Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-23

While there are variations of opinion
as to the advisability OF or probable
necessity for an increase in Federal
taxation, opposition to sales tax, such
as Is proposed By Senator Reed of
fennSylvania, Is general Chief among
the objections to such method Is the
invasion OF field Of revenue here to-
fore reserved to the States and the
placing OF increased taxation upon the
people least able to afford it. The pro-
posal OF Representative Bacharach of
New Jersey, which would obtain new
revenues from income taxes and limit
the sales tax to non-eSsentials, meets
with more favor as fairer means of
increased taxation.
Asserting that "if increased Federal
taxes cannot be avoided, something
by no means certain, certainly the
sales tax should be summed" the
wheeling Intenigencer strikes the KEY
note OF the reasons for opposition in
its statement: Not only is the impose
ton of such a tax an invasion of state
taxing sources, but 1t Is a direct sad
ding upon the people least able to
bear it of the increased cost of Govern
ment." The Intelligencer also points
out that even from State standpoint,
the general sales tax, as West Virginia
viii bear witness, is of doubtful justice. -
The bulk OF sales tax would not
fall upon those best able to paw but
upon the masses of the people of the
country. whether they can afford to pay
or not" declares the Portland Oregon
Journal, while the San Antonio Express,
believing that Congress almost Ger
tainly will not revise taxes upward
during the next session" favors light
ening the taxpayers burdens" and
points out that the Georgia General
Assembly lately set an inspiring ex-
ample when it not only voted no new
imposts, but even refused to renew the
gross-sales tax, which had yelled one
and one-half million dollars year."
An enormous nuisance to every mer-
chant" is seen by the Duluth Herald in
the sales tax, which that paper de-
scribes as NOT tax according to abil-
of that" The Worcester Telegram
thinks that cutting Government ex-
penditures should be the first step in
dealing with the budget" while the
Port Huron Times Herald finds "a con-
siderable disposition to allow the def
cts to pile up In the time of diminished
receipts, to be taken care of by the
increasing income which is to be ex-
pected when business and industry are
Sentinel predicts political conse-
quenceS" either under a plan for large
scale, longtime borrowings to meet
national expenditures, or one to boost
taxes at a time when most men are
having hard time to meet their pres
emit obligations" The Sentinel cen
clude: "The United states is in no
serious straits. It's credit is unimpaired
and the necessary borrowings would in
volve probably little trouble"
objection to any intrusion OF the
~. f,akA Ral NN "a
alton heretofore generally reserved to
the States" is considered a possibility
by the Roanoke World-News, which
also holds the opinion that "the sales
tax places an undue burden on those
of small means, whose income is hardly
sufficient now to make buckle and
tongue meet" The World-News con-
cludes: From Federal tax on the
sale price of retail commodities, 1t is
but a step to Federal price fixing.
Until the Government makes good Its
pretense of economy by looping on
of vast and unnecessary expenditures,
any excursion into fields Of taxation
will be justly resented, and none more
so than a tax that Immediately affects
the cost of living of every household In
the land"
The Providence Journal predicts as
to method of taxation a bitter clash
in Congress between the opponents of
the two schools of thought" and main-
tains that there appears to be need
to increase taxes within a reasonable
period of time In order to achieve the
highly desirable purpose Of balanced
budget"
X y +
The soundest proposal" in the judg-
ment Of the Chicago Daily News, us
mat submitted to the administration
and the public by Senator David A.
reed of Pennsylvania. He favors
universal fiat sales tax of one-half OF
L per cent There is reason to think
mat Secretary Mellon. a close personal
friend of the Pennsylvania Senator e,
Is inclined to. support that simple, falr