The evening world. Newspaper, April 14, 1920, Page 20

HETHER bonus fegislation is enacted or not, it iy seems rather clear that Congress eventually intends to substitute a tax on sales for the present ~ Aniquitous excess profits taxes. _ Party sentiment plays only a minor role. But be- cause 1920 is a Presidential year it is highly probable that both parties will promise repeal of excess profits > taxes but will not impose the vexation of a sales tax until after election. But if.a large sum is appropriated for bonus pay- ments, then the excess profits tax probably will be continued for an indefinite period. The sales tax will be a new source of revenue. At present the House Ways and Means Committee fnclines toward a tax of one-half of 1 per cent. on all sales. \ This, we believe, is a mistaken policy. It is a characteristically political way of attempting to disguise a tax so that “it will not be felt.” Tax- payers will not be reminded of the tax every time they purchase. ‘In practice the tax will be added to the “overhead” for which the merchant allows. From experience the country has learned how a tax can grow in the hands of a thrifty profiteer who will not only collect the tax, but also a generous profit for himself on the tax. The tax on a 10-ent article would amount to one- ‘twentieth of 1 cent. Passed on to the purchaser, it would be felt in a 1-cent raise. Far better would it be to extend the method of the present luxury taxes to all, or nearly all, sales and re- quire the purofiaser to pay the tax direct, the retailer merely collecting for the Government. The very fact that a tax is felt is a desirable feature. Taxpayers then have a reason for keeping an eye on the economy in the conduct of business. The Gov- ernment in a direct tax gets all that the consumer pays, and the consumer knows it. This, very probably, is the reason that Congress prefers an indirect tax on sales rather than a direct tax. Congress does not like to feel that the country has 2 direct and active interest in the business of manage- ment. A BROADENED MARKET. EPRESSION of the Liberty Bond market is an encouraging symptom rather than the reverse. It follows the successful sale of a considerable issue of Pennsylvania Railroad securities. In fact, the suc- cess of .the Pennsylvania financing is probably in part "at least responsible for the lowering of the price of Liberty Bonds. i Liberty Bonds were advertised as the ment in the world.” - They were and they are, The fluctuation of the market does not in the slight- est affect their value as an investment. Only -the sellers suffer.’ Those who keep the bonds may be surg of regular interest, payment of principal and a gradual rise in the markets as the bonds approach maturity. At present rates Liberty Bonds are by just so much a more attractive investment than when floated. * The reason for the depreciation is that other choice tndustrial securities, such as the Pennsylvania has just Issued, reflect the general trend of price movements in the increased interest rate. Success of a railroad bond issue reflects the confi- dence of the public in railroad and industrial credit. The bond market is looking up. The predicted in- fluence of the campaign of investment education which floated the Liberty Loans seems to’ be material- izing in a permanently broadened market for safe bonds. ° safest invest- eae EXTENDING THE SPIRAL. I‘ Illinois last fall the State Attorney charged that the Amalgamated Clothing Workers’ Union had taken more than $500,000 from clothing manufac- turers in “fines” and “settlements,” Passed on to the public in the form of higher prices, the cost of engineered strikes can easily be- come a matter of small moment to either workers or employers. » In more than one case of late the strike has revealed itself as nothing more or less than a means of extor- tion acting through the employer to take more money out of the pockets of consumers, F But the strike, in such cases, has come to seem a clumsy method of attaining ends that could be reached with far greater smoothness. Once get the harassed employer into a state of mind in which he is willing to join with his employees in translating wage increases into higher prices without intermediate trouble or friction and the situation be- comes ideal. Bs at a ase q the prices h the shall sell his products, thereby casting the burden of wage increases directly upon the shoulders of the consumer. F A measure better calculated to make more perilous the dizzy spiral up whicn wages and the cost of living are now pushing each other, it would be difficult to conceive, The tuckless ‘consumer has been having a tard enough deal with labor and capital more or less at odds, What would become of him if they