The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1921-08-19
ARE THEY TO ESCAPE?
WILL THE WAR PROFITEERS SUCCEED IN PLOT
TO UNLOAD THEIR LOOT TAXES
ON OTHERS?
Abolishing of Excess Profits Tax Would Mean Loss To
Government of Half Billion Dollars

Washington. - Will the extreme
wealthy in this country escape the
tax burden so heavily borne by 9TH
ers?
Will the tax now levied on the ex-
treme wealthy be shifted to others?
And will the war profiteers escape
with their loot?
A highly organized propaganda to
abolish excess profits and reduce the
surtaX feature of the income tax law
has been conducted. The reduction
of the surtax--or the cutting down
of the additional income tax on large
incomes-will effect but few thou
sand people. This group, while small,
represents the plutocracy of our coun-
try.
Organized labor demands that the
excess profits and surtaxes be retain
ed
1t is stated that administration
leaders have agreed to abolish the
excess profits tax, dating back to the
first of the year. This means loss
of half a billion dollars. Another
S90,000,000 will be lost through re-
ducing the surtaxes, and $4,000, 900
will be lost by repeating the nuisance
tax and the tax on luxury clothing.
To offset this loss it is proposed
to increase the income tax on all cor
porations 1t is claimed that large
corporations will profit by the plan
at the cost of small business. Drastic
cuts in expenditures are also propos-
ed.
Numerous kites are sent up to
sound public opinion on additional
taxes that are given the soothing
term, "tax readjustments One kite
will tell US that all checks will be tax
ed, but this ''feeler" brings such a
storm of protest that the kite falls
to the ground.
The next day another kite is sent
up to find out how a tax of $40 on
automobiles will take" The plan
is to assess every auto a like amount,
whether it be fiivver or touring car
| The roars of protest drives this kite
into cold storage. No one seems will
ing to assume the burden that is in
! tended to be shifted from the backs
of the wealthy and war profiteers.
Organized labor is urging Con-
gressman Keller's plan to tax land
values on the millions of acres of land
held out of use by large corporations
and land-owning interests. This plan
borders on treason TO the patriots
who want excess profits abolished and
their income tax diluted They don't
want their land holdings taxed no
more than their war loot
In addition the railroads want $780,
100000 that the government owes
them while they insist that the mil
lions they owe the government be
overlooked for few years. The rail-
roads want the government to o. K.
bonds for this amount The shipping
board would be thankful for couple
of hundred millions, while other mil
lions are being called for by the army,
navy and other defensive processes.
About the only thing that seems
certain is that the little fellow viii
be lucky if he escapes as he is.
The situation is distracting some
congressman, who have in mind next
years elections. They want to favor
the profteers and they fear the
wrath of the vast majority who de-
mand that the war loot be taxed. The
situation may result in the following
ad appearing in the daily press:
"Wanted-One competent naviga-
tor who can chart a safe political
route on the treacherous taxation
sea. Wages no object if party makes
good. Apply at national capitol"