Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1949-11-24
An Unfair Levy

more interested in me and mine
than in Smith, Jones and Brown
and theirs. i am interested in Sc
curity for me and mine, in saving
where that is possible, in meeting
our commodity needs at the lowest
findable prices, quality considered.
When I need a hammer, saw,
screw driver, pocket knife or any
other tool l do not want to pay
more for it than is necessary. l
know that whatever / buy the
price must cover all the costs of
production, and included in that
cost are the taxes both the manu-
facturer and the merchant has
paid.
1t makes no difference who
has levied the tax, whether it
be the federal government,
the state, county, municipality
or labor union. 1t is all a part
of the cost of commodities,
just as labor and material are,
and portion is added to the
price must pay for the COM
modities l buy.
am much opposed to having to
provide security for members of
organized labor, who will not as
sist in providing for themselves.
That is just what / am forced to
do when l buy commodities pro-
duced by concerns that pay taxes
levied by labor unions, that those
unions may provide pensions for
their members.
am not farmer, but II l
were and needed tractor, 1
would realize that, because Of
the taxes levied by unions
against the producer of the
tractor and Of the material
used in its production, the
price would be $50 more. That
would represent my contribu-
ton to pensions for members
Of labor unions who would not
pay in whole or in part for the
security they demanded.
That is what meeting the de-
mands of labor leaders for funds
to pay pensions to their members
means to me and to you, to all
who buy commodities. The con-
sumers of America must pay those
taxes.
Many of us are paying one half
Of the payroll taxes to provide for
social security pensions. The other
half, paid ostensibly by those for
whom we work, is in reality added
to the cost of production, and we
as consumers also pay that half
indirectly. 1t is government that
levies the social security taxes
and the beneficiaries are those who
work. 1t is not confined to a mi
nority to be doled out by labor
leaders to those in good standing
in the unions. The members of the
unions are not contributors to the
funds the leaders distribute.
Such a method is unfair to
the consumers. 1t Is un-Ameri-
can. 1t is tax for the benefit
Of minority, levied by the
leaders Of that minority. Mem
bers Of the labor unions are q
portion of those covered by
social security. If they want
more welfare and pensions,
they should pay at least a part
of what 1t costs. am suf-
ficiently selfish to object to
: paying for them. / prefer thnA
my pennies, dimes and 40.
cen!-doliars provide welfare
and pensions for myself and
my family.
! Should these labor union de-
mands for welfare and pensions
spread to all industries, and it
win unless halted by congress, it
will mean tax totaling billions
each year, all of it to be paid by
the consumers for the benefit of a
minority. 1t will be included in the
price of every commodity we buy,
whether it be food, clothing, fuel,
homes, every necessity and every
luxury.
In World War I the man most
heard of, but least known, in the
Wilson administration was Col.
E. M. House. 1t seems he did not
achieve a place in history. as he
is no longer mentioned. In World
War II, the Col. House of the Roose-
welt administration was Harry Hop
kins. AS Col. House stayed in the
shadows, Hopkins played to the
spotlight. The name of Hopkins is
gradually disappearing from the
public prints. Possibly he too may
have failed place in history. How
easy it is for US to forget.
The only people frightened by the
Presidents delayed notice Of a
Russian A-bomb were the mem.
bers of congress. Possibly that was
all he had wished to brighten.
Fifty years ago the POLITICAL
ly astute Mark Hanna elected
william Mckinley to the presi-
dency on the issue Of a high
protective tariff, with a 'full
dinner pail" for the workers
as a slogan. Today nrotact.va