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Show News Review of Current Events the World Over President Offers Iliglier Tax and Wealth Reduction Program Social Security and Wagner-Connery LaLor Bills Passed. By EDWARD W. PICKARD Western Newspaper Union. SrTHtrtKD on by the White Hoiine, tin; house, after a hot le-iiute, le-iiute, passed tlie Wajjuer-Coniicry luhor disputes bill by acclamation. aim rreHiuem wii-llum wii-llum Green of the American Federation Federa-tion of Labor hulled It as a "miiK'ia char-ta char-ta of labor." As la well known, the federation Is the chief beneficiary of the measure, and Green and other union labor leaders had worked unceas-Sen. unceas-Sen. Wagner , , , ., t lngly for Its pas- nue. Opponents to this bill, Including Includ-ing constitutional authorities In both parties, have asserted repeatedly repeat-edly that It Is unconstitutional, and It Is most probable that It will be cnrrled to the Supreme court for an early test. Every attempt to give the employer employ-er nn pven hrnnl with InKnn nmo voted down, but the house did accept ac-cept an amendment making the new labor board an Independent agency Instead of a part of the Department of Labor as Secretary Perkins had demanded. As passed by the house, the Wag-ncr-Connery bill provides: 1. For the setting up of a permanent perma-nent labor relations board of three members, appointed by the President, Presi-dent, ns an Independent agency. The board, or Its agencies or agents, Is authorized to supervise elections, onduct hearings, and Issue cMse und desist orders for "unfair labor practices," which are enforceable by the courts. 2. That representatives selected by a majority of a unit of employees for the purpose of collective bargaining bar-gaining shall ' have the exclusive right to negotiate with the employer. employ-er. The board may determine the appropriate unit for collective bargaining, bar-gaining, whether by plant or craft, etc. 3. That It is an unfair labor practice prac-tice for employers to restrain, ceerce, or Interfere with employees In their organization for collective bargaining. 4. That it Is an unfair labor practice prac-tice for employers to "dominate" or contribute financially to any labor organization. 5. That it Is an unfair labor prac-tie prac-tie to encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization organiza-tion for the purpose of making closed shop agreements. 6. A fine of $5,000 or a year In prison for anyone Interfering with agents of the board, such as refusing refus-ing to permit access to books and records. EVEN Fluey Long cheered when President Roosevelt's unexpected unexpect-ed message on redistribution of wealth and Increase of taxation for the rich was read to congress. The Chief Executive offered a program that he hopes will pay part of the vn-u expenses of the New Deal and at the same time break up some huge fortunes'and check the growth of big corporations. He doesn't expect ex-pect congress to do the entire Job at this session, and the administration adminis-tration leaders at once set about stopping the radicals who wanted Immediate enactment. The President's taxation plan Is frankly aimed against the wealthy, especially the men with million-dollar Incomes. Of these there were 46 Id 1033. In his message he said that existing tax policies have not prevented "unjust concentration of wealth and power," and added the warning: "Social unrest and a deepening sense of unfairness are dangers to our national life which we must minimize by rigorous methods." The following legislation he rec-mmended rec-mmended for enactment during the present session In. order to obtain ob-tain ample revenue without hampering ham-pering enterprise and to distribute tax burdens equitably: 1. High Inheritance and gift taxes on "all very large amounts received by any one legatee or beneficiary." Segregation of this revenue for reduction re-duction of the national debt. 2. Tax levies to restrict "very great individual net incomes." 3. Substitution of a graduated corporation tax ranging from lOi to 104 per cent for the existing 134 per cent rate.. For consideration at the next session ses-sion of congress the President proposed pro-posed : 1. Elimination "of unnecessary holding companies In all lines of business," by discriminatory taxation. taxa-tion. 2. Discouragement of "unwieldy and unnecessary corporate surpluses." sur-pluses." 