New Britain herald., 1921-05-07
THE OBSERVER . ..... MAKES .* RANDOM OBSERVATIONS '- 5 sta. - ON t5gzest .'
 THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.

known legislators interested in the measure propose to make it general in character and without exemptions except those which likewise affect
 male residents who come under the old personal tax law.
 Provision should be made for cer- tain exemptions. For example, wid- ows with dependent children should certainly not be asked to contribute
 $2 annually to the state treasury. The commonwealth needs funds to admin ister it's affairs but it's need is not so
 pressing that we should add to the
 burdens of women who are the bread winners for a family of children. As long as the race lasts we shall have women taking the place of their dead
 husba in keeping the home to- gether and earning sustenance and happiness for their growing families. It would be inhuman to oppress such as these: rather should the state strive to remove the thorns from their path- ways and to bring ease into their lives.
 In a great number of cases the law will simply resolve itself into a dou- ble tax on husbands. Wives who keep house and have no income from any source will naturally expect their husba to pay their personal tax. 50 that instead of contributing g an- nually he will find his assessment doubled. In the case of adult fam flies in which there are girls who do not work for living. the father will be face to face with a pretty tax bill every year because he will not want his daughters to go to jail. |
 1t would be interesting to learn whether the sponsor, for the bill had before them statistics on the number of women in Connecticut, the proppr- tion of those subject to the tax and other figures which would be of in- terest. A matter of this kind should not be considered without an effort to dig up all the details possible. On the face of it, it seems equable to levy a personal tax on women because they have been extended equal politi- cal rights. But an analysis would show that there are some objections and that certain exemptions should be arranged. ,at
 One view of the measure is that it imposes a tax on marriage becaHse 1t adds to the financial obligations 'of men who are married and whose wives devote their time to domestic activities Of course, it could be saiA that marriage is worth it and we doubt very much whether many young men will postpone the big date in their lives because they will be ex- pected to pay $2 a year tax for their helpmeets.
 1H' The whole situation should be in vestigated before the new tax meas ure is finally passed. Special consid- eration should be given widows with dependent. children. Common jus tica requires this.
 City officials did we'll to unearth tha misrepresentation by which owners or property are securing work on the I plea that they arc penniless and with > out means of securing revenue. A there are exceptions to all cases. no doubt there are somo of these who deserve work but as general rule the owner of property should bc content to step aside and give employment tc men who have no income but have fixed expenses which must be nat periodically Those in charge of the municipal labor bureau should make every effort to see that no deserving man is denied work if there Is. worx to be had, and also that no one Tnn does not deserve work occupies ;no place which should go to a citizen n need. l
 It is said that factories u"c begiR- 1 ming to discriminate against sinsla men in favor of those with fani:ies to support. Here is another s'tneticn where the rule should not be general ! but where each case sfould ba con sidered on it's own merits. There are many young, unmarried men "'o support m others or sisters. or at i'ast largely toward ths eN- nenses of women relatives. To ee- nriye these men of work would be 70 innose an unnecessary hardship on others.
 The labor situation In this part or the state does not seem to prisnteu There is still n great sur n,us of workmen and few are Scine hired. The announcement that tne Standard Steel and Bearing comranN~ ;s in resume operations cr it's P!ain- ,.;,,o pIsnt on a moderate scalc is tho ! hcst hit of news received in several months.
 Revived interest in me stoCh ,,arket encourages those whose hopes have been slumbcring these many to believe in the poSsioiitts ,f miracles still being worked. Al -hourh the matter is a state secret and must not be passed on soutsidcu Inc circle. of Observer readers, 1t ie1