Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-08-07
I Might Be.

by p. G. Stromberg

attention two domestic issues OF
the current week have monopo-
lized public interest because
both issues have a very direct
bearing on nearly every family
in America. These two issues
are: first, extension of the time
limit for military service; and
second, the new tax bill. These
measures tend to bring our ire
mendous defense program closer
to the average citizen.
When the unmarried man or
woman, making $40. per week
finds that his or her income tax
payment will be in excess of
500, the fact that we are truly
engaged in a serious effort will
no longer need be preached.
Paying the bill will be the sur
est means of chasing apathy
from that group of people who
refuse to take seriously any
thought of danger to America.
Not only VIII the new tax bill
take away a much larger check
on our income but new rates
are set up on many items which
will remind US daily that big
job is being done which is cost
ing plenty of money. Well pay
tax on telephone bills, kilograms,
all types of amusements (mov-
les, bowling, sporting goods,
etc. soft drinks, radios, extra
tax on automobiles, refrigera-
tors. In short, the new tax
bill will make US "dig" for
nearly every purchase made.
1t is the largest revenue pro-
ducing measure ever adopted in
America and is estimated to
produce THREE THOUSAND
TWO HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLARS. This sum, if it
were possible to measure it in
currency notes of 81 1000. denom-
ination, would make stack of
three million two hundred thou
sand of them.
Millions of people who have
never before paid any direct
Federal taxes will become con-
scious of the fact that they are
helping meet the bill for de-
tense. These millions will then
want to know what is being
done, why it is being done and
whether it is being done eff
GENTLY with due regard for
speed. They will want to know,
further, whether our legislators
have made a sincere effort to
keep the cost down and partic-
ularly whether normal govern
mental expenditures have been
kept at the lowest possible fig
ures. This will be healthy con-
dition because the more enlight-
ened our public the more insist
ent will be the demand to COM
plete the defense task which
will place the United States in
position of security backed by
MIGHT.
Our country is engaged in the
greatest spending spree in the
history of the world. The cost
of our program of defense and
our policy of aid to Britain and
her allies has scared to the in
conceivable total of SIXTY
BILLION DOLLARS. The bulk
of this money remains to be
spent but this sum is the cal
culation Of the cost of the COM
pleted program as at present
outlined. Under these circum-
stances the new tax bill can be
accepted as only a forerunner
of harder ones to come. But the
people win accept the burden
gladly if they are satisfied that
the job is well done. It will
prove a sound investment be-
cause it will insure. our future
against Hitlerism and any other
ism which would attempt to in
wade our way of living.
We are fast getting under
way to produce fighting equip
ment as fast as any country in
the world. Once our great pro-
duction machinery is in full
swing our world position will be
a fine example of a peaceful
country REPAIRED TO
FIGHT TO THE END FOR
IT'S RIGHT TO LIVE PEACE
FULLY. There will we no aims
of aggression. There will be