Detroit evening times., 1945-03-16
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrooky
PeglerI

IC0l0lL
CONTRARY TO the tenor OF
" many shrill cries OF alarm
there is nothing new or uncon-
ventional in the demand OF John
l.. Lewis for a royalty OF 10
cents a ton or $50, 100000 q
year, payable, not TO the indi-
viduai coal miners but 10 the
treasury of their totalitarian
union.
Neither was the idea original
with Jimmy Petrillo, when, re-
Gently, in rowdy contempt for
the War Labor Board and
President Roosevelt, he insisted
on a sales tax on recorded mu-
sic which he expects to yield
about $4,000 900 a year, not 10
the musicians, but TO his
treasury.
The precedent exists far back
in union practice. notably in the
needle trades whose rulers are
staunch New Dealers. and in
certain local butchers unions
which sell tags 10 be affixed tn
chickens killed under union con-
ditions.
TIIE basic principle of the
Il case. the right of unions 10
collect sales taxes on conmodi-
ties payable, i'm the long fuR, by
the consumer, has long been
established, probably without
the knowledge of the people.
Whether this tax accrues 10
the individual who does the
work. is shared by all members
OF a union or flows into fund
inaccessible TO them, is a second
ary matter, loaded however,
with its own fascinating por-
tents.
These rights, or assumptions.
existed in small way and in,
desultory and imperceptihf
practice before the New Dea..
Since the New Deal began,
however, they have been con.
firmed by recognition.
Lewis demand is in the pub
lie interest because il. presents
in shocking enormity the power
OF private organiZa tons. subject
10 no income taxes and exempt
even from the obligation 10 file
reports of their income. 10 tax
all the people, each in its own
interest.
Now the people have no ex-
cuse TO remain unaware and II
they continue 10 submit. they
have only themselves 10 blame.
Possibly they want it that way.
DETRILLO expects 10 reap
L 100000 year 10 start,
but hopes, by extending his
sales tax 10 movie admissions.
TO run IL up TO $1,000 900 a year,
az least.
He says il is his intention n
hold the money until the fund
reaches Sl00000.0O0 and then
begin unemployment payments
10 musicians thrown out OF work
by the mechanization and repe-
t!tion Of music.
Assuming that this would
take ID years. many Of the dis
treSsed musicians will be dead
before their unemployment ben
efits are released, and granting
Petrillo's argument that most
OF them will be thrown out OF
Jobs very soon, IL follows that
most Of them will take up other
work and drop out Of Jimmy's
union.
Thus. by the time the $780,
600 900 is ready for distribution,
the membership might be down
10 no more than. say, 5000,
a possibility that surely has not
eluded men so shrewd and far
sighted as Petrillo and his coup
sci. Joe Padway, honored frieno
both, and devoted followers or
| Mr.. Roosevelt.
Or, under his constitution and
with the advice and counsel of
! Padway, he could exrel all the
surviving members and cut up
the money with Padway and
any others toward whom he
might feel generous.
His constitution permits him
/ IN do this and no law forbids
/ him.
! 4 T ANY rate, Petrillo's mere
"A Int tion' 10 use the
money for unemployment bene-
fits or cultural works in the
sweet bve and bye Is not legal
and binding.
II is just a momentarv idea.
subject TO change at his own
discretion. under the close and
curious structure Of his union.
So is the intention" of John
l.. Lewis 10 use his sales tax Of
$50. .000, 900 a year for modern
medical and surgical service,
disqualification. insurance. re-
habilitation and economic pro-
lection"
Lewis is strong and willful
and consummate politician az
| Franklin ID. Roosevelt has