Evening star., 1933-01-06

Widespread discussion has followed
The statement from President elect
Roosevelt of opposition to the proposed
sales tax. Discussion of alternatives
has shown tendency to believe that
in balancing the national budget it will
be necessary either to adopt drastic
economies or to establish the proposed
general tax.
THE sudden revelation Of Mr.. Roose-
velts antagonism," according to the
Charleston Is. c. Evening Post, comes
with something Of shock and Is cer-
tainly disconcerting." That paper holds
that "the general sales tax is the best
plan for bringing in revenue to the
National Treasury that could be
adopted" and "it would distribute the
cost of government over the whole body
Of citizenship In equitable proportion" !"
That such a tax will be necessary to
balance the budget Is the Judgment Of
the Oakland Tribune, the Boise Idaho
Statesman, the Christian Science Mon
itor and the Providence Bulletin. The
Haverhill Gazette calls the tax unjust,
but AYERS that cit appears to be the
only tax that will bring in revenue
adequate to the balancing Of budget
Of present proportions"
"H there is a democratic principle
Of taxation" says the Fort Worth Star
Telegram, "the sales tax is its name.
Keeping it from food and clothing, but
applying it to every other piece of pro-
ductivity, manufactured in America or
imported, is democratic elemental.
Five dollars is taxed. Fifty dollars ex-
periences it. Five hundred dollars makes
its contribution. The tax might be five
cents. fifty cents and five dollars, re-
spectively, and every purchaser would
be registering as to his proper oc-
cupancy Of a niche in democracy. Each
could afford it. There need be nothing
Of nuisance tax about the process"
ain the end the Democratic leaders
may find that q sales tax is inescapa-
ble," thinks the Oshkosh Daily North
western. OF the opinion that Mr..
Roosevelt probably would be no less
Mortified were Congress to contemplate
such an extension Of the income tax
as would enable the Government to
take share Of small incomes now ex-
empt," the Chicago Daily News sug-
gests that ito be forced to that alterna-
tive for sales tax would send cold
chills up and down the spinal columns
of Congressman" but holds that 1t is
obvious that one or other of those
methods must be used to obtain sufa-
cient revenue" The Daily News saws of
the sales tax, "The time may come when
that tax will re-enter as the rescuing
hero, hinging itself across the chasm
to make a bridge for safe passage of
balanced budget" Admitting that as
a result OF State action there might
be double taxation" the San Antonio
Express concludes: "If double bur-
den must be imposed 1t obviously would
be carried more easily if spread out
thin, as in the general sales tax" Fair
ness OF the tax Is upheld by the Mil
Waukee Sentinel, while the New York
Herald Tribune predicts its ultimate
acceptance, and the Springfield (Mass.)
Republican calls it "undeniably the
shortest cut to a balanced budget"
although 1t sees IAN increasing ten
dency to favor Government borrowing
rather than heavier taxation and econ
omies in the Government"
II \ *%
In commenting upon the President
elects position, the Omaha World
Herald thinks "Mr. Roosevelt is stand
ing on his platform" and holds that
"he Is not ready to consent to a sales
tax on to any other new tax-unless it
becomes clear that it is impossible for
drastic economies to balance the
budget" That paper finds that the
"is interested in reduc-
ing governmental expenditures" The
Meridian, (Miss.) Star sees q demand
FOR rigid economy-the kind that really |