could legally league together to exploit him to the limit? Law bill, also before the Legislature. The Jatter makes unlawful any agreement or con- tract which provides that “those who furnish work, labor or service in this State incidental to or in con- nection with the production or manufacture in this State of any article or commodity, or of any article or product used in the conduct of trade, commerce or manufacture shall fix the price at which such article, commodity or product shall be sold by the producer | or manufacturer thereof.” Between these two measures the Legislature should not hesitate one hour. It should promptly pass the Law bill. The Carroll bill is a “last cry” in the fashion of false economics and recklessness which pass at present for prosperity. The State of New York seeks no such leadership. THE PUBLIC'S PART. HE outstanding feature of this railroad strike is the part the public is playing in it. | Nineteen commuters’ trains were bfought into New| York this morning by citizen volunteeers who turned | themselves into efficient firemen and trainmen, Former service men, students, business men and clerks have come forward by thousands in the last few days ready to give themselves and whatever rail- road experience they possess to the job of keeping the trains running. ‘These citizen trainmen are not strike-breakers. They have taken no sides in the conflict between the regu- lar railroad workers and the railroad managers, They are not out to get other men’s jobs. The sole purpose of the citizen volunteers is to keep wheels turning in order to reduce the suffering and losses brought upon an innocent public by the tie-up of an indispensable public utility. The moral effect of this citizen movement*has been great, : It has unquestionably exerted powerful influence in changing the attitude of the outlaw strikers and bring- Diametricalty opposed to the Carroll bill is thes 5 DY 9! RTA | | i x 3 Se ae tet ite, The tad ing them to the state of mind in which they are now ready to enter into ndgotiations wit. the brotherhoods they have defied. In this particular emergency the public has given a notable demonstration of what it can do for its own protection. Why shouldn’t future emergencies of the sort find the public even better prepared to look after its welfare > Up in Nyack, N. Y., three hundred citizen volunteers who have offered to lielp religve the present railroad tie-up propose to resolve themselves into a permanent organization that can be quickly mobilized for action in time of similar need, , ‘ a plan worth extending to all public service where volunteer citizens wit experience or quick train- ing could mitigate the disastrous consequences of strikes, Why not Public Welfare Leagues for just this purpose?” FEUDAL LANDLORDS. bay bec tel you I'can do what | want with my own property,” an irate landlord exclajmed after his case went against him, It is a typical expression of the opinion of a con- siderable class of landlords, but a woful mistake nevertheless. The new rent laws are not revolutionary, They impose new restrictions on landlords, but these are only extensions to a long list of old restrictions. Not since the times of the feudal barons have land- lords been allowed to “do what they want with their own property.” ‘ For example, a landlord is not permitted to burn down his house. That is arson, He is not permitted to maintain a public nuisance on his property. The law requires that he maintain it in safe and |sanitary condition if he intends to rent it.or even to live in it. He may not store explosives and combustibles, He may not build on more than a certain percent- age of the lot. A long step toward’ this millennium is provided in the Carroli bill now before the Legislature of the State * of New York. This bill would amend the anti-trust law of the State so as to exempt labor from the penalties im- posed upon those who agree, combine or conspire to restrain trade. \t would make it possible for employees to dictate one y He may not fail to build a sidewalk in front of his property. If he persists, the State may build the side- walk, assess the taxes and sell the property for taxes, \so’ depriving him of all title, | These are only a few of the more obvious restraints on the owners. The sooner these choleric and arro- gant landlords realize this and substitute constructive | Plans for their present abusive attitude, the better for them, | FROM EVENING WORLD READERS || What kind of letter do you find that gives you the worth of a t ‘hundred? There is fine mental éxercise and a lot of satisfaction in trying Take time to be brief. to say much in few words. Protest Execution of To the Kaitor of The Krening World: The undersigned protests against