Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-03-22
Time for
Plain Talk
By
Tom Burke
Vice,President
Local II,
UAW,CIO


plea, "Now listen, Burke,
don't blow your top. We know
you're getting lousy deal but
be a gentleman for once in
your life and stay on even
keel"
Now, I ask you, how long
does a guy have to stand still
when newspapers all over the
country are republishing a lie
that started in the newspapers
in Toledo. The Blade in an
editorial last week stated that
/ introduced the payroll tax in
Council. Until this appeared /
was under the impression that
the code of ethics of the news
paper profession banned false
hoods from both editorial and
news columns. I have always
realized, of course, that the
public press has full license to
place whatever Interpretation
it sees fit editorially on the
truth.'
Editorials are an expression
of opinion. Therefore, the
person whose opinion they ex-
press has a right of free ex-
preston. Every right carries
a responsibility and if I un-
derstand, as a layman, the
ethics of newspaperdom, truth
is a responsibility.
THE TRUTH
I want to say here and now
that / did not introduce the
payroll tax ordinance in City
Council. A casual reading of
the Toledo City Journal, the
official publication of the city,
will disclose this statement as
the real truth. l introduced a
resolution calling for a COM
mittee to be set up to make a
complete study and report by
July 1, 1946, on a program of
complete revision of the city's
taxation system.
This last statement is the
exact truth and any statement
to the contrary is a malicious
and deliberate lie. The pur-
pose of the lie can only be
given by those who tell it.
Further proof, if you need
it. is contained in these state
ments made publicly by vari-
Gus people.
Mayor Roulet on the day
the payroll tax ordinance was
passed in Council said that al
though he felt the plan l ad-
vanced was a good one, it was
not the answer and that the
payroll tax provided the
answer. The mayor made a
distinction between the pay
roll tax and my resolution
Vice-Mayor Disable, adj
dressing a meeting of the
League of Women Voters, said
that the Burke plan was weak
and ineffective and council
had to accept the payroll tax
instead. Mr.. Disable also made
a distinction.
Some of the councilmen
have said that if exemptions
were provided in the payroll
tax, it would result in a step
in the direction of the Burke
plan but 1t would take several
years for full accomplishment.
They also made a distinction.
OPINION
The city's need for revenue
Is always a matter of opinion.
Anyone's opinion is as good as
mine on this score. Revenue
needs must always be deter
mined by what the citizens
want out of their community
in the way of services for good
living. l have heard all sorts
of opinions expressed, ranging
all the way from forcing the
city to live within present in
come to the elimination of a
dream such as Toledo To-
morrow"
Certainly the way the people
have voted in this town would
indicate that they want the
city to live within its present
income. If that's the case,
screwball as it may sound,
they are willing to accept the
kind of town that goes with
that condition.
/ believe, always have and
still do, that this is not neces-
sary. / read into the vote on
the financial issues last Nov
ember that the citizens want
a truly great town and are
willing to pay for 1t. They are
to our present system
of taxation because it is no
longer based on the ability
to- pay.
Individuals may grippe about
their tax, but deep down they
know that comfortable homes,
protection of their life and
property, and their opportu-
nifty for full employment and
steady income must be paid
Tor just as the car they drive,
heir home nr tho rAfrioor