The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-08-14
CHARGES WAR TAX
PLACED ON POOR
SENATORS GORE, LAFOLLETTE
AND THOMAS PRESENT MI
NORITY REPORT.
SAY RICH ESCAPE
Propose That United States Follow Ex.
ample Of Britain and Place Tax of 80
Percent on War Profits and Draw
More From Big Incomes.

w NdSnlnStOn, Aug. IA minority re-
port Of the senate finance committee
on the war tax bill was presented to
the senate today by Senator Lafollette.
with the concurrence of Senators Gore
of Oklahoma, and Thomas, of Colorado.
recommending that war profits and big
incomes be utilized as the principal
sources of taxation in providing funds
for the countrys war needs.
Contrary 10 expectations, Senator La.
follettee did not present a substitute
for the pending war tax bill. He an
nouncet, however, that unless the sen.
ate adopted amendments 10 be offered
by himself and his associates. a substi.
tute would be offered
The minority report charges that the
bill as revised By the majority makes
but palpably inadequate provision for
raising Of revenue needed for financing
the war through the next fiscal year
and that the burden of taxation has
been placed upon those least able to
bear it,
Wants 10 Percent.
England has taxed her war profits
so percent without imparlng her great
industries, declared Senator Lafollette
Instead, her wealthy classes were nev.
er in receipt Of larger incomes nor were
her larger business concern more flour.
ishing Heavy taxes. he said could be
levied on American corporations with.
out any fear of affecting capital or
gripping industry
From the income tax and the war
profits tax" states the report. there
can be raised without subiectlng the
country 10 serious financial strain and
without deprving the wealthy Of even
the luXuries of life, more than double
the amount proposed in the pending
bill"
II congress We're to adopt the British
rate of so percent on war profits. Sena.
tor Lafolette said, more than two and
quarter billions Of dollars would be
realized in a single year from this
source.
Must Finance Other Countries.
Nothing that this country or any
other country has ever previously un.
dertaken in the way Of war financing !"
he declared, compares with the obli.
cations we are assuming. We have
not merely to finance one country. we
must 70 a large extent. finance five or
six other countries"
In comparison with the average wear.
- wage of $500 earned by the Ameri.
can laho.ius man Senator Lafolette pre-.
sented statistics indicating that the
percentage of war profits over normal
earnings Of DUPONT Powder company
was 1900 percent. Bethlehem Steel
1900 percent, American Zinc. Lead and
Smelling Company. 1900 percent. Unit.
ed states Steel 300 percent. Anaconda
Copper 400 percent; American Beet Su.
gar 25O percent. Armour and COMPANY
$50 percent and American Hide and
Leather $50 percent.
In urging that the income tax scale
be increased 10 tighten the burden
borne by the laboring classes. figures
were cited indicating that wages have
increased only is percent while the nee.
essaries Of life have advanced So per
cent
Alleges Unfair Burden.
1T Is monstrously unfair" said Sen.
ator Lafolette "to tax the everyday
necessities Of the average man or wo.
man to pay the expenses of the war in
addition to commanding their services
and the lives OF many OF them and
their children. so long as the swollen
and abnormal war profits are not TAX
en-profits which the war has created
and which will disappear as soon as the
war ends.
Every dollar Of the above profits can
be taken and still the enormous peac,
time profits OF these and other great
corporations will not be touched Every
stockholder would stll receive hi,
handsome peace time dividend. every
officer his princely salary"
In support OF the minority contention
that the majority estimates are gross
ly insufficient TO carry the government
through the next fiscal year. Senator
Lafollette declared. considering tn,
loans that probably will be requisite,
by the allies. that the American peo
pie will be called on during the fisca
year 10 raise at least thirteen billior