The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-01-12

may point the way toward further
intensive work on these questions.
We may perhaps reverse the order
of statement of the principles Of the
Workers Bill in dealing With OBJ
jectiohs.
AS to the objections to admins
tration by elected representatives of
the workers, on the ground that it
is not clear what is meant by rank
and-f1le control or how it could be
developed, it hardly needs to be
pointed out to this group that the
| organization of workers in the
United states Is growing daily more
effective and more srticulate as the
strikes Of the past year have shown
despite the huge obstacles against
1t in the company union movement,
in the opposition to strikes and Ia
the organized opposition by Ameii-
can industry. 1t Is indeed easy to
ervissge the organization Of local
commissions for dscentralized ad-
iniriistfation Of funds during periods
of unemployment these commits
sions being linked together in geo
graphical regions and by industry
occupation or profession, with CO.
ordination resting in a national ceni-
mission for social insurance would
constitute the first genuinely demo-
cratic machinery for the economic
functions Of government in the
United States.
How Much would 1t Cost
A single answer can of course BIZ
given to this The Workers Bill
would cost exactly what is now paid
by the whole working class under
mass unemployment. Government
has been paying in the relief pro-
gram small and uncertain portion
Of this bill for lost income by in
dustrial workers, farmers, profess
sional workers and all others.
But the question needs an answer
in greater detail. 1t has been the
experience in other countries-ir
Great Britain, for example-thst
initial estimates of the number un-
employed before the enactment Ct
unemployment insurance bills were
too low. And there is every reason
to believe that only with the social
insurance system in operation would
the full extent of the workers losses
through economic insecurity become
known. There should be no ten
dency to belittle the number nor to
make the Workers Bill seem more
practical" 1t is important, on the
contrary, at the ve.y outset to
recognize that the American people
face here a problem and a task of
staggering proportions But Ameri-
can civilization depends upon facing
the task and solving the problem.
Sources OF Funds
The primary source OF funds has
been put forward in the principles
of the Workers Bill, calling for
taxes on irheritances and gifts and
on higher incomes. Here Is a big
subject. The movement for econom-
icI security should compel a fresh
examination Of it in the light Of the
demand fo. social economic security
for the American people. and the
necessary revision Of the whole
method and program Of taxation N
the light Of that objective of gov
eminent. Here only brief outline
can be given of the places where
legislators might well look for funds
to insure continuity Of workers in
come.
First of all is the possibility of
improving the federal income tax
law. incidentally in any conside-a-
ton of the constitutionality of The
Workers Bill it should be recalled
that the income tax which Is put
forward as the primary source OF
funds is cleary constitutional as
the Constitution itself provides for
1t.
In connection with the income tax.
attention should Sc given to tax
exemptions on governmental seen-
rites. thus resulting in Withholding