Milford chronicle., 1952-02-29
Fire Million y. S.
Aides Is Williams Plea
Continued from page 19)

Senator Williams says have already
cost the American taxpayer more
than 100000, 900.
Senator Williams also commented
ON statements by President Truman
that the country is now stronger
economically than it ever has been
before He termed these statements |
as the usual slick statistical an
swer for a cheaper dollar" The
senior Delaware senator placed
two chief causes for, what he call
ed, 1.-The dangerous condition OF
runaway imitation" He listed them
as first, the policy adopted early
in the New Deal administration
taking away from the people the
right to redeem their currency IN
gold, which hitherto acted as a
brake upon extravagant govern
ment spending; and second, the
tremendous increase in our huge
national debt, which expanded
from some $4,000, 100000 in 1882
to $3.50. 900, 100000 today, or repre-
senting a mortgage uDOn every
American family of some $1,000.
While doing this, it had at the same
time the effect of lowering the val
tie of money because Of the huge
increase in it's quantity, which
means imitation"
Senator Williams pointed out
that for Congress to raise enough
taxes to meet the proposed budget,
it would have to levy 1000 income
taxes on all taxable income of $4,-
900 and over. He said that it is
time to scotch the absurdity" of
soaking the rich. He said in this
connection, IF the Congress should
cOnfiscate all taxable income over
100000 by imposing a 1O090 tax
on such income, the additional rev.
enue would only amount to some
$4,000, just enough to
operate the federal government
four hours. Likewise, the cOnfiscat-
ing of all taxable income over 49,
900 would yield only an additional
$4,000, 900, ,0G0-Or just enough to
run the government for % days.
The presidents organization plan
for the Treasury Department was
also discussed. Senator Williams
explained that while he was sup
porting the plan. he feels that put
ting tax collectors and other en-
ployes under Civil Service will not
of necessity be a cure in itself tC
corruption. He said, "We cannot
expect too much improvement il
the Bureau of Internal Revenue un-
til the Department posts are filled
not on the ability of the men to gel
votes or please some pOlitica
bosses, but rather on basis o
merit after a vigorous inquiry into
the loyalty, character and integrit!
of applicants"
Senator Williams spoke abOu
the reasons for corruption in thu
tax collection set-up when he said
'In 1910, the number of taxpayer
in this country was about five anC
One-half million. In 1850 the mum
ber amounted to 55 million. That il
an increase of ten times the mum
ber in ten years, and the VOlum,
of tax collections also had increas
ed prOpOrtiOnately during this peri
cd, and the number of employees to
day is $1,000. This mushroom
growth of the bureau in the amour
of taxes collected. the number O
taxpayers and the number of EN-
plOyes has made a fertile field 70
the growth of graft and corruption
especially in the field, of admins
tratiOn supervised by the 64 col
lectors, who were not selected es
pecially because of their exDerienc
and proven ability in this field. bu
because of their political affilia
tiOns."