Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-04-19

i.
For example. the manufacturers of
articles that sell for less than a
dollar would hardly have the monu-
mental crust to add cent to the
price of their product. They would
simply split the tax with the whole
SAFER and let it go at that
This supposition is denied by the
Press, which illustrates its argu-
ment with the case Of ''cotton-to-
caliccto-you." in wiiicn. it says the
cloth from raw cotton t. consumer
would be Subjected to nine taxes"
one at each turnover.
Emphatic opposition to the plan
is voiced by the Johnstown Demo-
crat tGcnocratic), which declares
that "a more devilish scheme for
taking the last crumb out of the
mouth of hunger and the last rag
off the back of nakedness was never
conceived in the brain of cunning"
1t has indeed been seized upon as
the magic whereby the goose may
be plucked without making it
squawk," for:
ut is everywhere urged by its pro-
ponents that the sales tax will add
only enthusiastically to the cost of
goods. This may he true of the
pair Of hose. the nccktic, thu rar
of shoes. the calico dress. the pound
of sugar, the loaf of bread or the
pair of trousers for little Johnny.
But in the aggregate it is bound to
tell and tell heavily on the income
of the average wage Garner
This phase of the discussion seems
to appeal to the New York Post Gin
DEPENDENT. which uses the same
smile of the gullible goose. and it
calls attention to the fact that amy
advantage attributed to the sales
tax from it's low rate is stated by
it's opponents to be more apparent
than real. inasmuch as the rate is
fore multiplied many times before
it is shoulderd by the consumer"
and. despite the fact that these OBJ
Jections ARE brushed aside as pure
ly theoretical' by some. there still
remains the question whether tax
whose burdens are admittedly to be
shouldered by the mass of CON
sumers conforms to the accepted
canons of Justice"
To the Chattanooga News (demo-
cratic) the sales tax seems most on
erouS on those who are least able to
pay II and least onerous to those who
could best pay it," The Elmira Star
Gazette independently attempts to re-
but some of the arguments against
the bill. pointing out that Mr.. Rookie
Teller will have to pay income tax
annually as heretofore" and las for
escaping the sales tax. he will have
to pay his ! per cent. or whatever the
rate Is. on the millions of dollars of
business his concerns do annually"
This line of reasoning is continued
by the Topeka State Journal Gnde-
pendent republican,. The man who
spends 100000 year on his ordinary
living will contribute to the Treas
ury even at so low sales tax as !
per cent the sum of $1,000. And, of
course. a man able to spend that much
will also contribute A heavy income
tax. But the man spending $1,000 for
his ordinary living will contribute at
that rate only $40 to the Treasury.
whereas now perhaps his theater
ticket taxes count up as much as
that"
The Springfield Union trepublican)
feels that Gin the main it's advocates
have been able to maintain the sound
ness Of their theory, on the assump-
ton that the tax is shifted along TO
the final distribution of the goods.
where it is hardly noticeable because
of the broad basis over which it is
spread"
The Brooklyn Eagle independent
democratic) believes that to substi-
tute the excess profits revenue for the
sales tax would be "a change for the
better" in that sit would be easy of
being absolute in its
The New York Herald independently /;
feels that there are selfish interests |;
at work on both sides Of the fence: |
NO taxation plan has ever been de- |
vised without running into two diff !!
culties now facing the sales tax pro- !,
gram. There is opposition from those |
who believe the sales tax to be I'M |
Just for the very reason that it is go !
ng to make them pay their rightful !!
share of the expense of running the |
government. And there is the ak !
grinding support of those who have /!
suffered from the excess profits tax
10 a larger extent than others and /
who will derive some benefit from |
he adjustment Of the excess profits
AK"
The New York Times independent !
lemocratic). however. believes that |
here is enough feeling in favor of
his form of Legislation to assure it's !
success. for it sees "a good deal of !
evidence: that public opinion is mar
;haled behind the sales tax to aide |
gree that Congress will heed"
The Grand Rapids Herald (repub-
ican) reflects general sentiment |,
when it says: There are some sound !
objections. but a tax law without OBJ
ections would be a millennial curl |;
'sity" and If the sales tax proves to /;
lave fewer objections than other sub
'titutes it will be amply credentialed."