the execution by the State of a boy under age. J Jesee Walker, aged nineteen, sentenced to die April 25 in the elec- trie chair. “He has ‘been convicted of murder committed, in company with two men, a year ago. - © boy was eighteen years, old when the crime was committed. A boy of ebghteen is a’minor; he can- not dispose of property nor, marry. He cannot vote. In the eyes of. the Pd ad is a child, not a responsible adu He should not be held to full adult responsibility under the law. NEITH D. is To the Editor of The Brpning H When, I enlisted in the United States Army on July 10, 1917, I told the officers in charge that I was born in New York’ City. Recently I found out from my parents tha. I was brought to this country from Russia when I was a mere ‘infant. I have been honorably dischagged from the service and I would like to know whether my service in the army has made me a citizen of the United States, and if not, will I have to go through all the formalities that a foreigner who pas seen no WC ee has rough become a citizen. ae te M. L C..No, 35. [Editor's Note—If your father has ‘become a citizen no naturalization is required, If not, the naturalization process has been simplified for hon- orably discharged soldiers. For de- tails ste World AJmanac, page 481.) “Uncommon Sense.” To the Editor of The Evening World: If at any time the complete articles written by your wonderful Mr. Blake, entitled “Uncommon Sense,” should be printed in book farm, Kindly no- tify me at once as I am desirous of hasing. — LAWRENCE GOULDMAN. 1240 Franklin Avénue, Bronx, April 11, 1920, An Unfortunate Demand, To the Kalitor of The Evening World: I want you to know gratified by your editorial regarding the unfortunate demand upon the State Legislature and Con- gress now being made by the Amer- jean Legion for bonuses, or adjusted compensation, or more properly de- scribed, I think, pension payments to be made to all ex-service men with- out discriminatioa as to their present financial needs, due to phydival dis- ability or financial disadvantage in- cident to his service. ‘This is a matter of vital concern to thig generation and to future gen- erations, and I feel you are Kving up to your traditional standard of public service by attempting to arouse the public mind regurding the facts and dangers of a critical situation. ‘Thousands of other ex-service men are grateful for your editorial ex- that I am attitude | the legion. The “expressed opinion” j ferred to on yarious occasions by.Na- | tonal Commander DOlier and State most readable? Isn't 4¢ the one thousand words in a couple of matter does not express the opinion of a majority of ex-service men, or even a majority of the members of of the “overwhelming majority” re- Commander Hayeg is based upon as- | sumption rather than . upon’ ascer- | tained fact, | I hope that you will continue to talk to the public upon this subject. GEORGE BROKAW COMPTON. New York City, April 11, 1920. Compensation for Time. | To the Editor of The Evening World: It ig quite true that there is urgent need for economy in the management | of the vernment and other af- fairs of this country; but to my mind, those who condemn the pending legis- lation for the proper remuneration of those who in time of danger were called upon to sacrifice their all for their country are choosing the wrong subject for attack. Those,who oppose the proposed measures are scarcely to be congratulated on the character ot thelr arguments, The legsiation is called a “grab.” When this epithet is not used, the proposal is said to be a “bonus,” or is called @ pauperizing “grant” or ‘largess." | The discharged soldiers are told they ‘are not fit candidates for charity—that they are abundantly able to earn their own livings. The récord of. the Pension Bureau is re- ferred to, and it is asked whether or not a moral slump has occurred among the boys since they came home. This is not only highly insulting, but. grossly unfair. The soldiers have made no demands. The national gath- ering of the legion avolded anything savoring of dictation. All that has ‘heen done is to file with Congress a plea for justice. Some 4,000,000 of the young men of America left their homes and their employment to enter the public ser- vice, The pay allotted to them was $30 per month and board and main- tenance. As a matter of fact, when various required deductions were made, the soldiers commonly had re- maining only modest spending money. If they had not been called to the colors, they would have received the $5 and $6 a day the civilians found little difficulty in obtaining. Ig it right tg compel another per- son to do a dikagreeable job for you and then hold him down to less com- pensation than you crammed into your, pockets