Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-05-27

profit cultural organizations have
lever paid a tax to the Govern
Iment. They have simply acted as
agent for collecting and turning
lover to the Government the tax
the people have paid. When the
tax is removed, the people will not
benefit. They will pay the same
amount as heretofore.
Now, what the people pay out
for musical entertainment or cul-
ture, is an important item. Were
the tickets to be reduced by the
amount of the tax. more concerts
could be attended. The citizens
of q community contribute as
much as they are able in the
annual drives, or In other ways,
and under the proposed bill. their
contributions would be augmented
I20 per cent without their consent.
Knowing that 60 cents on each
$3.50 ticket goes to the Govern
ment for the pressing needs of
the present world situation is one
thing. knowing that it goes to
Ia group without relieving the
payer is another.
Taxation is a burden to every
one. but a burden assumed with
more or less agreement as to its
need. The abolition Of a tax on
musical events would be welcomed
by all who buy tickets as one bit
of help in adjusting the budget for
cultural events. To those who are
in the habit Of attending perhaps
80 such events in season, with
another member Of the family or
friend, it would mean q saving of
1886. Other expenses on a trip to
a concert, for example, run the
amount up considerably.
Need Equal Consideration,
1t will not be much use to keep
on giving opera and concerts
if the public attendance dwindles.
It will not profit the exempted
groups If the general ticket sale
diminishes. The two groups-those
presenting a musical event, and
those who make up the audience
are SO tightly interviewer that
one could not exist without the
other. They are interdepend-
ent. It seems only fair. there
fore. that both parties of this
cultural venture. should be given
equal consideration. II the scale
of living for all people were not
so expensive. then they might be
asked to contribute 60 cents on
every top-priced ticket to the sup
port Of an association. As 1t IS,
the cost is exorbitant. the taxes
many and high. and the amount
left over for cultivation Of the cul-
tural things very small.
This country has grown so cul-
turally minded in recent years,
that the people would be only too
willing to see that its progress
continued. il they had the money.
Since. they are generous and civic
proud. they should have a break
in these trying times. as well AS
the non-prof1t organizations. It
is not said at all that attendance
will grow at musical events with.
the tax remaining for them to-
Ipay but the associations to re-
ceive. A reduction for them
would make it possible to hear
more music and give them a lift
in the pursuit Of culture. And in
the long run, all musical. non
profit organizations derive their
support from the people.
The bill should have a two-way
action. 1t should also take into
consideration those other organi-
cations not strictly non-proflt,
who nevertheless provide con-
siderable amount Of culture to
the country. One of the sad
things about music is that f.
nancial controversy is nearly al
ways associated with it. More
progress would accrue if some one
devised some means by which all
cultural things would be less ex-
pensive to the ones who want
them and are willing to pay for
lthem-the people.