The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1941-07-24
COMMENTS OF NEWS
FROM WASHINGTON
Sales Taxes
BY Harold Knutson


grind the Ways and Means Com
mittee is nearing the end of its
labors on the new tax bill, which
will raise about $500 million
additional taxes, the bulk of which
will come from individual and
corporation incomes. AS this is
being written there remains to be
considered only excise taxes, which
Is another name for sales taxes.
The Treasury has recommended
that the tax on automobiles and
accessories, gasoline, tobacco, beer,
liquor and wine be materially in
creased and that tax be levied
on checks, admissions, commune
atoms, passenger transportation,
furs, jewelry, Photographic appar-
atus, clocks, watches, mechanical
refrigerators, sporting goods, mat
ches, radio sets and parts. toilet
preparations, luggage, phono-
graphs and records, candy, chew
ing gum, soft drinks, musical in
struments, bowling alleys, club
dues, initiation fes, playing cards,
safe deposit boxes and cabarets.
The Treasury is investigating slot
and pin ball machines as an add
itional source of revenue.
AS a general proposition I am
opposed to hidden taxes and that
is what an excise tax is. It Is not
alone deceptive but it keeps the
people in ignorance as to just what
taxes they pay, hence many are in
different to government spending.
All taxes should be brought out in
the open. If that were done there
would be an instant demand for
economy. in government.
Non-Defense Expenditures
To Increase
Treasury Secretary Morgenthau
told Congress that, 1T would be a
tragic error to assume that we can
expand our defense production on
a colossal scale and still go our
usual way. 1t would be folly to
assume that we can continue to
spend now for non-defense pur-
poses as we did in normal times"
A billion dollars, he said, should
be cut from non-defense spending.
The new fiscal year began on
Tuesday. An analysis Of the ap-
preparations made for the govern
ment establishments, aside from
War and Navy, indicate that in
some instances they will be sub
stantially greater than they were
in the past fiscal year. AS a re-
suit the Ways and Means Com
mittee threatens to write into the
new tax bill a mandatory provise
that the President cut non-defense
expenditures by one thousand
million dollars.
Picture Changes
The entrance Of Russia into the
war has complicated the position
Of America and military experts
in Washington speculate on how
long Russia can hold out. Her entry
into the war has materially reliev-
ed the strain on Britain as Ger
many has been compelled to trans
fer the bulk Of her fighting forces
to the new front. Should japan
decide to take a hand and invade
Siberia, 1t would necessitate the
shifting Of our Asiaic fleet for the
protection Of Hawaii and Alaska
and 1t Is conceivable that we might
be drawn into a war with that
1t is a tragedy that the Western
powers should be at war
with each other at a time that Is
really propitous for the destruction
Of Communism. The turn Of
events will help Finland and
to regain the territories
seized by the Russians last year.
Circumstances over which she had
no control forced Finland into the
picture and all hope that she win
recover her lost territory which
was inhabited 100 per cent by
people Of Finnish blood.
Bulletins
Married men, as well as fathers
with minor children, will be de-
ferred from induction into the
Army under a virtual order issued
last Friday by National Selective
headquarters.
- Il