Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-05-31
LOBBY
PROPOSES $50 INCOME
TAX LIMIT

" ~ AS ~ SAOAiO4AA1S
system is put out in such a way as
to deceive our people. 1t is pro-
posed by this millionaire lobby to
amend the Constitution of the
United States so that all income
taxes will be limited to 25 e cent.
Let us take someone in what we
| will call "the Henry Ford Bracket"
That is, someone in the million dol
lar a year income class. On this in
! come, he would pay now about
100000 in taxes, leaving him
about $500, 900 a year to live on.
Under such an amendment as pro-
posed by the millionaire lobby,
those in the million dollar bracket
could not be taxed more than $780,
900. This would leave him the tidy
| sum Of $750,000 to live on.
Now let us take a dive into the
income range of about 100000. AT
the present time, the fortunate re-
ceiver of such an income has, after
paying taxes, between $25, 600 and
$4,000 left to live on. If the mil
~lionaire amendment should go
through, he would have $45, 900 a
year left.
Now let lis take the case of Sam
Jones, a worker, who now pays
SITS in taxes on $4,000 a year earn
ings. Under the proposed amend
ment, he could have his tax boosted
to $500, which would be Just Is
per cent OR his income. Don't fool
yourself that there is no danger of
that taking place. All of you in the
lower income brackets know that
you have had your taxes boosted.
Sixteen States have Passed
Resolutions
Maybe you think that there is no
danger of this conspiracy succeed
ing. Don't fool yourself. Already
sixteen states have passed resolu-
tons demanding such a constitu-
tional amendment. Only the mil
lionaire Governor Edge of New
Jersey signed such a resolution pas
sed by the state legislature.
Don't forget that 80 states can
compel Congress to call a Constitu-
tional Convention to act on an
amendment. Above everything else,
don't forget that such an amend
ment would destroy what is now
to be the basic principle
of levying taxes according to ''abil-
ity to pay"
Let us e what would happen if
the amendment adopted. The
first thing would be that the tax on
big incomes would be decreased.
The next thing would be a decline
in the total federal income. This
would inevitably mean that the
taxes on the lower and middle in
come brackets would have to be
increased heavily. This increase, of
course, would come upon those
having from $4,000 to 5000 a year
income and, in some cases, on those
having less than $4,000 a year.
1t is peculiar significance that
OF the groups proposing and
backing this attempt to put the
burden of taxes on those who are
least able to bear them, is the no.
torious committee for the rich -
the Committee for Constitutional
Government-which is headed by
the millionaire publisher, Frank
Gannett.
Two hundred and fifty thousand
circulars have so far been distribut-
by this committee, which signi-
flcantly enjoys the support of the
Hearst press, is endorsed by some
Tory members of Congress and,
even Q significantly, by many
ex-America Firsters who would
have left this nation naked to the
organized thugs of Europe and ia
pan had they been able to have
their way in controlling the policies
of the government.
1t is also very significant that the
general press has largely ignored
this attempt to relieve the rich and
put the burden of taxation on the !
great producing mass of the people.
That explains the reason why the
average citizen does not know that
this sinister plan is we'll on its way. |
Just n newspaper in the East
ern States, the Philadelphia Record,
gave much space to revealing this
conspiracy. The reason for this is
not hard to find. The millionaire
publishers are just as anxious as
the millionaire financiers and in
dustrialists to put the burden of
taxation on those who are least
able to bear it.-C. w. E. in The
a Ixyopoo !