Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1951-02-09
Think II Over
Tax Proposals Unjust
Workers To Bear Brunt
OF New Levies
by PETE ZVARA

IeHE NEW TAX proposals submitted to the Con.
gress by Treasury Secretary John w. Snyder
few days ago would lay the heaviest burden the
shoulders of the working people This was admitted
in practically many words by Secretary Snyder
when he said that he is asking the American tax
payer to bear of the heaviest burdens i'm
history" According to Secretary Snyder's proposals
the additional tax would amount to $4 600 600 900
individual incomes So 600 600 900 higher corpora
ton taxes and So 900 in federal excise levies
In reality however, the vast bulk of this entire
tax burden would ultimately out of the incomes
OF the consuming public since it is well known that
most corporation taxes are passed on to the buyers.
Certainly there is no question as to where the
else taxes from These taxes that people pay
such items automobiles, radios, televSlOn sets,
cigarettes, gasoline, distilled spirits wine beer and
host of other similar items-an of them consumed
in the main by the lower income groups.
TRUE ENOUGH, the proposals suggest in
IL crease in corporation taxes of So 900 900 600.
This would indicate that the huge profits of corpora
tons would be hit also Unfortunately, however this
is very unlikely. During past years have seen
apparently steep taxes In 1885, for example despite
the relatively high corporation taxes, corporate
profits-net, after taxes-rose to the phenomenal
peak of $24.5 billion. Never in all history have
seen net corporate profits rise to this dizzy height.
But the years before 1850 were also pretty much
the same. Corporate profits skyrocketed right after
1945 when World War III to end and the
government lifted the excess profits tax law. 1t
to u.s. therefore, that corporations will again
find ways and means to have the consuming public
mostly workers, farmers and middle class people
foot the extra bill in the form of higher prices.
0F COURSE these proposals are not yet the law
" of the land. The members of the Congress
still be influenced to Enthusiastically so-the pro-
posals made by Secretary Snyder. There is absO-
1utey justification to permit the continuance Of
the huge corporate profits that have seen since
1945 The main income for national defense should
come from these profits. And it will come from
that if the people of America bear sufficient
pressure the Congress to make these evies
We say proper" because it seems to us that taxes
should be based the principle of ability to pay"
Surely corporations pay much sleeper tax than
i'm the past Furthermore, if are to do any sacri-
ficing and apparently everyone is for sacrificing
corporate business should not complain too much.
Actually the full $40 billion out of cor
pOrate profits in the form of excess profits tax,
these corporations would still have at the 1850
levels levels of business net profit of $145 billion
left And that amt bad. is, in fact percentage
return undreamed i'm the years before 1945 and
ciaIIy during the late thrties when business cOndi
tions approaching what is usually referred to
as normal" 1874
Anyway, if you interested in this vital prob
Iem-and you should be since it means literally
bread and butter-you might get in touch with your
congressman your senator's and the President and
let them know how you feel.