Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-08-17

reduction SOf the surtax rates on lar,
ger incomes, elimination Of the $4,000
exemption on smaller incomes, taxes
on automobiles and three cent post
age. It Is reliably reported that Ford
'ney, LongWOrth and q few other re-
dictionary members of the ways and
means committee were agreed ON this
program and planned to report such
bill without allowing any public
hearings. But Frear Of Wisconsin,
made vigorous protest and enough
Republicans joined with the Demo
Gratis to defeat this outrageous pro-
posal George Young of North Dak0-
ia was one of the Republicans who
supported Frear and he deserves Gre
dit for his stand. Only four days were
allowed for hearings, but such a pro-,
test has been made in the press that
all progressive Republicans see ruin
ahead for their party if this program
IS followed and many reactionaries
are hesitant about it's .advisability.
Fordney and Longworth probably are
foolish enough to persevere in their
folly, but it: is beginning to look as
if this program may cause serious
split Republican ranks.
Blind Bosses are Warned
Representative Oscar E. Keller of
St. Pau!-who is rapidly coming to-
the front as leader of the progress
sive group in Congress- courageously
took the lead in warning the bosses
of the Republican party that such
course would be repudiated by the
people. Keller even went a step fur
Their and attacked the Administration
for cts blind obedience to Wall
street in stupid, selfish and short
sighted policy that is retarding pros
perity and creating profound distrust
and discomfort among the people"
Keller declared that "the machinery
of government has been command
eered by little clique (Harding, Hoo
yer, Mellon, Fordney, Longworth,
Penrose, Lodge and Kellogg ignor-
ant of the A, B, C's of government
who have tied down the safety valve
of free discussion until an explosion
threatens which will blow the Repub-
lican party from Maine to California"
Keller specifically attacked the Ad-
ministration's attitude on the Norris
farm export bill, the railroad refund
ing the tariff and Melons proposal to
tighten the tax burden Of the war pro-
fiteers. He said, in referring to the
proposed gift of $500;000,000 to the
railroads, that "the presidents ad-
visers seem to think it possible for
this country to lift itself by its econ
omic bootstraps" and he denounced
the House ways and means committee
as having demonstrated it's utter un-
fitness to deal intelligently with the
great financial measures on which to
a great degree the prosperity of the
country depends" Keller paid espe-
cial attention to the question of Tax
alton. "This is the most important
matter that confronts the people Of
the United States" he said. Federal
taxes now aggregate four billion dol
lars year. One-third of the net in
come of corporate business is put in
to state and federal taxes. Practically
all these taxes are levied upon pro-
duction. This vast tribute cannot be
taken from industry Without the ser
ious danger of disrupting our entire
economic structures. There is not the
slightest doubt that much of our pres
ent depression is directly due to our
unscientific methods of raising rev.
enue. High taxes debate prices and
CnuS ueCle Iue pun Po"oA
of the public. When declining sales
prevent the taxes from being passed
along to the public they rest with
paralyzing effect upon industry. The
result is industrial stagnation, with
agricultural impoverishment, wide
spread unemployment and general
distress"
Keller Proposes Tax Remedy
Congressman Keller did not merely
criticize. He offered a constructive
alternative He has been studying
taxation and he is convinced that ne
has devised scientific program whlc"
will raise necessary government rev.
enues without Stacking business or
burdening the people. Such 4 pro"
gram could be adopted if the Admin