The evening world., 1918-07-13
AZ WAR PROFITS FIRST.

AVN "H'bN" Wv HF
IL House Ways and Means Committee is drafting a war tax
bill which will make its first demands upon the bullying
pockets Of the war profteers.
The people of the United States are ready with their toll and
savings to back the Nations fighters to any limit.
The unfavorabe impression made upon the country at large by
the Treasurys schedule Of proposed taxes on Injuries, socancd, is
not due to lack of loyalty or unwilingness to bear the burdens
\ of war.
An American sense of justice is responsible for the feeling
regarding these taxes.
1t seems utterly unfair that the load should rest more heavily
upon those who arr making daily and hourly sacrifices for the war
than it docs upon others who are VIGOROUSLY and shamelessly profit
ing thereby.
Last week the report Of the Federal Trade Commission revealed
extra war profits amounting to $121, 100000 made by five big meat
packing concerns. At the same time it was disclosed that one packer
aone-J. Ogden Armour Of Armour & Co-received in January,
1917, a check for s915,sl7 as his share in the profits Of one Of the
leather companies subsidiary to Armour & Co.
Tanners profits in 1916, the Federal Trade Commission found
"were in several instances two, three, four and even five times as large
as in 1915" and the 1915 net profits in turn Showed increases Of
from 80 per cent. to more than 100 per cent. over those Of 1914"
Coming down to the shoe manufacturers, wider margins of profit
proved to be the rule, while in the shoe business, the Commission
noted, at appears that the retailer has pronted more in proportion
than the wholesaler"
? Is it to be wondered that, with these facts and figures fresh in
the public is shocked by a Treasury proposal-put forward the very
next week-to tax the purchaser Of a pair of shoes costing more than
Sc, on the ground that shoes higher than Sc must be a luxuryp
Shoes are by no means the only necessity upon which the war
profiteer has marked up prices until the cost to the consumer puts
even commoner grades of the article in the luxury class.
Is the consumer, then, to pay a war tax o a price which repre-
sents, not the economic value Of the commodity but the greed OF
those who make and sell i1
Common justice would seem to demand two things:
First, that no consumption taxes should be based on current
prices while profteers have a hand in the fixing Of those prices.
Second, that taxes on the lesser Injuries of the people should
not be imposed until full toll has been levied on the enormous profits
which have been and which continue to be made in many quarters ont
Of war conditions.
Why should anybody profit by war;
Why should men be permitted to pile up gains a hundred times
bigger than they could ever hope for in time of peace, by no create,
effort than that Of selIng opportunity created by national peril AND
national need?
Why, when many are giving their lives and many more the las
ounce u their strength and endurance, when sef-denial and sacrifice
are required Of man, woman and child in a crisis involving the safat
of the Nation, should a certain number Of individuals be allowed Il
grow richer and richer at the expense Of others who stand ready T.
part with their all?
Surely a great people can make wa without guaranteeing coloss,
and utterly disPrOPorhOnate rewards to a few persons upon whom III
furnishing of essentials may for the moment depend?
Surely the true and loyal American in war time would NOT rclo
his efforts because he was asked to forego all save the normal ipcreas
Of profit he might expect in time OF peace.
Directly taxes on all luxures great and small become pecessor
the people of the United States will pay them. They will paw tax
on necessities, too, if need be.
But meanwhile give them every chance, Safeguard their carpr
power, their industries, their faith in their continued Drosncri,
Don't begin by taxing these things ~ruthlesay and at rapdom
Tax wisely tax progressively. Tax war profits first
Letters From the PeoDIe
A w.rti"E~as . rroh'''''" They would, oh. sc gladly give IN,