New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1921-06-29
CUT FARMER
TAX BURDEN
CONGRESSMAN OSCAR KELLER
INTRODUCES RELIEF
MEASURES.
BILLS AGAINST MONOPOLISTS,
SPECTATORS GETS o. K.
OF TAX LEAGUE.

DuIuOuS llSuLeIlGu II GllG lOuT UillS
which Representative Oscar E. Keller,
of Minnesota, introduced last week IN
the House are passed by Congress,
according to competent agricultural
economists who have made study OF
the subject. Representative Keller's
bills will transfer the bulk of the federal
taxes from farm and factory producers
to the owners of unused monopolles
and the inherltors of large fortunes.
The bills are sponsored by the Farmers
Federal Tax League of America, OF
which Lieutenant Governor George F..
Comings of Wisconsin is president, and
whose advisory committee consists of
more than 100 well-known farmers
from all parts of the United States.
The four bills repeal the taxes on
excess profits, corporation income,
transportation, legal documents, ad-
mission to places of amusement, wear
ing apparel, toilet articles, automobiles
and all excise taxes, except those on
alcoholic liquors, tobacco, habit form
ing drugs, oleomargarlne and the
products of child labor; distinguish be-
tween learned" and I'm learned" in
come existing rates one-haf on income
that is earned; lower the exem ption
on inherited estates from $4,000 to
$4,000, and more than double the
rates; and place tax of one per cent
on land values after deductlng all I'M
provements and allowing an exemption
of $4,000.
Consumers Pay the Taxes.
''The taxes which my amendments
repeal took a toll of $1,730,000,0 900
from the nations industry in 1920"
said Congressman Keller, in explaining
his bills, and practically every penny
of this was paid by the consumers in
the form of higher prices. AS matter
of fact, the consumers sand the farm
er consumes more than 40 per cent of
the nations goods-pald from three
to five times this amount. Investlga-
tons by the Department Of Justice
showed that income and excess profits
taxes alone added % per cent to the
final cost Of the average commodity.
Excise taxes added good deal more to
costs.
SIN other words, manufacturers
and merchants figure the amount OF
their income taxes and add it to the
cost of their goods, giving themselves
the benefit of the doubt plus fat
profit for collection. This means that
farmers pay the income tax of others
every time they ship grain or wheat to
market, every time they buy moving
machine or a binder, and every time
they purchase groceries, clothes or
anything else.
1.-THE whole purpose of my program
is to take the shackles off production.
I want to relieve producers, whether
they are farmers, wage workers or
manufacturers, and throw the burden
upon the owners of vacant city lots,
unused natural resources, and those
who hold great areas of farm land out
of cultivation for speculative pur-
poses. Taxes on production always
harm industry, but taxes on privilege
also increase production. My pro-
gram will take taxes off farmers and
city workers., and make industrial
ddr d rlegg pay their fair share 1 want Ito
make II plain, however, that my 1ouT
bills must stand OF fall together. If
they are not treated as part of one
program I shall withdraw my bills
repeating the excess profits and cor
poration income tax. But if all four
are passed as introduced they will shift
the burden of taxation and benefit both
the farmer and labor.
n Interests Raise False Charge.
b ct has been charged, and it probably
will be alleged again by those who
oppose this bill, that the bulk of taxa
ton raised under it would be borne by
the farmer" said Congressman Keller,
in his Introductory speech in the
House. Before going further I want
toSrefute that charge. / want to show
that it is based either on ignorance or
on deceit, probably the latter, for the
great interests which enjoy protection
of their monopolies have ever been
skilful in defending their practices by
hiding behind the skirts Of widows
and orphans or of urging policy of
noninterference, on the plea it will
njure the farmers This bill will not
hurt any bona fde farmer in the United
States, but tbs extremely likely to hit
quite number of gentlemen who
'farm the farmers quite successfully.
1t is these gentlemen who are making
all the noise, but with ventriloquial
skill they are attempting to make it
appear that the voice of privilege
comes from the threat of the real
farming interests.
Farmers Won't Pay Land Tax.
Let US consider the facts and see
whether this bill will fall upon the