Askov American., 1943-12-02

tax is not paid in time to get the
benefit of the federal credit. On a
number of occasions, Congress has
been obliged to extend the time with
in which such credit may be taken,
but the last time this was done it
was announced that no further ex-
tensions would be granted
1 have never felt that these tenn
porary extensions did anything more
than temporize with a problem that
would never be settled until it was
settled right. The present 80 per cent
penalty was too harsh and unjust,
and needed permanent correction
When the new tax bill was before
the Ways and Means committee
succeeded in having an amendment
adopted which will eliminate the 80
per cent penalty both as to past de-
linquencies and those which may oc-
cur in the future. My amendment
provides that where the state tax is
not paid by the due date of the Fed
eral return, but is paid within four
years of the date of the payment of
the federal tax, the employer shall
nevertheless be entitled to an 81 per
cent credit against the federal tax.
The effect of this change is to re-
duce the penalty for delinquency from
80 per cent to 9 per cent. Those who
have been forced to pay the 80 per
cent penalty will be entitled to claim
refund of all but per cent under
my proposal
MisapprOpriatiOn of Funds.
Since the social security law was
enacted some six or seven years ago.
the workers and employers of the
nation have paid into the fund bill
lions of dollars. It will come as
shock to those who have paid money
into the Treasury to learn that the
Administration has been using the re-
ceipts to run the government and the
till contains nothing but Uncle Sans
1. o. US. This, of course, means
Uncle Sam, when called upon to pay
social security benefits in the future,
will have to levy another tax upon
the same workers who have already
paid their social security premiums.
In other words, we will have to pay
the tax over again.
'Tis and 'Taint.
Representative Gale of Minnesota.
has worked out new lottery scheme
that isn't lottery. His plan pro-
poses a monthly drawing of bond
serial numbers by war heroes with
the winners" receiving prizes up 70
$4,000. Mr.. Gale believes his plan
will meet the objections of the anti
lottery bloc since purchasers will get
receipts for their bonds and at the
same time he figures his plan will
encourage not only the buying, but
the retention of war bonds, as it
would encourage bond holders to
hold on to their bonds as long as
the drawings continue. 1t is certain
ly clever scheme which has con-
siderable merit from whatever angle
viewed.
Mushroom Bureaucracy.
A gentleman connected with the
livestock marketing industry in South
st. Paul writes and calls my at
tention to the mushroom growth of
local Department of Agriculture
activity. He says, "This department
at So. st. Paul, only Just few years
ago had one man as local supervisor.
Today thew have S,1por1yicor &c
sistant supervisor, head auditor, as
sistant auditor, second assistant aud
itor, investigator and several ste
nographers." No wonder we are now
on our seventeenth tax bill since the
New Deal came into power. If the
people don't make change next year
we'll all be working for our room
and board because the tax collector
will take everything else