The Washington times., 1929-02-25

robs the actor and the professional
man of the earned income which is
really his capital.
Actors who usually give to the
world the best that is in them
nearly always die poor. Few play
ers have any conception OF busi.
ness affairs. They keep no spe-
cific set of books and no detailed
record of their expenditures.
Mrs. Earle Williams is another
victim. She and her little daugh-
ter. Joan. were moderately provided
for in the will left by Mr.. Williams
when he died a few years ago.
For years before his death Mr..
Williams worked only intermittently.
What money he bequeathed was
derived from the salary earned
during the few years Of his screen
success. His salary and earned
income, naturally and automatically
ceased at his death.
Want $1,000 More
How was he to know that his
income tax which he made out in
1923-24 would come under the eagle
eye of the tax collector? How was
he to know that certain exemptions
he claimed would be questioned by
the Government? Mrs. Williams
has received a bill for over $4,000,
asserted to be due the Government
for discrepancies in Mr.. Williams
tax returns. filed before he died.
How is his widow to explain what
he spent and what he didn't spend?
His records Of personal and not
of an organized business nature
were not kept Systematically. How
is she to know whether or not
that money can be rightfully col.
lected? All she knows is that
paying such sum will incur
hardship upon her and her little
daughter five years old.
With the many articles printed
on the enormous salaries paid these
screen players the public wonders
why they are not able to save
and provide for just such a con.
tingency. Simply because often
there are long weeks when mo.
ton picture star is out Of work
and his salary must be spread out
over this period of unemployment.
A 78 Per Cent Tax
/ have in mind the case Of
well.known Western film hero. Dur.
ing the days when he was at the
height of his success. he made big
money, but he has finished on the
screen and hasn't made a picture
in years. Uncle Sam has lately
taxed him over 7S per cent OF
his worldly possessions.
He, was desperate when the tax
collector descended upon him be.
cause he didn't have the amount
of money the Government was de.
manding of him. What ran he do?
His career as a motion picture actor
is over, and he is no longer young.
He was forced to pay the Govern.
ment money that was earned in pre-
vious years when he was working
every day.
So case after case of actors ana
actresses. who are harassed to- a
point that resembles the Spanish
inquisition, has made the trials Of
the Colenists and the French revo.
lutionists seem tame bv conpari.
son.
S System Is Unfair
The authorities at washington
are not trying to cruelty these
film people, but the Government
system OF taxation Is operated so
unfairly as to amount to practically
that.
These men and women who have
contributed so generously to the
happiness and entertainment OF the
world. WHO have donated so liberal
ly to charity. and who have labored
so patrioticalIy in the service OF
the nation. are pilloried and made
to suffer intensely and unjustly.
The very mention OF ajax collector
terrifies the average motion picture
actor who knows nothing about busi-
ness. The Government has provided
mo way for him to get in touch
with persons who can give him
proper helm