Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-01-11
Lobor Continues Fight
Aqoinsf Payroll Tax

alton, but that 1t was his belief
that it should be based upon the
ability to pay.
He said that there were many
in Toledo who could not afford
to pay the l per cent tax and
pointed out that there were al
ready a large number of people
forced to turn to the Community
Chest because of their need.
Pointing out that the proposed
utility tax has not been heard
of since the exemption was
brought up, the UAW head said
that an exemption must be
granted under the ] per cent
payroll tax and said that $500
was the figure he advanced.
Blames G Of G
Again turning to the fact that
Toledo has not experienced
growth in the past years, he said,
"Blame the Chamber of Com
merce for keeping industry out.
of town. They did this in order
to keep a surplus of labor in
order to hold down wages"
Expressing his opposition to
passing the payroll tax ordinance
for five years, Mr.. Gosser said,
that's another Of those fast
little things" He pointed out
that after the tax levies were de-
feated in the November election
that Council had come along
with its tax plan and demanded
that the issue be made the sub
iect of approval or disapproval
by the voters in the coming
election.
Shooting The Moon
If the city's financial condi-
ton is so dire that the tax must
be passed and Council passes it.,
they should be willing to let the
people vote on the issue in
stead of shooting for the moon,
he said.
Taxation, said the UAW di-
rector, should be applied so that
people can afford to pay it and
pointed out that other cities
/ throughout the United States,
with the exception of Philadel-
phia have not passed such tax.
Council tells us" he said, that
/ if we can't have this tax were
whipped. What are the rest OF
the cities Of America doing?
Seeks Tax Exemptions
Exemptions should be based
upon the circumstances sur
rounding the taxpayer, accord
/ ing to the UAW head. A person
with children should not be re-
auired TO pay the same tax
as one with fewer children or
none at all on identical incomes.
Concluding his talk, Mr.. Cos
ser said, IF they don't give con-
sideration and the right TO vote
on this, | pledge the people that
/ III get 10000 signatures and put
the question on the ballot"
GOsser Invites Questions
In the question and answer
period INDUCED in by the prin-
cipals, Mr.. Gosser laughingly
invited the members of City
Council to ask him questions,
"Its their turn now" None took
advantage of the opportunity
save Councilman Tom Burke
who explained the tax in New
York and Indiana
/ Mr.. Gregg stated that the tax
on corporations net profit would
/ be disappointing and said that
it would probably amount to
only S225,000 annually.
When asked what he had to
offer in place OF the proposed
tax, Mr.. Gosser said, That's S
! Councils responsibility. That's
what we elected them for"
Favor Tax Exemptions
At the conclusion OF the ques-
ton and answer period. Dean
Searles, who acted as moderator
OF the meeting, said that he was
going TO exercise his prerogative
and ask several questions to de
termine the opinion OF the large
audience present for the debate.
The questions which Dean
Searles asked were:
/. Do you favor more revenue
for the city?
2. Are you in favor OF real
estate taxes to raise the money?
3. Do you favor the payroll
tax now being considered by
Council?
4. Do you favor the payroll
tax with exemptions?
Practically all hands went up
when the first question was
asked; three or four for the sec
ond question; three or four for
the third, and the vast majority
on the fourth question.
Legal aspects of the tax ordi-
nance and legal questions arisr
ing as result OF the debate
were explained by j. Slater Glib
son, first assistant law director