Evening star., 1932-01-25
LABOR ASKS i. S.
TO SHARE RELIEF
Leader Holds Shifting OF
Burden to States Means
Load on Wage Farmers.

A challenge to Congress that the
United States Government must not
shirk its share toward relief Of unem-
ployment was made today by organized
labor outside Of the Federal service in
a letter sent to each member by N. +.
Alifas, representing the international
Association of Machinists, animated
with the American Federation OF Labor,
Emphasis is laid in this letter OF pro-
test that by approving the amendment
made in order by special RUE Saul
6av, on the agricultural appropriation
bill and which is to be applied to each
of the departmental appropriation
hills Congress would serve notice on
the seven million unemployed and tner
families. that in so far as the Unlteo
states Government is concerned, they
shall not be employed until at least
after July /, 1888"
Sees Greater Buying Power.
In urging rejection Of the amend
ment. Mr. Alifas calls attention thaC
according to eminent economists every
additional dollar spent by the Feoersi
Government, for useful purposes, Will
dollars additional purchasing power;
and conversely, every dollar withheld
bv the Government will deepen the de-
preston by five dollars per year; and
every American citizen denied employ
ment by the Federal Government, VIII
throw out of employment four other
men"
Members are warned that the burden
of caring for the unemployed falls upon
the wage workers.
THE workers of the United States,
he points out, including Federal en-
ployes have had already placed upon
their shoulders most Of the burden OF
the unemployment situation. The
1000, 900 unemployed largely belong to
poor families or those in moderate cir
cumstances. Hence most wage workers
who are fortunate enough to be work
ing are obliged to support members OF
their families and relatives until they
can secure work. This more than off,
sets the moderate lowering of retail
prices II Congress deprives the work
ers Of the slight advantage Of lower
cost Of living, either by reducing wages
or curtailing opportunities Of employ
ment. an additional heavy blow will be
struck the 100000 unemployed and
their families.
Tax Shift Hurts Workers.
THE widespread attempt to shift the
burden of relieving unemployment from
the Federal Government to the States
or local communities again places the
burden predominantly on the workers
and farmers. State taxes and local
taxes are generally based upon property
valuation. but not on a graduated scale:
so that the working man who owns a
home is compelled to pay his proper
tional share of State and local taxes.
"On the other hand, Federal taxes
are derived largely from incomes in
excess Of $500 a year; therefore, the
bulk OF wage earners and salaried en-
ploves are exempt from income tax
''Let us not, therefore, become con-
fused by the cry of saving the tax
payer especially when the taxpayer
being saved by curtailing Federal appro-
priationS, is not the poor man but
well to do individuals and corporations.
ain addition to the above referred to
burdens OF working people lin being
forced to assume the cost of our un-
employment problem), they have been
liberal in their voluntary contributions
to Community Chests, and it is safe
TO say that in the aggregate wage