The Indianapolis times., 1932-03-31

Opponents of a heavy income tax on great for
tunes, led by Mr.. William Randolph Hearst multi
millionaire newspaper publisher are becoming over
extravagant and overhysterica in their arguments.
Instead of impressing the people with their claims
they danger of making themselves ridiculous.
This Is particularly true when Mr. Hearst tries to
scare the millions of persons with small incomes into
believing that the tax rates recently imposed by house
insurgents aimed at the little taxpayer
We quote from one Of Mr.. Hearsts editorials
1--WE have got to cut down on the butcher, the
baker and the candestick maker
I'VE will have to use the old automobile and wear
the old suits
I'VE will have to relnquish those pretty things in
the shops that we would like to have for ourselves
and the family
eve will have to get along with the old house and
postpone the painting job for another year two.
we will have to patch up the old furniture and
dispense with all luxuries and comforts"
And why all these dire things about to happen
to the millonares of the United States? Well, we
quote the answer in Mr. Hearst's words:
our star-spangled representatives at Washington
are not interested in diminishing unemployment.
They are only interested in increasing it."
All OF these inquities and privations, touch
ingly pictured by Mr.. Hearst grow out of the fact
congress failed to pass the sales tax.
The original tax program in congress-. you will re-
call, called for sales tax falling all consumers
in the United States-rch and poor alke-and for
certain tightening up exemptions to small tax
payers and certain modest increases in the rates paid
by great taxpayers
Instead of adopting this plan the house insurgents
killed the sales tax and placed wartime rates great
incomes running up to 65 per cent on incomes ex-
ceeding $5,OOOOOO year.
In brief the hig ircreases arc m, oreat incomes
So, presumably, it is Mr.. Hearst and other wealthy
who face the prospect of wearing their old pants
driving their old car letting the front porch go.
painted, and the like Some of them even may have
to go with an old yacht and shut up one of their
country estates.
All of which is a very, very sad picture for the
dear public already greying because it not per-
mitted to relieve this distressing condition by being
permitted to pay a sales tax.
Seriously, of course nobody really thinks that
representatives in Washington "ony interested in
increasing" unemployment That would mean that
they wanted to increase suffering and starvation 1t
would amount to treason against their country
The charge is so extravagant that it is almost
funny
Whether or not agree with congress, at least
its members patriotic American citizens, most of
whom are doing their level best according to their
own nghCs 10 serve Che government WHICH Chey loVe
In killing the sales tax, the house did SO on the
ground that it imposed dsproportionate burden on
the poor For man, be he rich poor, can wear
only certain amount of clothing certain
amount of articles eat certain amount of food and
enjoy a certain amount of entertainment
And this law forced the poor man to pay exactly
the same tax for those things it did the rich-vo
lating the fundamental principle that taxes be i'm
posed in proportion to the taxpayers ability to pay
them
Therefore the house restored the tax rates on
large incomes that prevailed during another great
crisis the World war; That's what all the shouting
is about.