Evening star., 1927-11-10
IHEATER MEN ASK
EXCISE TAX REPEAL
Leaders in ctage World Cite
Levy as a Burden to
!: Spoken Drama.
~ the Associated Press.

Repeal or downward revision of tn
excise or nuisance taxes, including
snCn things as levies on theater admis
sicns, cigars and the like. was aske
today at the House ways and mean
committee tax hearings.
Ligon Johnson of New York CITY
representing the National Theatrlca
Association, declared the 10 per cen
tax on theater tickets selling for mor'
than Is cents was direct burden u
the spoken drama.
"Since that tax was imposed, M
said, "the number of shows on the
road has decreased by one-third. The
cost of the spoken drama has so in
creased that the tax cannot he aD
sorbed and has to be passed on to pa
trons.'
Income Is Limited.
Johnson argued that the spoken
drama was an intimate" form OF
amusement and because of this. un-
like the motion picture. must be con-
fined to small theaters so the patrons
could appreciate the expressions or
the actors.
Frank Gilmore, also OF New York.
said that each year fewer road shows
left New York. in asking for repeal
of the admission tax as one means OF
aiding the theatrical profession.
Gilmore, who said he spoke for the
Actors Equity Association and
Chorus Equity Association, cited as
in example of the theater slump. tha'
as a young actor he spiayed every
night for six weeks In Texas' but ne
did not believe there was now
Legitimate" play in the State.
Actors of today do not receive high
salaries. he continued, and he doubted
IL half of them paid an income tax
The average working year OF an actor
in New York. he said, now Is only zz
weeks.
Brady Joins Appeal.
William A. Brady, representing
theatrical enterprises in New York
city. argued that the ID per cent tax
constituted large part of the problem
of the theater, and, with other VIII
nesses, assaiied the Treasury for urg-
ing its retention. He objected to
tax on theaters being iikened to the
tax on the Tunney-Dempsey fight in
Chicago. That has been referred to
rs an ideal" levy by Secretary Mellon.
NJ. J. O'Tooie. New York City. sec
retary of the Motion Picture Theater
Owners Association of America. ad-
vocated that all special taxes on the
He urged that Congress in the
future recognize the theater as COM
munity institution and that the
motion picture theater screens be re-
garded as IAN element of expression
the screen press Of America-like the
newspapers and magazines.
Probe Brings Little Success.
A move by Democratic members
In obtain information concernins
activities Of the American TAXPAYERS
League during the present agitation
for repeal Of the Federal inheritance
tax met with little success at yes
terday's hearing.
panization. although testifying he re-
ceiyed a salary Of $1,000 month ana
that the league had paid workers IN
several States, fiatly refused TO tell
how much money the organization
had collected or where It's Iunos
were deposited. -,
.T think this is a hostile inquiry"
ho declared. Il can't submit the or
ganization to the investigation.
don't have the authority" o
He said, however. except Tor sooo
contribution the league had taken no
mart i'm the meeting here OF the Ma
tional Council of state legislatures
whose representatives have appeared
before the committee In favor oF re-
peal of the estate levy.
Representative Garner, ranking
Democrat on the committee. contehos
that funds of the tax league were used
in establishing the legislative council
and Arnold admitted under question
in- he had sent short note 10 WIZ
liam H. Blodgett. tax commissioner
for Connecticut and spokesman TOT
tire council during Tuesdays meet
ing.
Mondell Dispute Denied.
During examination of Arnold late
In the day Garner asked Arnold II
Prank w. Mondell of Wyoming. for-
ner House Republican floor leader,
had not resigned as general counsei
for the league because he had objected
TO some Of it's activities. Tne WITNESS
6anied that Mondell had left In as
pute. saying he had severed connec,
ton with the league after se'erai
friendly conversations.
Chairman Green endeavored TO de-
kaIop what the league sought to ac-
eonplish and Arnold said its purpose
was to promote organization or tax
rl,Ihs in various States in the interest
OF better tax legislation. He DEFENDED
= statement made by the league that
fho estate tax would result In social
lam on the ground that 1t considered a
20 Der cent rate confiscation. and that
confiscation virtually constituted So
eialism.
Prior to Arnold's refusal to answer
questions by Garner and also by Rep
resentative Rainey. Representa-
tive Blanton, Democrat, Texas,
snpearing as a witness, charged that
oficers OF the legislative council had
sought to defeat him for reelection
because Of his vote two years ago for
retention Of the inheritance tax.
Z. Selfish Support Charged.
A number of committee members
said they had been informed that the
American Taxpayers League obtained
much Of its financial support from
large corporations seeking elimination
OF the Federal levy for purely selfish
notiyes.
Representative Crowther. Republi.
can. New York, described the discus
sion ever lobbying. which ragged at the
hearing as a tempest In teapot
and said that some witnesses of the
legislative council had been questioned
like they were "ci,s1ken thieves" Gar
ner argued otherwise.
The Texan said he had proved that
funds of the tax league had been used
by Lee Satterwhite, former speaker
of the Texas House of Representatives
At the time he organized the legisla
tive council. Garner added that this
must be considered in giving weight
to testimony by representatives OF the
council. =,
After spokesmen of the council
headed by Blodgett, had concluded
w. G. Roberts. legislative representa-
tive of the American Federation ol
Labor. opened for those favoring reten
tion Of the levy.
Chester II. Gray, Washington rep
resentatiye of the American Farm Blu