The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-26
MAKING THE PEOPLE PAY.

A sales tax may and probably will
be enacted by congress, but its pro-
ponents will know that they have been
in a fight before they win their battle.
Opposition is developing. Congressman
are hearing from back home and some
of the more tinid scrvitors of Big
Business may take refuge in a storm
cellar until the political skies again
clear.
The fight against a sales tax is being
led by Congressman James A. Frear,
Of Wisconsin, but there is nothing Of
expedicncy in his effort. He is moved
entirely by the conviction that a great
wrong against the people is contemplat.
ed. He said in a recent speech in the
house:
''The stakes are $S00,O00,000 now
paid from corporation excess profits
that would, under sales tax, be shifted
to the backs of 10o,Q0o,000 people who
must consume in order to live
That, briefly, summarizes the real
argument back of the demand for
tax on sales. Corporations with swollen
profits seek relief from taxes, but be-
fore they can secure it new sources Of
taxation must be found. The govern
ment needs every penny that can be
raked and scraped together and then
will fall short Of it's expenditures.
Congressman have been vainly seek
ing ways and means Of providing ade
quate revenue and are discovering that
everything that can be taxed is now
being taxed, with the single exception
of sales. Scores of members who will
finally be compelled to vote for this
proposition will do so grudgingly and
only under the spur Of their private
masters, for they are not more anxious
than is the average citizen to impose
new burdens upon the people. There
is, however, no escape for them, unless
they are ready to cut the strings that
tie them to privilege and 60 over to
the side Of the people.
The men who control congress have
served notice that taxes laid upon the
excessive profits of large corporations
must be removed. To do so means a
reduction of nearly billion dollars in
government receipts, and the national
interest will not permit this sacrifice
of revenue. That leaves congress with
but one alternative, the imposition Of
q sales tax, compelling the people to
pay taxes on everything they eat, wear
and use.
Were congress serving the people, the
bituation would be altered. Then the
profteers would be told that they have
taken unwarranted profits from the
public and in common fairness and de-
cency should assist in maintaining the
government. But congress does not
serve the people other than to exploit
them, statement that will be fully
justified when the corporations are re-
Viewed of their tax responsibility and
che public is compelled to assume it.
Congressman Frcar is an experienced
defender Of the public welfare, having
waged successful combat against the
various "pork' measures which once
Infested congress. He is fighter who
does not know when he is licked, and
can be depended on to stay with the
bales tax proposition until it is deter
mined one way or another.
Whether he can muster sufficient op-
position to defeat it is another ques-
tion. If the past is a safe guide for
the future, reasonable guess would be
that the sales tax will become reality
Big Business has had no difficulty in
recent years in getting what it wanted,
and it now wants nothing quite as
much as a transfer Of tax burdens from
those who are able and willing to nav
to those who are willing but unable
to pay.