The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-06-17

NAL conditions there are at present
or about one fourth of the total mum
Der. while nearly two-thirds of some
classes of railway employees are unem-
ployed.
He stated that the present living
costs and economic conditions sowed
the seeds of discomfort and caused the
working men and women to believe
that there is constant and well-de-
fined, well organized effort on the part
of the special interests or classes to
escape the burdens. of taxation and
ship it to the masses of the people in
order that they may add to and con
tinue to enjoy their amassed wealth
and fortunes Mr.. Clark stated that
the organizations he represented
thought SAFES tax such as the big
interests want would cost most fami'
lies 5000 a year.
Mr.. Marsh stated that sales tax
is moral treason 10 the purpose for
which we entered the war as stated by
President Wilson in reply to the
Pope's peace note, TO afford all peoples
participation upon fair terms in the
economic opportunities of the world"
He pointed out that the workers OF
this country are today paying higher
taxes in proportion to their ability to
pay than the wealthiest and that the
proposed sales tax is in effect an in
direct income tax upon families with
incomes of $1,000 or less with much
high rates than the government now
levies as direct income tax upon net
incomes of $4,000.
MIR. Marsh showed that in the fiscal
year 1920 the taxes upon Transports
ton an dother facilities, insurance,
beverages, cigars, tobacco, and manu-
facturers thereof, admission to movies,
theatres, etc, and dues, excise and
stamp taxes, and customs amounted
TO sI,45s,3I7, 1876 This is an average,
per capita, of $l3.79, OF s6s.95 for q
family OF five.
A sales tax which would yield two
billion dollars will mean an addition
to the existing taxes upon the workers
of the country of an indirect income
tax amounting to 4.25 per cent on a
family income of $4,000; 81 per cent
on a family income of sl.5O0, and So
per cent on a family income OF $1,000,
This is in every case tax upon the
total income without any deductions
Since the sales tax, however, is pyra
mided, the direct cost of such sales
tax will be about two to three times
as heavy and will amount to an in
direct tax of roughly IL per cent upon
total family income of families re-
ceiving only $1,000 a year.
/ Mr.. Marsh showed that the govern
ment could raise all the revenue i
needs for the fiscal year 1922, by ex
isting taxes on consumption and by
taxes upon corporation profits, and di
rect and rapidly progressive taxes OF
insomes and estates and a small tax or
the value Of land and other natural re
sources speculatively held. These
sources would yield six and a half t.
seven billion dollars. The committed
did not like Mr. Marsh's presentation
of cold facts showing the concentrs
ton Of wealth in the country, and who
should pay the money cost of the war
Here are some Of his figures
Each of the 245 individuals who re
ceived an income during 1918 of $500,
5000 or more, had on the average al
income of S398.350 left after paying
his income tax last year, while th'
3Ol3.sl6 persons and families having
incmoes of 100 to 5000 han an aver
age of only Sl.92s left.
The persons who had had an incom'
Of 100000 and up to S5O!OOo,o0 tere
fore had left on the average, 2O7 time
as much income apiece, after paying
their income tax last year, as the tsre'
million individuals and families VIII
had incomes of 81 900 to 5000. Thos'
with incomes of 5000 or less subjecf
to the income tax, constituted 6s.lI
per cent Of the total number making
returns of incomes last year.
The Pas persons each Of whom ha'
vast source Of revenue not touched II
received on the average an incom'
from property of sl.o3s.sl6, plus OF
the average an income from "perscna
service and business" Of s2s5.s5I-'
total average without deductions o
sI323.4s3.
The 43057 persons having an inoom'
Of over $4,000 in 1918 had an aversg'
income Of SeSse2. and each Of then
had left. on the average. after psyinl
their income Tar. an income Of S44,l4l
On the average. only one-eighth O
the income in 1915 Of all persons re
porting incomes Of $1,000 to 5000 wa'
derived from property; whils seven
.s,tb. al. ,hs average. Of the inooml