The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-07-22
j. S. DEFRAUDED.0F:
s320,0OO,000 IN TAX
Standard Oil Evasions Amount to
81, 200, 900 in One Case, Says
Industrial Expert. .<~
PUBLISHING RETURNS <.
WOULD CHECK FRAUDS
Senate Is Now Amending Income
Tax 1aw-Reform May
Be Effected,
(By Basil M. Manly, former director,
- United States Commission on In
dustrial 'Relations.) =

(By Basil M. Manly, former director,
- United States Commission on In
dustrial 'Relations.) =
:, Three hundred million dollars for
your country's revenues were stolen
last year through income tax frauds
and evasions, involving thousands of
wealthy citizens and thousands of the
most profitable American corpora
tions.
The published evidence shows in
one case alone-that of L. V. Hark-
ness, one of the Standard Oil mag
nates-evasions involving in taxes
and penalties more than $1,OOO,O0O.
The evidence shows that the Rookie
feller foundation is a device created
by John D. Rockefeller to escape tax
alton on more than $5,000,O00 of his
annual income.
Standard Oil Case.
You have a. direct interest in stop
ping these frauds, not only as a mat
ter of Justice I'M the equal enforce
ment of the laws, but also because if
these millions are not collected from
the tax thieves, the people-you-
will have to pay additional taxes at
the rate. Of $1e for. every American
family!
All, of these ,uncontroverted facts,
which were uncovered in an investi-
cation. made by me for the Newspa-
per Enterprise association, have been
before congress for more than two
months. Secretary of the treasury
McAdoo has admitted that the tax
evasions are enormous and cannot be
prevented under existing conditions
But up to the present time congress
has taken no steps to end these
frauds, because. there has been nc
concerted demand on the part Of the
public ~.
The only way that these enormous
frauds can be stopped is by publish
fng therincome tax returns, 4cr which
the law now provides complete Sc.
crecy.. When the returns are pub
+fished the staxsz thteye ~ a.he tdenti-
fled and punished. The rich. .taz
thieves are fighting to Keep the re-
turns secret. They fear publicity
more than they fear courts or jails.
Law Being Amended.
The income tax is now being
amended by the senate. In order
that it may be amended right, I ask
every reader Of this paper to do two
things /. -.~7"-
First: Write a letter to one or both
Of the, United States senators who
represent your state, urging them to
support an amendment Of the income
tax law, providing for complete pub
icity of the income tax returns. Do
this now
Second: At the next meeting OF
your union, secure the passage Of the
following resolution:
Whereas, it has been proved that
the United States treasury is being
defrauded of millions of dollars
through income tax frauds and eva
sions, therefore be it ~.
Resolved, that our senators and
representatives in congress be urged
to support an amendment of the in
come tax, providing for complete
publicity of the income tax returns,
so that the tax thieves may be ex-
posed and the frauds stopped. And
be it further a!
"Resolved, that. the secretary send
a. copy Of this resolution to each SEN
ator and to the representative from
this district"