while he was away? Let those who are fighting the so- " legislation face and answer this single question. To give a soldier $50 a month for each month he was in service will not make him whole, If we may not confiscate property without paying an owner ite full value, we certainly may not in justice confiscate men's time with- out equal due compensation. ROBERT E. CROCKHTT, 635 48th Street, Brooklyn. preasion, Letters come by every mail confirming mein my belief that the ettitude of the legion officials in this Pieave permit me lo answer the in- Praives Police Reserve. To the Rditor of The Bening World: AAA AAA AAA ing and going from work. your three meals. anything but indigestion, and You have five hours left. cess or failure, competence or and they will make you. ishly and they will break you. the door of opportunity. It is in these hours that to do in your working hours. tems of philosophy for you, ties of the world around you. the meals nor the book. on the right road and to keep them, so will be your place in place is worth having. Use them carefully and wisely. 2 UNCOMMON SENSE By John Blake (Copyright, 1920.) FIVE HOURS FOR SUCCESS. Eight hours of your twenty-four you sleep, or ought to. You work eight, presumably. At least one you sift Y Hurrying meals along will not get you Ind com- ‘ou should put in two eating indigestion will break your health down almost as soon as hard drinking. These five hours mean suc- poverty. Spend them wisely Waste them or spend them fool- It is a man's so-called leisure hours which open to him he does his reading and the thinking that ought to accompany and follow his reading. It is in them that he gets his amusement, and think- ing should accompany and follow amusement. : Use these five hours to do things that it is impossible Spend a part of them getting acquainted with the great men who have written books for you and thought out sys- Spend part of them in healthful exercise, that will take you outdoors and open your eyes to the wonders and beau- To read or to play-at the expense of your sleeping time merely shortens the time nature has to make repairs on your system, with the result that the repairs are half done and you break down the quicker. Reading at meals is foolish. You will neither enjoy But these five hours a day ure sufficient to start you you travelling on.it. According as you use life at the time when a high sinuating and insulting letter of your korrespondent James F. Martin, New York, published in The Byening World of April 8, If the Police Reserve be as valuable to the regular department as a man with an “abscessed tooth,” why do some of our most successful business men of New York City take such an active part in the affairs of the Police Reserve? Why do many ex-Home De- fense League members seek member- ship in the Police Reserve? Does James F, Martin know that many of the members of the Police Reserve are ex-Army, Navy, and Marine men? Not to say anything of the many other branches of the Gov- ernment that took part in the recent World War? He asks why the mem- bers of the Police Reserve don’t enlis in the National Guard? Is he a mem- ber? Does he hold rank in it? If not, why not? Does he know of the many services performed by the Police Reserve that are not published in the papers or announced from the house tops? If the Police Reserve Bil) # @o vicious, why was it introduced at Albany by our State Representatives, who are expected to protect the people? If that bill is as bad as represented py Mr. Martin, I don’t think it will be passed and allowed to become a law by our State Legislature. But I feel confi- dent that it will be passed and the City of New York will have an addi- tional force, fully trained in police work, discipline, responsibilty and citizenship, that will be of more value to the City of New York than Mr. James F, Martin seems to think it will be. I don’t think your previous corres- pondent, Mr Edmund F, Flinn, put anything over on your publication by any letter you may have inserted that was written by him boosting the Police Reserve, The writer was for- merly Captain of the old Home De- fense League. I resigned my commis- sion to enter the sérvice of the Gov- ernment, and thought. enough of the work and organization of Police Re- | serves to re-enlist as a private in the game company of which I was former- ly the commanding officer. | CONRAD H. JOHNSON, First Sergeant, 87th Precinct, Police Reserves. Brooklyn, April 9 1920, No71—A ROMAN SINGER. By Marion Crawford. Cornelio Grandi was tho last sur- vivor of a noble old Italian family. Poverty forced him to accept a pro- fessorship in Rome, There he lived only for the happiness of his hand~| some young adopted son, Nino. Nino had a glorious