The Washington times., 1932-06-04

W. r. Hearst in Radio Address Denounces
Shotgun 7axation Methods of CONGRESS-

1HeLHOuS VI NOItSIcSS
VIZ ELL, they should be able to-
w They have benefited by high tariff taxa
tion for many years which has largely excluded
foreign goods and has given our manufacturers
monopoly Of the American market, so surely they
can contribute something towards the support of
the Government in return for this protection
"All right" say you, "but can the buyer afford
to pay this tax, even though it be concealed in the
price of his purchases"
Well my friends, let me ask you to answer that
question yourselves.
Suppose an article, not food or clothing, cost
dollar and ten cents and the tax made it cost
dollar and fifteen cents, and you wanted the
article and had the money to buy it.
Would you buy it?
I think you would.
Now, suppose there was no sales tax, and the
article only cost dollar and ten cents instead OF
dollar and fifteen cents and you did NOT have
the money to buy it, would you buy it?
l hope you would NOT.
THEREFORE, is it not obvious that a small
L fluctuation in price is not important as
POSSESSING THE INCOME WITH WHICH
TO BUY?,
And, therefore, is it not equally obvious that it
is better to impose small manufacturers sales
tax on articles than it is to impose heavy income
taxes which will reduce incomes and cut down
the purchasing power Of the community?
Many merchants have shortsightedly opposed
the sales tax but they should learn better from
their daily experiences
They hold sales today at half-price and the
shops are half empty.
Formerly when the people had better incomes
the merchants held sales at full prices and the
shops were full of purchasers.
The important thing to the merchants as to
everyone else, is not merely the price of the goods,
but the purchasing power Of the community.
"Then," say you, "why does not Congress pass
the manufacturers sales tax to secure revenue and
Speaker Garners public works bill tc relieve un-
employment and go homer" i ...'
Well, my friends, the plain facts are that our
Senators and Representatives are hopelessly
floundering. They do not know exactly what to
do in the grave emergency which contronts them
so they are trying many radical and ridiculous
things and making bad situation constantly
worse.
THEY are like the ignorant doctor who does not
L know how to cure his patient and so gives him
a dose of everything in the medicine chest in the
hope that something will hit the mark.
That kind Of doctoring is called shot gun prac-
tice Our estimabe Senators and Representatives
are indulgng in legislative shot gun practice and
we are going to get the whole load of shot right
in the small of the back and it is not going to do
us any good.
Then what is the lesson to be learned from the
iniQutOus tax measures which Will be imposed
upon us by Congress-?
The lesson to be learned is to take more interest
in our politics and to elect Senators and Rep
resentatves who will know how to raise the neces-
sary revenue for the Government in a conservative
and constructive manner and who will be careful
not to reduce the incomes and decrease the pur-
chasing power of the people of the United States.
For in that direction lie depression and disaster;
Elect Senators and Representatives who will
realize the necessity of giving employment to the
people, of charging the purchasing power of the
community, of making possible the liberal buying
which supports all business and industry
For in that way lies the speedy and rational re-
turn to American prosperity.
Of these vet ton from Michigan was rouhoy
futile the President condemned as COMMUNIST IN
will veto any bill which might spired" joint resolution
adnn hv leading