FOREST INDUSTRIES AND INCOME TAX 337 



Not only is it extremely important that complete equity be secured in 

 the audit of income tax returns, but it is essential also to secure 

 finality. This latter is especially important in order that American busi- 

 ness may know just where it stands ; may have an unchanging base 

 from which to work. Heavy taxes are a burden at best. If any great 

 degree of uncertainty is added to this the situation becomes particu- 

 larly onerous. It is hoped to stabilize the situation by use of the infor- 

 mation collected by the questionnaire and with this in mind, the Timber 

 Section has approached the work with mind unprejudiced. It is en- 

 gaged in an entirely open-minded study of all the problems involved. 

 The solutions are yet to be reached by a study of the actual facts in 

 each circumstance. 



All this is of particular interest to foresters because it deals with the 

 basic economic factors which control the forest industries, and in turn, 

 control the present and future of American forest growth. The com- 

 pilation of facts concerning the iadustry which is now being made 

 should certainly answer many of the questions which have previously 

 been held in dispute. It is true, of course, that the Timber Section is 

 a part of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and as such concerned only 

 with the collection of data for the administration of existing income 

 tax laws. The industry itself, however, will have the facts for such 

 future compilation as it may see fit to make. 



