The Omaha guide., 1945-10-20
Program Urged by
AKA Council
ASK CONGRESS TO ADOPT
SUCH A MEASURE

WASHINGTON. October 81 The
National Non-Partisan Council On
Public Affairs of Alpha Kappa AL
pha Sorority urged a more rroyres-
sive tax program in testimony be-
fore the Senate Finance Committee
this week.
Mrs. Thomasina w. Johnson. Leg
islative Representative, appearing
before the Committee pointed that
the Rconvrsion Tax Program pass
ed last week by the House fails to
provide relief where it is critically
needed while giving Unnecessary
winfalls to the most prosperous cor
porations.
The Council carried the full
weight Of its membership in sup
port of a Reconversion Tax Pro
gram ACCORDING TO ONES a.
BILITY TO PAY. Mrs. Johnson
also pointed out that this would
provide the Government with ade-
quate revenue for its demobilizat-
A1A' - VS. al LtA a. DIO=
gram Will boost purchasing power
as well as contest pressure result
ing from mass lay-offs and the re-
turn Of discharged veterans.
In the Councils analysis Of The
Tax Program passed by the House
Of Representatives it is shown that
Negroes, the majority Of whom con
stitute the low and middle income
groups, will benefit least from the
proposed plan Of retaining sub
standard personal exemptions;
granting only meager relief to the
low and middle income groups.
The Council further stated that
the prime objective Of reconversion
tax legislation should be to sustain
mass purchasing power assist the
small business; and grant relief
where the need is greatest, SO as to
minimize hardship and speed nj
orderly transition to an era of full
employment and high level capac-
ity production. In order to do this
the AKA Non-PartiSan Council de
ldI Sdf Lldl pIONlSlOilS onOQlu DG
made so that ALL INCOMES and
especially those Of individuals and
corporations hat have been drast-
ically cut by the impact Of recon
version might benefit from a reas-
enable carry-over and carry-back
personal exemption plan; so that
veterans might be relieved of past
tax debts for a reasonable period of
time prior to his discharge; 50 that
excise taxes which are only justi-
fable as wartime emergency meas
ures might be rduced or abolished
on items Of mass consumption such
as movie tickets, inexpensive toilet
articles, cosmetics, leather goods,
and .he like; ana so that the auto
mobile use tax might be eliminated
Further. provisions should be made
so that substantial tax relief might
be given small businesses in order
that they might be speedily recon
verted and new enterprises
aged. 1t is our belief, the Alpha
Kappa Alpha women stated, that
III OTd61 ~ ulD lnlldllOhdIJ SPCC-
ulation in securities. real estate and
farm land. that the holding period
for long-term capital assets ought
to be extended and that profits
realized from the sale or exchange
of capital assets held for less than
a reasonable number Of months
should be taxed as ordinary in
come.
The AKA Non-Partisan Council
urged tina the Senate revise the
Tax proposals Of the House on the
basis Of TAXATION ACCORDING
TO ONES ABILITY TO PAY
which will give relief where it Il
needed most, increase the Nations
purchasing power. speed up the
pace Of reconversion and pave the
way to FULL EMPLOYMENT and
general prosperity during the post
war period; while at the same time
providing adequate revenue for the
Government.
In discussing the Councils inter-
est in the new tax program. Mrs.
STATED tnat Ttne Ileld o.
taxation is perhaps the one field Of
the Federal Government that invol-
ves every Negro in America and
that this is one Of the phases COM
monty overlooked in presenting our
point Of view. 1t il rue we shall
no doubt always be sure Of death
and taxes but whether or not we
pay taxes according to our ability
to pay can be made our ability to
pay can be made our policy. There
il no longer DON in America for a