Evening star., 1950-02-26
Music
News
7ox-Free Concert
Tickets Considered
By Alice Eversmon

By Alice Eversmon
Meetings are now being held
before the House Ways and Means
Committee to consider the aboli-
tion OF the Federal tax on admis-
sions to public presentations of
various kinds. The step to have
some definite ruling on this SUBJ
5ect was taken when it was found
that President Truman did not
mention the matter when advocat-
ing the lifting of the excise tax.
1t is a serious enough situation
to warrant the representation of
the Metropolitan Opera, the board
OF the New York Philharmonic
and more than 20 other major
orchestras as well as concert man
ayers such as Patrick Hayes at the
hearing.
1t concerns very vitally the con-
dltion of the National Symphony
whose sustaining fund drive has
not yet been completed satisfac-
torily. The point stressed in par
ticular by Mr.. Hayes is agreed
upon by all. He said, in q state
ment: To-day the market for
music, theater and live entertain
ment in general has its economic
problems. There is buying resis-
tance. Prices are too high for
many people. This means that
a 20 per cent tax on top of the
price which music and theater
management must charge for q
ticket to avoid a loss-puts the
cost beyond the reach of many
who would like to attend such
events more often. An increase
in the number of vacant seats at
concerts and shows proves this
point"
National Symphony View.
In its statement, the National
symphony Orchestra Association
says, in reference to its deficit
last year: "A contributing factor
IN the accumulation of this deficit
was the demand OF the Federal
Government to pay the still
effective wartime Federal admis-
sions tax amounting, in the fiscal
year of 1859, to s34,485.21
based on the sale of tickets in
Washington and Baltimore" This
statement is misleading. The
Symphony Association does not
pay the tax; it is the individual
who buys a ticket. The associa-
tion serves only as a collector
The idea, however, that many or
CARNATIONS have in view, as ex.
pressed by Howard Taubman in
the New York Times of Febru-
ary 8, is that "these musical or
CARNATIONS feel that they could
continue to charge the same over
all rate. Thus they would be
able to keep the money turned
over to the Government and
these sums, it was said, would
come close to balancing most
budgets, now in the red"
The clear implication is that
these groups are being deprived
of a revenue equivalent to the
amount of the 20 per cent tax.
They seem to feel that removal
of the tax will justify them in
increasing prices to equal the
amount Of the present ticket cost
plus tax. This presupposes that
patrons would willingly pay the
increased price. When the Com
merce Department first asked for
a repeal of the excise tax, it was
by a consciousness of
the buying resistance" of which
Mr.. Hayes speaks, and its objec-
tive was to stimulate trade and
attract patrons. L
Less Tax, More Patrons.
The orchestra associations are
not on safe ground in asking. for
elimination of the admission tax
In order to enable them to charge
higher admission fees. But they
are on good ground in asking
that the tax on the public he
repealed as a means of incre ~
ing attendance. The questio.- of
the vacant seats still remains. The
taking off of the tax might help
to remedy the situation but the
fact is evident that in order ol
revive dwindling audiences, gen.
eral lowering of admission prices
must be adopted.
Most thoughtful people appre-
ciate the plight of the orchestra
associations. different from that
Of other groups, due to increasing
costs in operation and the dollars
present depreciation in purchasing
value. None know it so well as
those interested in the life of the
National Symphony. The entire
country will be behind the move
ment to abolish the wartime tax
which was considered just at the
time. It's repeal was promised
within a year of the conclusion of
the war. All entertainment and
cultural activities have felt the
burden. Its imposition, as Mr..
Hayes says, on something that
is accepted as part of our daily,
American life, not to be classed
as luxury, not to be discouraged
even in wartime, let alone in
peacetime, is unjust"
Toast to the Flag" a poem by
John Jay Daily, set to music by
Anita Schade. will be heard dur
ing the coming sesquicentennial
celebrations.
Werren r. Johnson, orsoni.t,
Church Of the Pilgrims