The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1941-09-11

week.
Speaking from Washington Sat
utday evening. Jones charged that
Congress passed the bill after COM
plctely disregarding the advice of
United States Treasury rcpresen-
tatives who asked that heavier
taxes be levied on corporation
profits.
Congressional leaders in the
House and Senate, Jones de-
clared. supported all provisions
to tax low income groups but OPP
posed the recommendation for
adequate taxes on corporation
profits In doing this. they have
betrayed the interests OF the COM
mon people"
The clio leader maintained 1T
is bill that provides relief for
the rich at the expanse OF the
poor" Excerpts from his speech
follow:
For the first time In American
history ii makes individuals who
earn as little as SIS. and married
persons who earn as little as $50
a week. pay direct taxes. Such
low earnings are not enough to
provide even decent standard of
living. and any amount paid out
in taxes from these earnings will
mean less food. less shelter. less
clothing for millions OF American
workers and farmers. In addition.
these low wage earncrs and farm
crs will have to pay hundreds Of
millions OF dollars in increased
sales taxes They will pay these
taxes every time they buy a box
OF matches. every time they buy
an electric bulb. ever time they
go to the movies. every time they
bug a radio tube automobile tire.
and so on through long list of
consumer articles that are more
heavily taxed now than ever be-
fore Consumers are already pay
ing through direct and indirect
taxes. more than ono half Of all
Federal taxes. Under this bill they
VIII pay even more,
LOOPHOLES
LAS compared Ia this heavy tax
on low income groups. the bill will
leave untaxcd and provide many
loopholcS for huge profits and in
comes Of wealthy corporations
and individuals Also. in its taxes
on corporations. il actually gives
the advantage to the big profit
corporations as against smaller
business concerns
Under the loopholcs provided
for corporation profits. the veal
thy Du Pont corporation, for ex-
ample. would be permitted to
make as much as s55,000.000 in
clear profit annually before II
would have to pay ono cent in ex-
cess profits taxes.
The American people are
prepared to make sacrifices
for the preservation Of their
liberties. But the American
people are not prepared 10 zee
their sacrifices 20 towards
swelling the war profits Of big
corporations. Vet this is what
will happen under the present
taN hill. In passing this hill.
Congress has listened TO the
voice of the m0nopolists and
war miilionaires. II has turned
n deaf ear 10 the workers, the
farmers. the professional peo-
pie and the small businessmen.
One of the fundamentals OF a
democratic system OF taxation Is
that il be based on the principle
Of ability to pay. Another equally
important principle is tina, special
interests should not bc allowed 10
accumulate vast fortunes from the
nations peril These principles
have bccn totally disrcgardcd ny
Congress in this bill
The clo and l.abor's Nom
Partisan League oppose direct
federal income taxes on married
couples earring less than S2,500
ar single persons earning less than
- 0un We advocate the elimina-
tion Of salts taxes which bear ON
working people. and propose high
or taxes on corporation profits and
income Of wealthy individuals
New taxes on undivided profits.
tax exempt securities. and inherit
ances are recommended"