tenor voice, and sang his way into many a woman’a heart. But he tor none of these conquests. For he was desperately and eternally’ in love with one girl. She was Hedwig, beautiful daugh- ter of Count von Lira, a purse proud German, Hedwig eagerly returned Nino’ love, and the two became seoretly en gaged. But at the very outset of their romance the Count chanced to hear of his daughter’s interest in tl penniless young tenor. So he whisked her away from Rome and shot her wp in a ramshackle castle among the mountains of thd Abruzzi. There he kept her a pris- oner, and threatened to continue keeping her locked tn her rooms untit she should promise to forget » 4nd marry a greasy merchant named Benoni, a friend of her father's. Hedwig would not consent. Sho :o« mained true to her lover and refusug to listén to Benonl’s smug wooly, So her father swore she should st where she was until she would «ii')» mit to his commands. 7 Meantime, Nino could find no trate of his vanished sweetheart, The Count had.left no clue to his wher abouts. So Nino hunted throughout Europe in vain for the girl he adoted. Then it was that old Cornelio took pity on his boy’s misery and began to do a little investigating on his own account, By mingled luck and cleyer- ness he found his way at len; to La thee don fe could not gain admittance, sv he bribed a servant to arrange an in- terview between himself and Hedwig. During this secret talk the girl told him of her sad predicament, And Cornelio reported it to Nino. Acting on Cornelio’s advice, Nino first sought an audience with the Count von Lira and asked him in ceremonious fashion for permission to marry Hedwig. The Count in fury stew Then Nino took his next step. Making use of a hidden stairway and door in the tumbledown castle, he carried the overjoyed Nina from her prison, At once the Count learned of his daughter’s elopement, and set forth in hot pursuit, vowing to recapture her and slay Nino, But Nino and Hedwig hired sure~ footed mules which carried them safely up into the trackless moun- tains where horses could not follow, Thus they baffled pursuit and finally reached a tiny mountain-top villa At the village church they were married. Then, having nothing more to fear from the Count’s wrath, the bride and bridegroom returned in triumph to Cornelio. WHY NEW YORK I8 WICKED, From Eost and West, from North ond Bouth they come in endless hordes, To see the many wicked sights they've heard New York affords; And coming with this sole intent, they bring their rolls along, : For money even yet will buy the W's ang song. They've heard that Broadway fur- nishes a line of frenzied thrills |, For those who have the nerve to lous and cash to pay the dilis; Village, they've “beus revel ship of the Bo here they come in multitudes froiis town and countryside, In search of sin which they themselves ‘unconsciously provide, For, while they may not know it, ‘ie seeker and the sought Are visitors drawn hither by the sane unholy thought, The real New Yorker es tiigh under side of life. stone ; His busy days are overfilled with wo. essary strife; So, when the evening closes ii seeks no cabaret, But goes to rest to fit him for the iusy coming fi WILLIS B. HAWKINS. pe How High Are High Salaries? RROBABLY there is no more ; lar indoor sport among: men at the present time thy telling what “big salaries” they arg getting. When the bunch gets ius gether at a reunion one sort of gety the impression that $75 a week is the minimum wage in everybody's job but your own. Jim McConnell is inmuk ng $65 as an auto salesman, Larry Byang gets a guarantee of $50 a week ant 5 per cent. commission on his s and that brings him up to—oh, §75 of $80, with $100 for the good weeks. He's going to Bermuda the last of the month—so Larry says. } In view of this it is interesting to note the figures of the Y. M. C. A. Employment Bureau in “West Sidi Men.” Some of the jobs they offer follow: Assistant credit man, export and import house, $1,500 a year; pho- tographer, velox printing, at ‘obou $30 a week; young man for machine shop, $20 a Week; bookkceper, typi writer company, $30 a week; corred spondence olerk, credit department large corporation, $30 a week; secre. tary and stenographer, Wall Street house, $30 a wevk; young man fos bookkeeping department, import and export house, $25%a week; salesman food products, $35 a week; law ° jstudent to work part time in Wal} Street office, $15 a week; secretary tq general manager of import and ex+ port, house, $30 a week. | ere are many more like this. 'T! $70 a. week Jobs, the soft snapeny ont own hours and a big expense accoun$ —seem lacking. ‘The man wii making $30 or $% a week {: above the average pay, and th who is making “$7 or $80" priv tan’t making 4.