The CIO news. (Cumberland, Md.) 1942-????, 1943-07-19

Inc COngreSSmanS voice faded away. his Strug-
gled to form words but sound came.
1T seems you've been taken up on that crack
about being struck dumb" said. YOU'D better
start again and stick to the TRUTH
The Congressman's voice returned as he said
family: ut seems have no other alternative"
X X \
ITO get down to brass tacks then, Congressman,
I'm war worker. My wages were frozen year ago,
but living costs have kept rising And now my
paycheck is cut 20ao for tax deductions Did you
have anything to do with that?"
II did," the Congressman replied reluctantly. Il
voted to stabilize wages and prices as of last Sept
ember. supported the Ruml plan to forgive years
taxes to war millionaires and finally accepted
1870 compromise.
II opposed the Presidents idea of limiting in
dividual incomes to $67,000 l helped overturn his
$4,000 net salary limit and I voted against ad-
minstration proposals for higher taxes on war
profits
Naturally all these tax favorS to the rich have
to be made up somewhere, and you low-income folks
are the goat. That's why 1 couldn't agree to CIO
proposals for tax exemptions to leave the low-paid
enough to live on"
What about raising the rest of the tax money
needed to win this war;" asked.
You'll likely be the goat again." the Congress
man said IF you don't stop me, John O. Public,
I'll vote for big sales tax. After ALL we've all got
to make sacrifices :"
His voice started to fade again, till he pulled
himself together and said: "Il admit sales tax
imposes all the sacrifice the poor and it's true
we could ask the wealthy to make sacrifices"
X X \
"You spoke about stabizing prices as well as
wages" said But Mrs. John @. has to pay twice
much for our grub as she did before. Have you
helped Roosevelt and the OPA to roll back living
costs to that September level you voted for?"
We'll. voted to cut OPA's funds for enforcing
price control; to forbid grade labelling to guard
Mrs. John O. against paying higher prices for in
ferior goods; and to turn over OPA administra-
ton to interested businessmen who love high prices
and high profits.
II also fought to the last ditch against food price
subsidies-which the only means to roll back
living costs without skinning the farmer and the
little businessman"
$50 you voted for higher living costs and infla-
tion,' said.
mo :. :" the Congressman began, but as his
voice started to fade again. he stopped and meekly
answered, EYES,"
"As union man." said, 1--WE taken no-strike
pledge and my unions doing everything it can to
boost war production What have you done to help
us?"
II voted for the Smith Connally act" the Con-
gresham replied ito provide procedures for call
ing strikes, to encourage employers to provoke
stoppages for union-busting purposes and generally
TO hamstring your union in its work."
"One final question, Congressman. What have
you done to promote national unity behind our
Commanderin-Chief for victory?"
II centered my fight on FDR and American labor.
voted for the Dies Smith and Cox committees, to
snipe at the administration and hamper its work.
opposed every FDR proposal for Strengthening the
home front. And I voted for all the labor-baitng
bills.
Nov what do you think Of my record, John O."
mo wonder you choked when you talked of help
Ing to win the war;" replied. sEHAsanf..