The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1921-08-19

l. N u w l. r L L E. Il
the Democrats to defeat this outrage
Gus proposal. George Young of
North Dakota was one of the Repub-
licans who supported Frear and he
deserves credit for his stand. Only
four days were allowed for hearings.
but such a. protest has been made in
the press that all progressive Repub-
licans see ruin ahead for their partv
if this program is followed and MANY
reactionaries are hesitant about it's
advisability. Fordney and Long
worth probably are foolish enough to
persevere in their folly, but it IS be. e.
ginning to look as if this program
lican ranks.
= Blind Bosses are Warned
Representative Oscar E. Keller of
st. Paul-who is rapidly coming to
the front as a leader of the progress
sive group in Congress -courageously
took the lead in warning the bosses
Of the Republican party that such a
course would be repudiated by the
people. Keller even went step
further and attacked the Admins
tration for cts blind obedience to
Wall street in a stupid, selfish and
short sighted policy that is retarding
prosperity and creating profound dis
trust and discomfort among the peo-
pie" Keller declared that "the ma
chinery of government has been COM
mandeered by a little clique Hard
ing, Hoover, Mellon, Fordney, Long
worth, Penrose, Lodge and KeIlogg)
ignorant of the A, 8B, C's of govern
ment who have tied down the safety
valve of free discussion until an ex-
p.osion threatens which will blow the
Republican party from Maine to Cali
fornia." Keller specifically attacked
the Administration attitude on the
Norris farm export bill, the railroad
refunding, the tariff and Melons pro-
2osal to tighten the tax burden Of the
war profteers. He said, in referring
to the proposed gift of $500, ,000, 900 to
tfe railroads, that "the presidents
advisers seem to think it possible for
this country to lift itself by it's econ
c,nic bootstraps" and lie denounced
the House ways and means commit
| tee as having demonstrated its utter
uufitness to deal intelligently with the
great financial measures on which to
a great degree the prosperity Ct the
country depends" Keller paid espe
cial attention to the question ;,f Tax
/ alton. ssThis is the most important
matter that confronts +he people OF
the United States,' he said. Federal
taxes now aggregate four billion dol
lars a year. One-third Of the net
income of corporate business is put
into state and federal taxes. Practic-
allv all these taxes are levied upon
production. This vast tribute cannot
be taken from industry without the
serious danger Of disrupting our en-
tire economic structure. There Is
not the slightest doubt that much Of
ou,. present depression is directly Que
tn our unscientific methods of raising
revenue. High taxes detate prices
and thus decrease the purchasing
mower of the public. When declining
sales prevent the taxes from being
nassed along to the public they resi-
With paralyzing effect upon industry
The result is industrial stagnation
with AGRICULTURAL impoverlshment
w;desnread unemployment and gen
eral distress"
Keller Proposes Tax Remedy
i CONGRESSMAN Keller did not merely
criticize. He offered construct1vt
/ alternative. He has heen studylnl
favation and he is convinced that NJ
hae devised scientific program
which will raise necessary goxg.n go,'1;af
ment revenues W1tnoat sasns :
business or burdening the pe9fi.,
Such a program could re aaoPteu -, !,
the Administration would IorEes ~
tenderness for special p11vIeg,s ,,
t~There is no reason why taxes sllUu,. Wu1
not promote production, says ne. ne.
ler. tsThere are rules OF taAaeio. :.
lust as well established as the lawS avs y
mathematics. But instead OF caiiln. anl
, in competent experts, the ways all.
means committee seeks the advlce o Q
. multi-millionafre cabinet once 8
!; 1Mellonl whose suggestions seem 9
he based upon pre-election promise
- ~ the war profiteers instead OF sclen
t;fic economic principles. we coul'
i;nhten i the load on industry and 7 re
Eve the workers and farmers OF tel q
country Of about $3.50 per year 70
tbe ~ average family if the Admins
trat;on @ would quit coddling mill1on
s;ras and monopolists and ser1ousl.
aans;dar the taxation Of inheritance
oud ond land values This last propose
, e E Tho -. essence Of Keller's tax pro
{ nram - nm He wants to repea! al tn
5,,;san.e [ taxes which are paid Dy !n n
: neania and replace them with SUN
+ I.s Pop prad,1ated tax on inheritance
yb;ch ~ will raise $3.50, ,O00, 600 annna. 11! =
| ~ He wants to raise one Dl,Lo'
,,nra ~ hu 4 one percent tax On !an
J ,,a1,,oe This tax allows eacn lno'
,l,..e1 vaius,1 an '.s exemption Of $4,000 an
srt;-elv s.; e eliminates all improvements
{ The The bin defines improvements 9
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