Evening star., 1942-04-28
Roosevelt Is Amonu
$1,000 Having Income
Above $4,000 Yearly
Many Top Executives
Agree With Presidents
limitotion Proposal
~ the Associated Pfcxs.

~ the Associated Press.
At least $4,000 persons, includin
President Roosevelt. have income
Of more than SIS. 900 a year--the fig
ure which the Chief Executive sal
ought TO be an individuals maxi
mum after payment of taxes.
In 1910, last year for which In
come tax studies are available, sofa
persons reported incomes Of s25 90
or greater, However, probably n
more than half that number at mos
had s25 900 left after tax payment,
Under present tax laws, q persol
can earn up 10 about 10000 yea
and. after paying Federal taxes. sta.
within the Presidents limit. But II
approximately half the States, Stat.
income taxes also take a chunk ou
Of large incomes.
President Roosevelt's salary Il
t75.000, and he has additional In.
come from personal property. Ht
pays Federal and New York STATE
income taxes.
Incidentally, White House
officials said yesterday the Chief
Executive is a poorer man than
when he became President.
While his mother left him the
major portion OF an estate OF
more than 81 900 900. it was ex-
planned, he will not come into
possession of 1t for another year
because 1t is in process OF set
tlement)
Roosevelt Far Down List.
Mr.. Roosevelt, however. would be
far down any list OF persons with
big incomes.
Top executives generally refused
10 comment on the $4,000 proposal
In New York, an officer of a very
large corporation, some Of whose
executives are well up ip the high
income brackets, said.
This is about what is now in ef-
feet In England. Many have seer
It coming here, and those who
haven't should have"
In Chicago, Silas II. Strawn, for
mer president OF the American Bal
Association and former president OF
the Chamber of Commerce Of the
United States said. The Presi-
dents suggestion is q trial balloon
which will not be popular. IT would
be myopic to limit TO $25,000 the
annual salaries of persons who make
q great deal more than that"
Philip X. Wrigley, owner of the
Chicago National League baseball
team and manufacturer Of chewing
gum, said, ''The Presidents sugges-
ton of a SIS, 900 yearly salary limit
is perfectly all right with me. II
would mean that / would not have
the wherewithal to carry on with
numerous obligations, but ! assume
II the ceiling is applied, the effects
of retrenchment in personal activi-
ties of persons affected by the limi-
tation would be taken into consid-
Grafton"
Won't Work for Nothing.
James F.. Lincoln, president of the
Cleveland Chamber of Commerce
and of the Lincoln Electric Co., said
Although / have not had a chance
to study the Presidents proposal
it In effect makes many men work
for nothing. The plan was sug-
gested In a patriotic vein, but
don't believe most men are patriotic
enough to work free of charge. They
Just aren't made that way. I'll be
interested In what the President Is
going to do with the whole million
dollars he receives this year from
his mothers estate"
A labor comment came from David
Dubinsky, president of the Interna-
tional Ladies' Garment Workers
Union, who said he did not believe
the Presidents message had altered
the present status of labor or that
1t would in any way prevent low
wage groups from seeking pay in
creases.
The President said we must
stabilize the remuneration received
by individuals" Mr.. Dubinsky said,
"The War Labor Board, however,
will continue to give due considera-
tion to inequalities and the elimina-
ton of substandards of living in de-
Gliding wage controversies"
Limited to Wartime Only.
Alexander F. Whitney, president
of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, said, II am all for the
Presidents program. I think wages
and salaries should be stabilized,
providing adjustments are allowed
for wage inequalities. For the
duration incomes should be limited
to $25,000. After the war such re-
strictionS should be relaxed so our
democratic and capitalistic system
may provide a higher standard OF
living for everybody"
William S. Jack, president OF
Jack g. Heintz, Inc, Cleveland air
craft parts plant, who recently cut
his salary to $4,000 a year follow
ing congressional investigation Of
$l45, 900 salary last year-"Anything
the President says will be backed
up by every man in this plant. II
he says no salary, it will be no SAL
airy. Well back him up to the limit
Whatever rules and regulations he
lays down in this checker game
we'll follow. There's only one
thing we'll be satisfied with-that';
winning the war"
No Legitimate Objection.
Edgar NJ. Queeny, president Of
the MonSanto Chemical Co. of st
Louis said: mo one can have any
legitimate objection to wartime
limitation on individual incomes oi
$4,000 provided this limitation end'
with the cessation of hostilitieS
when the Nation will again neec
the stimulus of individual initiative
and willingness to take capita
risks"
At Granville, Ga. w. N. Banks
president of the American Cottol
Manufacturers Association, said:
Il think by all means ceiling
should be set upon wages as upol
everything else. I think that vii
help to prevent the inflationar,
spiral. 1t is on the right line.