The sun., 1918-08-07
LOOKING AHEAD.
More Labor and Intelligent Taxation
Are What America Needs.

Are What America Needs.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. Ny
Intention in writing the article which
YOU were kind enough to publish on July
20 in regard TO the political Slaughter
q: American Industries" was to agitate
the question OF better methods Of obtain
ing revenue at tho present time and to
excite condemnation or commentator
Of the views expressed therein. 1 mud
that the article is receiving almost uni
versal commendstion.
Now. 80 far as the labor OF our coun-
try being affected adversely by the pro-
posed revenue legislation. think the
situation would be benefited rather than
injured. II capital can be relieved OF
it's Generalization by the suggested
stamp tax in lieu Of all others, the pros
perity which would surely cnsue would
enable capital to pay larger wages than
II Is able to pay now.
The labor troubles OF this country
are due to the fact that because OF its
scarcity the producers command very
high wages for the articles they pro-
duce. and because OF this labor Is obliged
t. demand higher and higher wages.
hoist by their own petard." Beginning
with the pick, shovel and wheelbarow.
the iaborers Of this country are striving
to become employers on a large scale.
and just rs they and their children be-
come more educated they cease to use the
utensils with which they, having grad
uated from being employees to employers
Of labor. starte their careers. II is plain,
therefore. that they cannot avail them
selves of their learning and experience
by becoming contractors without addi-
tional labor. Hence a large supply Of
labor lis needed by the constantly In
creasing number OF employers. The
exigencies OF our situation are breaking
down the foolish barriers to immigra-
ton which our statesmen have raised.
Some of my friends criticised me for
| suggesting that any portion Of our pro-
tective. laws should remain: first. be-
cause 1t is inequitable. and. secondly,
| because 1t costs a large proportion Of
| the revenue obtained to pay the salaries
| OF the staff OF officers needed to collect
| 1t. They are right.
And while we are reforming matters.
why not eliminate the Sherman anti
| trust law. the enforcement of which
produced the worldwide panic in 1907,
and never did any one any good? Hav-
! ing stood in the way OF the control of
our industries, the Government found
| II necessary to override 1t.
Furthermore. why not repeal that out
law called the legal tender law. under
which our country became a repudiator
of it's obligations for sixteen and a half
years? This might occur again. although
the Federal Reserve System will likely
postpone such a calamity for many years
to come.
The absurdty and glaring faults OF
| our income tax. surtax and collateral
legislation are more and more manifest
every day. This is shown by the sug-
| gestions made In Congress for elabo-
| rating the system, and in editorial arti-
c!es and communications in the press
| Of the country. AS dragnet to col
| lect needed revenue 1t Is found to be
full OF holes, letting big fish and little
| fish escape in spite of that army OF
spies put upon everybody. Such a
method casts an imputation upon the
| honesty of the American people. Ut is
! offensive in every way, universally de-
| tested and tending to smother the pa
triotic impulses OF our people, who. in
spite Of IT, are furnishing such immense
sums for Liberty loans, the Red Cross
and other charities, both at home and
abroad.
! uoon further consultation with some
friends l find that charging ourselves
| 10 per cent. of this years cost OF the
| war; leaving 80 per cent. for future gen
erations to pay in the form Of long term
bonds, is entirely too much. A tax Of
! per cent. on all real estate transfers
plus trifiing stamp tax on every sale
OF SO or over on personal property
would result in an overlooking treasury
at the outset. even II only per cent
instead OF 10 was our first years con-
tribution toward the expenses OF the
war.
Only a deaf and blind person will
dispute the fact that immense prosper
i.y will come upon US when peace II
declared, which will increase as tim,
goes on. so that the suggested taxei
will pour into an overlooking treasury
This should be used In retiring the
| cu"uS' s'' a. AN'' ~ ~" p~o -
the Government. Fortified as these bondi
would be with abundant taxation easil,
borne and collected. they would be thu
most sought after securities In thu
world. particularly II the bonds were no
subject to the income tax. And the,
would be rapidly retired.
In my former communication l sait
II these sound financial measures wer'
passed our statesmen need not be afraiC
to return to their homes In fact l fee
sure that II they enact these needed re
forms In our legislation and taxation
their constituents would feel so rejoice'
II at they would be reelected II they de
sired to be. E. c. BENEDICT.
GREENWICH, Conn. August 8.