Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-24
THE BURDEN ON LABOR

L rom tht Sptecil OF <. ii. IaV6nner
of Illinois, in the house of represent
atives'
1T is proposed TO meet the costs of
preparedness by taxes on sugar.
on gasoline, and by other direct taxes
which bear heavily upon labor. 1t is
also proposed TO continue the present
indirect taxes on the things people
use, which yield $500 900 900 year.
1t is proposed TO burden the worker
and farmer by taxes on the things
they consume. and spend the proceeds
on armament. with colossal profits to
the armament ring, for an army and
navy to protect principally the things
that privilege owns.
First. Why tax labor when, ac-
cording to the report of the commits
sion on industrial relations, from
between one-tllird and one-fourth of
the male workers Is years of age and
over in factories and mines earn less
han $40 per week, while from two
thirds to three fourths earn less than
Fl5 per week; when 2 per cent of the
people own SO per cent of the wealth,
anG 65 per cent own only per cent
Of the wealth?
Why not compel 2 per cent of the
people to pay go per cent of the taxes
instead of making the great mass of
the people, who own per cent, pay
% per cent of the taxesp
Second. Why tax labor when war
munition stocks have increased in
value lii one year by 1866, ooo, 900?
Third. Why tax incomes in Ameri-
ca but $50, ,000, 900 when incomes in
Great Britain, even before the war,
paid S236, 245, 900? England contains
less than one half our population and
wealth.
All told, England taxed wealth, in
comes, and inheritance to the extent
OF 1880, ll5, 900, and collected 45 per
cent of her total revenues from these
sources Democratic America col
lected 9 per cent of its revenues from
| wealth, incomes and lnheritances.
Fourth. Why tax labor on it's ne
cessities, on the things it needs to
merely live, when inheritances have
not as yet been taxed a penny by the
ederal government?
| Fifth Great Britain taxes incomes
/ ap to 33 l.3 per cent for war purposes;
| Germany levies taxes for imperial
| purposes, for state purposes aud for
municipal purposes as we'll; the COM
bined rate running often to Is or 20
per cent. Democratic America taxes
incomes from ] per cent to Z per cent,
the maximum up to 500, 900 being
but per cent.
| A tax OF 80 to the wage Garner
means giving up clothes, food from
his table. possibly the doctor for his
children. A tax Of $40, 900 to a man
with an income of 500, 900, or $780,
600 10 p man enjoying an income OF
300, 600 means no sacrifice whatever
Sixth. Why tax labor when an ad-
ditional tax of | per cent on the gross
earnings of railroads, public service
corporations, mines and other public
utilities would yield $50, 900, 900. 1t
could be easily collected. 1t could
not be escaped In most instances il
could not be passed on to the con
sumer
Seventh. Preparations for wa
| should call for equal sacrifices. De
Tense should not mean sacrifice fol
the millions and only profits for th
few. Preparations for war NEAR
\ profits to the railroads, to mine own
a ars, muniton factories, banks; j
!. means speculative values for th
l. stock brokers and speculators. |
J. means that the bended backs of labo
will carry the army and navy which
If the emergency arises, will be use'
against labor at home and for th
a protection of over seas Investment
abroad.
"a Farmers report that the snow
> rapidly settling, the higher point
" showing brown. Although there wa
"a an immense amount of hay put up j
o this section last year, the long col
F. spell of the winter, with the prairie
covered with snow for more than 81
le weeks has made drafts upon the SUI
"a ply, and while there is yet lot |
ie nay in the country, stock owners al
glad of the milder weather and tt
opportunity given to their cattle
rustic their own feed.