general discussion each speaker shall be limited to five minutes and no person shall speak more than once during the same period of discussion until others desiring to speak have been heard.

Voting Power. The voting power of the conference upon any question involving an official expression of opinion shall be vested in delegates in attendance appointed by governors of states, by universities and colleges or institutions for higher education, and by state associations of certified public accountants. No person shall have more than one vote by reason of his appointment as a delegate from more than one source. The voting power shall be by ayes and nays, unless a roll call be demanded. On all other questions the voting shall be by vote of all in attendance. The receipt of reports made to this conference by committees of the National Tax Association shall not be considered as expressing its opinion on the subjects treated.

Committees. (a) A committee of three on credentials, to be appointed by the chairman, who shall designate the chairman of such committee. (b) A committee on resolutions, composed of one delegate from each state, selected from among the delegates appointed by governors; but in case of the non-attendance of any such, any person from such state may be appointed. The chairman shall designate the chairman of this committee, such person to arrange for its organization.

Resolutions. All resolutions involving an expression of opinion of the conference on the subject of taxation shall be read to the conference before submission to the committee, and shall be immediately referred without debate.

SECRETARY HOLCOMB: I may suggest here that we have construed "states" to include provinces.

CHARLES J. TOBIN of New York: Just a question of inquiry as to what position the conference will take as to a delegate from the District of Columbia.

CHAIRMAN LORD: I shall hold that he is entitled to vote as a delegate.

MR. TOBIN: I thank you.

CHAIRMAN LORD: You have heard the rules read; are you ready to adopt them?

(Call for the question)

(Ayes and noes)

CHAIRMAN LORD: The ayes appear to have it, the ayes have it and the rules are adopted. I will appoint a chairman of the com