Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-10-23
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook
PegIer

no YOU realize that the
~ bosses of the labor unions
have a right, under the decisions
of the New Deal Supreme
Court, TO collect a sales tax on
your food. your clothing, your
fuel for your home, your laun-
dry bill and every other article
you buy or service you employ
such as bus and taXicab fares
and your daily rides up and
down in the elevator TO and
from your office?
| wish those who are men,
bers Of unions would pay par
ticular attention because some
of them think anything written
against any union practice is
anti-labor and ] mean 10 show
that their loyalty TO the cause
of unionism is being exploited
by union political bosses who
are their worst enemies.
THE simplest illustration is
L the case OF Jimmy Petrillos
American Federation of Musi-
clans. This union is a racket
and. under its constitution.
Jimmy has all the powers, short
of the firing squad, that Mus
solini had because the censtitu-
ton leads off with provision
that he may suspend all or any
part of il at his own sweet
pleasure and substitute any
whlm of his own.
Jimmy has set out 10 collect
a sales tax from the manufac-
turers on every single phono-
graph record produced for use
in your home or in the. juke box
down at the tavern.
The idea is that if a man
fiddles a tune once and is paid
for that little job of work. then
he is deprived Of a certain
amount Of further employment
every time the recording is
played.
You might As well say that it
is wrong 10 use a milk bottle
twice or that you shouldn't be
allowed 10 use an automobile
beyond a certain mileage with
out paying a tax 10 the United
Auto Workers Of the Go.
4 NYWAY, this right 10 tax a
"A commodity has here been
recognized and the most that
President Roosevelt has been
willing 10 do is 10 plead with
Jimmy TO be reasonable.
But Jimmy is reasonable.
He is taking advantage of his
legal rights, conferred on him
by the Roosevelt government
and the New Deal supreme
court and no reasonable person
can criticize a man for asserting
his rights under the law
Jimmy says he is going 10 use
the money 10 support unem-
ployed musicians.
But the law doesn't compel
him TO do so and the fact is
that he is not doing SO and
won't.
Until he decides that he has
enough money in hand he -
tends 10 build up the treasury
which has four million dollars
even now.
THEIR taxing power here is
i higher than that OF the gov
eminent, itself. and moreover,
IT takes priority over the gov
ernment's taxing power And.
still moreover. none of these
treasures is taxable by the gov
eminent.
How much revenue does this
offer the unions? II runs up
into billions. Why even the in
come taxing power right now.
on the basis of forty million
ployed workers. at the
modest rate of $50 a year per
member. assuming that they all
are compelled 10 join as the
Roosevelt government desires,
amounts to two billion a year,
all immune from any account
ing. subject 10 no tax and. as
far as the law is concerned, all
at the free, personal disposal Of
the union bosses.
That was how old Dan Tobin's
executive gang in the transfers
union were able 10 tap the till
for 100000 TO buy him a win
ter palace in Florida for the
conservation of his precious
health.
Copyright, ie44 by United Features. syni.