Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-13
ASK REDUCTION
Of INCOME TAX
Popular Demand for Reduc-
ton in Taxes on Moderate
Salaries is Made
BY GEORGE II. MANNING
washington Correspondent of Perth
Amboy Evening News)

WASHINGTON, Aug. ia big
popular demand has sprang up from
all parts of the country for a reduc-
ton in the taxes on moderate in
comes. The movement started when
it became known that Congressman
Isaac Bacharach, of New Jersey, had
suggested to the Ways and Means
Committee that while it was consid-
ering relieving the big business in
terestS of the country from onerous
taxation, something should be done
for poor Mr.. Familyman, concerning
whom no one seems to care.
Mr.. Bacharach, New jerseys rep
r~esentative on the Ways and Means
Committee which frames the tax and
revenue laws, suggested that the
present $4,000 exemption from in
come taxes, now allowed heads of
families, be increased to $500; that
the 81, 900 allowed as an exemption
for unmarried individuals be in
creased to $500. or that the pres
ent four per cent tax rate on the
lower incomes be reduced to three
per cent. In fact, said Mr.. Bacha-
rach, it would be a mighty good
thing to adopt both these SUCCESS
tons.
The Republican members of the
NcllliilittCt dIe lOdll " llldhS tltoC
changes. They have, however, agreed
to cutting out the excess profits tax
es, to lowering the surtaxes on big
incomes, but thus far all they have
done TO-. the poor working man is to
remove. the soft drink taXes-when
he buys a soda or an ice cream cone
he will not have to contribute the
penny tax demanded of him, and the
reason largely is that Uncle Sam
found it pretty hard to make the
soda water dispensers keep an ac-
curate account and make proper re-
turns to the government. 1t is
charged that a great many of the
fountain men and small shopkeepers
had their own pockets filled with
pennies as a result of the operation
of this tax.
The possibilities are good, how
ever, that the Republican members
of the committee will be made to
agree to Mr.. B~acharach's suggestion.
1t is known that a considerable num-
Der of non-members among the Re-
publicans have taken the proposition
up and they will be Joined by the
Democrats when the proper time
comes.
There is to be a Republican caucus
next Monday night for the consider
alton of the revenue bill, and there
will be some fireworks set off, it is
said, if the committee docs not lis
ten to reason" There is a cry COM
Ing from the voters back home for
a little more consideration in tax
legislation. The common people are
not taking kindly to the s~oda-water
tax appeal when coupled with excess
profits tax and high surtax repeal.
There is a real need for the gener-
al revision of the present revenue
laws, but it should be a fffty-ffty
proposition with all classes of our
population equally considered. The
committee did agree to an increase
in the exemption allowed to heads
of families for dependents. If this
stands, it means that $500 may be
deducted for each child or other
dependent, but that does not go far
enough. If congress is going to de-
rease taxes at n end Of the in
come line, it should do the same
thing at the other end. and this
should be impressed on the repre-
sentatives.