New-York tribune., 1919-01-19

the United Theatrical Managers Pro
tective Association, said: Admitting
that putting price of $2.30 or the
atre ticket IS going to pat the theatres
out of business. how viii that affect
the government itself? How will 1t
be possible to gather the people TO-
gether in any such vast numbers for
the future Liberty loans? Millions Of
dollars have been raised in the the
atres for all war reliefs. But, OF
course, that is too we'll known to need
repetition. Again l say. they will kill,
deader than door nail, the goose that
LAID the golden egg
What do think VIII happen ?' said
Lee Shubert. "Well, first, we'll meet
in Gains storehouse if the new meas
ure becomes a law! The government
seems to have forgotten entirely how
the managers, actors and theatre gong
public have responded in the past.
No Audiences, No Plays
"Surely they must realize that, with
that heavy tax, there viii be no audi
cnces, and if there are no audiences
there will be no plays, and if there are
no plays there will be no tickets sold,
and that means no war tax!
William Harris said:
"Do you realize, and does the gov
eramont realize, that many of the men
who viii thus be thrown out of en-
ployment are mon who have seen ser
vice? Think what it viii mean to the
actors, the publicity forces, the di-
rectors and property men! And, on
the other hand, the tax from the the
atres last year amounted to more than
$50,000,000 With this tax doubled, 1T
is doubtful if the government viii real
ize half that amount"
At meeting Of the executive com
mittee o. the Theatrical Managers As
sociation to push the protest, Chairman
Gest read many kilograms from all
over the nation protesting against the
proposed tax letter from Secretary
s. c. Mead of the Merchants Associa-
ton to Charles 3. Dillingham; was read
1t informed the managers that the ac-
tion Of the association would be re
corded in Washington by wire and
chat Mr.. DillinRham would be advised
promptly OF its nature.
Protest Agreed Upon
A resolution was passed by the pro
test committee of the United Theatrical
Managers Protective Association. Of
which Mare Kaw is president and Lee
Shubert vice president. thanking the
newspapers Of America for support
given their protest against the proposed
tax.
The pxotest committee was advised
by the Real Estate Board of New York
that it had wired Senator Simmons OF
North Carolina, a member Of the Sen
ste Finance Committee, its protest. Inc
message follows:
The Real Estate Board Of New York,
representing many millions invested in
real estate, desires to impress upon
your committee that in its opinion, the
importation of a 20 per cent tax on
admissions TO anusements would pro-
duce 4 decline in patronage to the OK
tent of closing many houses, and not
alone throw thousands out of en-
ployment but seriously depreciate the
value OF many valuable pieces Of
specially imr roved property which, on
account of the character of the building,
could not be used for other purposes,
thereby reducing taxable real estate
values, and respectfully urges your re-
consideration OF the proposed tax in
crease"
Arrangements were completed yes
terday whereby mass meetings. in pro-
test against the tax VIII be held all
over the United States, particularly in
cities with numerous amusement
houses To-day in New York the meet
ing VIII be held in the Manhattan
Opera House. Thirty-foutth Street, near
Ninth Avenue.
A meeting viii be held Monday after
noon at 2:15 o'clock in the assembly
room Of the Merchants Association. in
the Woolworth Building.
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