Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-01-16
ANDTAXAT|ON
CONFERENCE ENDS
Higher Income Levy and 0p-
position to Surplus Tax
Repeal Offered.

Favortng higher income taxes, op-
posing repeal Of the undistributed sur.
plus tax and calling for Government
expenditures for relief and works
projects Of SUFFICIENT size to cope With
the unemployment problem, the two
day conference sponsored by the Joint
Committee on Unemployment and
Taxation was concluded last night at
the Continental Hotel.
approximately 200 persons attended
the sessions. which opened Friday
night and were addressed by members
OF Congress, churchmen, educators
and others concerned with current
economic problems.
With their attention centered on
unemployment. the participants were
told yesterday afternoon by Senator
Lundeen, Farmer-IAbor1te, Of Minne-
sofa that he believes the number Of
Idle now Is above $4,000, 00c and that
it will reach $4,000 900 by February /.
Raising the question as to how these
are to be cared for. he added, I'm gen.
eral, I'd say, let's take the money from
those who have It,"
Secs Realignment.
Senator Lundeen predicted q re.
alignment Of political parties, and
asserted ut is contamination de.
voutly to be wished"
Three times the Labor party saved
Great Britain" he said, land come
day America may need q labor party
in the national arena"
Senator La Toilette, Progressive, Of
wisconsin was prevented by illness
from speaking, but in prepared talk,
which was read, urged q broadening
OF the income tax base and q scale of
schedules based on ability to pay.
There Is no adequate provision for
upward Of 10000 900 unemployed" he
said. THE burden of financing aid
for the unemployed cannot be shifted
to State and local governments be.
cause Of lack Of proper tax sources.
II the tax base were broadened and
II the principle OF ability to nav
were applied decisively, Federal reve-
nues could be stabilized and ENLARGED
He emphasized that the unemployed
must be put back to work.
Express Conflicting viewa
Representative Voorhis. Democrat.
OF California, urged q program of
necessary, useful and productive"
public works. while Representative
Bigelow, Democrat of Ohio. taking
another tack. proposed repeal of the
undistributed profits tax, and the
giving Of authority to the Federal
Reserve Board to stimulate extensive
long-term bank loans to the ZOO, 900
corporations in the United States" At
low interest to revive private employ.
ment.
DR.. Isador Lubin, United States
commissioner Of labor statistics, ar.
gued that revival Of housing con.
struction was the key to the unem-
ployment problem. and suggested that
some form Of subsidy" by the Fed
eral Government might be necessary
to give members Of the building trades
q year-'round wage"
Cites Ethical Viewpoint.
Discussing the situation from The
standpoint Of the ethical right Of
the idle to be employed, the Rieht
Rev. John A. Ryan, director Of the
National Catholic Welfare Conference.
declared that while this class can.
not be said TO have . strict risht to
employment under the w. p. A. they
have solid claim thereto In social
justice"
Their human dignity and the safe
guarding Of their morale demand that
Government relief should take this
FORM" Msgr. Ryan emphasized. TO
be sure. work relief Is more costly
than straight relief or the dole. New
ertheless. the money can be obtained
through adequate taxation"
The program which the conference
favors was presented by the chair
man Of the Executive Committee and
of the Joint Committee, DR.. Sidney Z.
Goldstein.
Labor. church. education and other
groups are represented In the com.
mittee.