The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-12-18
THE PROBLEM OF TAXES.

THE PROBLEM OF TAXES.
Congress, during the short session.
has a multitude of vexing problems
pressing for attention. There are grave
social and economic ills that too long
have been neglected. There are indus
trial and commercial problems that re-.
suit from EMBELLISHMENTS inevitable
following the war. There are questions
of taxation and revenue. There are
the appeals Of the special groups de-
manding prefereutial treatment. Theirs
is sufficient to keep . reasonably active
and moderately Intelligent body busy
for many months.
But congress isn't going to solve
these problems-not many Of them. It
isn't even going to try and solve them.
It, is going TO- pass appropriation bills
and make an effort to secure suffi-
cient revenue to keep the government
on a basis of war expenditures in time
Of peace. And if anything remains it
is to be devoted to the requirements
Of business. This is to be business
session, the leaders proceeding on. the
theory that if business men can be kept
prosperous and contented all other
questions will solve themselves auto.
matically.
About the only attention the public
is to get will be when revenue measures
are being considered. Business insists
that income and profit taxes are doing
something to them that they dom t
relish and must be repealed. Congress
wouldn' u lose any time in meeting this
request were it not for the fact that
several billions of dollars must BE-
raised to meet appropriations.
Many programs have been prepared,
but the one most favored is that which
provides that the consumer shall foot
the bills. Senator Smoot, who is a
faithful servitor of the interests, cyni-
cally states that the consumer, in any
event, pays the taxes, and wants to
know why there should be- any reluc-
lance in apprising him Of the fact.
A three per cent tax on sales, he
thinks, will be just about the proper
thing. And what Senator Smoot says
is always what the interests are think
ing. He doesn't enjoy the reputation
Of being a financial wizard for no
reason.
We may have been long time GET
ting around to it, but we are now at a
point where the burdens of war are to
be transferred to the backs and tho
bellies Of the people. The war profteer
finds that it is not so easy: as formerly
to enrich himself, so he wants to keep
what he has got. Whether he got it
honestly or otherwise makes mo mate
rial difference He wants the people to
carry the load, because they are used
to it. They'll grumble a bit, Of course,
but they always do it. They are hard
to please, no matter what is done. If
taxes are high, they grumble, and if
they. are low, they grumble just the
same.
That is the way Senator Smoot and
other interest servitors look at it. So
why not give them something to grum.
BILE about9 A three per cent tax on
pork and beans, calico and cucumbers,
cigarets and candy-everything they
use, eat and wear. That'll be just
about enough to cover the cost Of main.
tanning the government and leave the
profteers out Of the tax reckoning:
Every congressman and senator does
not favor sales tax. Many Of them
bitterly oppose it. But they also OPP:
posed subsidy to the railroads and
huge expenditures for militarism and
it didn't get them anywhere.
The interests have the votes when
the roll is called, and if it is decided
that the sales tax is the thing, then q
sales tax it is going to be.
And no amount Of protest, no amount
of entreaty, will alter the congressional
mind.