Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-11
Allow Louis
In Ring to Pay
Income Tax
Should Return
y His Favor TO Relief \
BY wEsTBRooK PEGLER


owes an income tax Of Sill
900 and wants chance to earn
the money this summer. ere he
settles down to serious soldier
ing, is unique and special. and
calls for special treatment.
He who accepts a favor from
another puts himself under obi
cations to return the favor, and
the army and navy have ac-
cepted two valuable favors from
this young man.
To grant the return favor
which he asks might be to vio-
late some army regulations. or
possibly even some law, but pub
lie opinion would be offended
less by that than by the pro-
posed violation Of the unwritten
law of conduct which all we'll
behaved people try to abide by.
I OUTS has fought twice in the
II ring. risking each time
private business asset of great
value. for no reward at all, and
has turned over to the army and
navy relief agencies a personal
contribution OF $4,000.
He was under no obligation
to do this and the arrangement
by which the government ac-
copied the favor was irregular
and. taken as a precedent, would
lead TO troublesome compiica-
tons.
Therefore the whole affair Is
special case and has no
precedent. but the deal cannot
be regarded as closed until Louis
has had his chance 10 earn as
much as he can in a fight for
his own benefit.
After that, there should he an
end TO such irregular dealings,
and men holding commissions in
any of the services should be
put TO service duties exclusively
or. if they are unfit for any such
duties appropriate TO their rank,
washed out.
THE colored people will have
l. no monopoly on the sense of
ingratitude for conspicuous gen.
crosby by an individual soldier.
IL Louis is not permitted TO fight
once more. this last time on his
own account.
The further delay In the mill
tary training of one soldier
would be unimportant In the
whole war effort and il the ques-
ton of the effect on the feelings
OF other service men Is raised
now, then il was a mistake 10
excuse him from some OF his
duties and give him leave 20
train and fight for the service
charities on the two past occa-
Sions.
But n was not a mistake.
The good that Louis did out
weighs any objections and the
only threat OF iii effects exists
in the possibility that the army
will stand on a decision TO re-
fuse the return favor.
IT TAKES no tax accountant
Il TO see that even IL Louis Is
allowed 10 fight. he probably
will be unable to reduce his
tax debt much.
The new money will be tax
able as new income in high and,
perhaps. confiscatory brackets.
If Louis is allowed to fight.
then that should be an end OF
such business. because doctors.
attorneys, singers. actors ard
writer's in the services can claim
that they ara capable of con-
Quoting profitable sidelines in
their spare time and the Difficult
ties which would arise should
they have that privilege are
easily foreseen.
No officer who had been called
into active service. however
fictitious and remote from the
realities OF war, should be per-
mitted to conduct a newspaper
column or a personal radio pro-
gram, either as official duty or
as a private occupation for pri-
vate income.
These are not military activi-
ties and the fighting forces can
not afford to confer rank on any
civilian with the understanding
that he shall be excused from
all risk and service and merely
masquerade in uniform.
The award of a commission
to any individual whose sole
official duty is to promote en-
tertainments to raise money for
service charities. and even that
only as a part-time Job, Is an
affront TO all genuine officers
and enlisted men, and the
precedent has caused deep dis
gust and much bitterness among
honorable officers. who are
wholly in the service, and their
families.
Any one holding a commission
should be assigned TO genuine
military or naval duty appro-
pirate TO his rank and n he Is
incapable of any duty he should
be decommissioned at once.