The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-02-02
Taxation


bill increasing taxes stores introduced
the legislature by Hogan who in the 1913 session estab
shed unenvabe record reaconary and obvious ooge
of the special interests should be given careful
the legislature similar have
been introduced by wemeanng liberals 1t is quite possible
that Horrigan who chairman appropriations commit
tee the 943 session was so aw that he even
uraconsrvave members of his party who served with
him. has introduced present so that he may
something to which he he point with pride his
home folks
Since this measure is now before the assembly, let us
anayze it. In previous sessions crocodile tears have been
wept plight of the independent
participation in those nterudes
Before the advent of the chan stoes the independent
keep prices up the limit what bear
and while depore the drift toward monopoly inherent
IN the chain stores some savings to the have been
brought about by them by their lower prices made possible
by large purchases and other features of efficient merchan
dsing methods.
merchant the chain store taxes the business
done The Them always have and will
tnue to do until the present tax system completely
vamped that taxes business computed AFTER net
income instead of BEFORE in other words when cannot
be deducted before income computed Even then there
will be large enough oophoe unless margins of profit which
be egitimaey exacted by the distributor definitely
fixed And that, of something that will not work
under profit SYSTEM might destroy that dearly cherished
system of exploitation
Consider for moment what section of the population
will then pay the bulk of might
levied chain stores for that matter dis
tbutng necessities of life Everyone agreed believe that
that chain the independent merchants would be
Starved OUT in short order if compelled to exist the
citizenry will do their buying market
the proprietor of which catering specially that trade by
maintaining "swanky" place The average independent
merchant and the chain store depends for business
'ho POLLOK; the great of the people whom the
saving of few cents than swank surroundings
when buying their necessities
1t that any special tax levied any distrib
uto of the necessities of e inevitably works pretty much
the additional sales tax Moreover it may safely
be assumed believe that the will this adj
dona tax but probably several times during
the tax year period The distributor he most
scrupuou estimating the additional costs to him in the in
creased taxation could only arrive at approximate amount
add to each item of merchandise and certainly could
him for playing SAFE and adding plenty And the
INSCRIPTIONS would make effort make of it,
additional source of increased profits.
The other side of the picture carries of the
ment for taxation to the limit of business which carries
within it the seeds of monopoly Perhaps the additional
den imposed the general public by the imposition of such
taxes in the long be considered good investment
by it, in the preservation of what speak ree
prise which, unfortunately often takes the of
dom to exploit to the limit this same public G
Perhaps this writer is placing himself in anomalous
position in appearing to against increasing the taxes
chain In Justification let be said that he holds
brief for particular feature of the dizzy pat
terms of the system called capitalism price profit system
He believes in and will continue fight for the goal of the
cooperative movement when the people will
ro the of production and distribution of all of the
essites and luxuries if such there be, Of life.
And he screwbal. But screwball enough to n
advocate additional burdens himself h