The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-07-08
KELLER TO CARRY
BATTLE FOR JUST
TAXES TOPEOPLE

Washington, d. c., June Ia. -
Representative Oscar Keller of st.
Paul announced today that, realiz-
ing the great corporate interests
are out to stifle his four recently
introduced taxation measures behind
committee doors if possible, he in
tends to carry the fight for just
taxation to the people of the ma
ton and is determined to fight for
ten years if necessary.
Taxation is the most important
matter that concerns the people,
Congressman Keller declared. more
noise is made over other issues, but
taxation means more to the aver
age man in dollars and cents than
any other measure which Congress
acts on. 1t also means more to
the future of our country. | have
a program that relieves industry
of the enormous burden under which
it is staggering and distributes the
load on idustrial drones and para
cannot pass it off on to the pub
lie. Naturally, this program will
be opposed by the possessors of
privileges, but l will contine to
fight it out on this line if it takes
ten years"
Land Values Tax Proposed
Representative Keller proposes
that land values in excess of S10,-
900 be taxed one per cent after
all improvements are exempted;
that heavy graduated tax be laid
comes be taxed twice as much as
earned incomes; and that the COR
poration tax, excess profits tax,
and all existing sales and transpor
cation taxes except those on to-
bacco, distilled spirits, oleomarga
rine, habit forming drugs and pro-
ducts of child labor be repealed.
He introduced these measures only
a few days ago but already pledges
of support have come to him from
all parts of the country and from
all classes of people.
Congressman Keller presents de-
tailed figures proving that it is
possible to lift taxes amounting to
almost $2,000,000, annually from
industry and at the same time to
IdlSe W GIL
current expenses and to set aside
a surplus sufficient to retire all of
the national debt within thirty
years. Not only will his bills do
this, but he claims that proper ad
iustment of taxation will correct
most of the social inequalities from
which America now suffers.
Wealth Concentration Dangerous
Concentration of wealth has at
tanned alarming proportions in the
United States, Congressman Keller
declared. statistics show that 65
per cent of the entire wealth of the
nation is owned by only per cent
of the population. This unequal
distribution of wealth cannot be-
defended on ethical, political or eco
nomic grounds. 1t creates top
heavy social structure that any Sc.
we're shock is likely to capsize.
"The accumulation of wealth into
comparatively few hands, with the
attendant train of economic, politi.
cal and moral evils was the cancer
that sapped the vitality and finally
caused the downfall of the grea;
civilization of Babylon, Persia,
Egypt, Rome, Spain and Russia
We can see in our own land the
same social symptoms that pre-.
ceded misfortune in other countries
in different historic epochs.
''If we are to survive in a healthy
condition, changing our forms to
meet constantly changing economic
factors, but doing it by orderly and
constitutional methods, we must rid
our body polite of these germs
which introduce disease and decay
into the social system and threaten
its destruction"
Mr. Keller specified that he meant
by germs of decay" the drift Of
the people away from the farms,
the increase of farm tenantry, the
concentration of minerals, timber,
water power, and other natural re-
sources into a few hands, and the
growing dependence of the indus
trial masses upon the will of the
landlord.
Monopoly Holders Dodge Taxes
His proposed tax of one per cenr
en- land values after exemption of
all improvements and $4,000 il
estimated to produce annually rev.
enue to the government amounting:
to 81 ,000,000,000. The major por.
tion of this tax would fall upon cor.
porations. which hold natural re-
sources out of use. Mr.. Keller as
serts that the holders of these
monopolies now escape without pay
ing a penny of Federal taxes and
that most of them pay a dispropor-
tionately small amount of state
taxes.
Keller goes into the statistics OF
the vast holdings of the lumber
harOns the water nower combine