The Washington times., 1933-05-19
PUBLIC WORKS
WILL REVIVE
INDUSTRY
A. F. of l. Chief FavorS Sales
Tax to Raise Huge Fund
Needed for Projects
CONTINUED from Page u

''With the amendments which
I have herein suggested accepted
and incorporated in the bill,
labor gives unqualified support
to this legislation. Along with
it's friends, it halls this Sug-
gested legislative step as a
definite advance toward eco
nOmic recovery"
He said six million persons
could be given jobs through this
legislation.
Definite Revival
If advocating public works to-
calling $5,OOO,OOO,OOO. Green said:
'Tf a public works project in
which S5,OOO,OOO,OOO was ex-
pended in carrying forward pub
lie improvement and public
work in every State, city, town
and section of the nation was
launched simultaneously, in
dustry would be revived and in
dustrial recovery would be con-
structively promoted.
"The public works program
will supplement the development
of industrial activity which is
bound to take place under the
inspiration of the legislation
provided for in the industrial
recovery act"
Showdown Nears
Congress will approve a manu-
facturers excise tax to finance the
works program if President Roose-
velt recommends it, Representa-
tive Treadway (R0 OF Massa-
chusetts declared today.
With advocates of manu-
fscturers' sales tax urging that it
would place lighter burden upon
the average man than the alter
native taxes suggested by the
Treasury, a showdown on the
issue was expected in the COM
mittee tomorrow.
Representative Cullen, of New
York, assistant Democratic leader
and member of the committee,
expressed preference for the first
taxing program submitted by the
Treasury.
This includes raising the in
come tax rate on incomes up to
$4,000 from 4 to 6 per cent and
raising the normal rate on
amounts above $4,000 from 8 to 10
per cent, Subjecting dividends to
normal income tax rates, and
adding three-fourthS of l cent a
gallon to the gasoline tax.
WAGNER A WITNESS
Senator Wagner D) Of New
York, who helped frame the meas
ure, appeared as a witness before
the committee. He said:
"This bill is essentially an en-
plOyment measure, its object is
to bring about employment at
wages that will provide a decent
and comfortable living.
81 believe it will tighten eth
les in industry, do away with
SweatshOp labor, and allow en-
plOyers who have been forced to
cut wages below a decent stand
ard by unfair competition to
raise them"
Wagner said the industry con-
troll feature is designed to. bring
about planned economic system.
He said:
"With a properly planned
economic system / think we
could have avoided this de-
preston.
SEES 100000 JOBS
"This bill makes explicit that
all business is affected with
public interest. Heretofore we
have, except in the public
utility field, repended entirely
upon competition. The purpose
of this bill is not to abolish
competition, but to do away
with unfair competition"
Wagner confirmed the esti-
mates made yesterday by Donald
r. Richberg, a railroad labor at
torney, that the $3,300,000,0 900
public works bond issue would
provide jobs for 100000 men.
The Senator said that there is
q vast reservoir of needed State
and city projects that can be
undertaken. There are $780,
900 workers in the building in
dustry out of employment.
While the provisions of the
bill suspending portions of the
antitrust laws are limited to two
years, Wagner predicted the Sys-
tenn of cooperation between in
dustry and labor under govern
ment control will continue in
definitely.
Sees Big Success
Wagner said:
81 think the country-the
workers and the consuming
public-will see such benefits
from this cooperative action
that Congress will be asked to
continue it beyond two years."
Treadway unsucceSsfully sought
to commit Wagner to a tax
program. He, said:
"We are told what the Pres
ident wants except on taxes.
Don't you think we ought to
have a complete, bill?"
Wagner replied
81 think the president has
confidence in this committee.
If the committee cannot solve
the question the President will
not hesitate to say what he
thinkS.H