3. An amendment of the Constitution Consti-tution to abolish tax exempt securities securi-ties by authorizing the federal government gov-ernment to tax subsequently Issued state and local obligations and state and local governments to tax federal fed-eral securities. Treasury officials estimated that about one billion dollars could be expected ultimately from the tax plan submitted. Chairman Dough-ton Dough-ton of the house ways and means committee promptly called that body together to consider the proposals. WITH only six senators voting In the negative, the senate passed the tremendously Important social security bill that already had gone through the house. During the five days of debate a number of members, Democrats and Republicans Republic-ans alike, had argued earnestly that this measure never would stand up In the Supreme court, but when their names were called nearly every one of them voted for It. The only consistent ones were Moore of New Jersey, Democrat, and Hastings Hast-ings of Delaware, Hale of Maine, Metcalf of Rhode Island, Austin of Vermont and Townsend of Delaware, Dela-ware, Republicans. This social security se-curity measure will affect about 30,000,000 beneficiaries In the Immediate Im-mediate future and by 1900, It Is estimated, es-timated, will cost the federal government gov-ernment more tbnn $3,000,000,000 a year. These are Its main features: 1. An appropriation of $98,491,- 000 for the fiscal year 193G, Including Includ-ing $49,750,000 for grants in aid to states for old age assistance. In addition there are authorized annual an-nual appropriations for the old age reserve fund, graduated from $255,- 000. 000 In 1937 to $2,1SO,000,000 in 19S0, 2. Income tux oh employees and excise tax on employers, for old age benefits, beginning in each case at 1 per cent of the pay roll in 1937 and reaching the maximum of 3 per cent in 1949. In addition there is a pay roll tax on employers for unemployment un-employment Insurance, beginning at 1 per cent In 1936, Increasing to 2 per cent in 1937, and to 3 per cent, the maximum, In 1938. 3. Grants In aid to states on a matching basis for assistance to persons sixty-five or older, the government's gov-ernment's contribution not to exceed $15 per month. 4. Old age benefits after January 1, 1942, ranging from $10 to $S5 per month, depending upon the total amounts of wages earned after December De-cember 1, 1936, and before reaching reach-ing sixty-five years of age. 5. A 90 per cent credit to employers em-ployers for taxes paid into state unemployment un-employment insurance funds, the other 10 per cent to be apportioned among the states for administration administra-tion of their unemployment Insurance Insur-ance laws. 6. Grants In aid to states for aid to dependent children, the federal government putting up $1 to the state's $2. An appropriation of $24,-750,000 $24,-750,000 is authorized for the fiscal year 1936. 7. Grants In aid to states on an equal matching basis for maternal mater-nal and child health service. An annual appropriation of $3,S0O,000 Is authorized. 8. Grants In aid to states on an equal matching basis for the care of crippled children. An annual appropriation of $2,500,000 Is authorized. au-thorized. 9. An annual appropriation of $1,500,000 through the children's bu reau for aiding state public welfare agencies in the care of homeless or neglected children. 10. An annual appropriation of $1,938,000 to be apportioned among the states for vocational rehabilitation. rehabilita-tion. 11. An annual appropriation of $S,000,000 to be apportioned among the states for public health service. 12. Grants In aid to states on an equal matching basis for assistance to the blind.- An annual appropriation appropria-tion of $3,000,000 is authorized. 13. A social security board of three members In the Department of Labor, to be appointed by the President, each member receiving $10,000 a year. GREAT BRITAIN'S realistic government gov-ernment finds the best path toward to-ward general peace in Europe Is conciliation of Germany, so it has yielded to Hitler's naval demands and concluded a bilateral pact with the reich, disregarding entirely the desires and fears of France, The agreement acknowledges Germany's right to build a fleet up to 35 per cent of the tonnage of the British empire, and, what is more Important, Impor-tant, permits Germany 45 per cent, and In certain circumstances, parity with the empire in submarine tonnage. ton-nage. Submarines were forbidden to Germany by the treaty of Versailles. Ver-sailles. France at once sent a stiff protest to London, and CapL Anthony Eden was hurried over to Paris to try to calm down the French. It was asserted as-serted In Paris that a naval building build-ing race was sure to ensue, and the naval committee of the chamber of deputies began to discuss the enlargement en-largement of the fleet The Washington Wash-ington treaty was considered by many to be dead. SENATOR JAMES COLV.ENS ot Michigan has given to the fed eral government :C,:.u,!H to finance a l,fJ acre residence colony for part time Industrial workers in lie Detroit area. A tract has been purchased pur-chased nine miles south and west of Pontine. The project will he . controlled by a non-profit corpora- j tion and Senator Couzens will have nothing to do with its management, j FORTY prisoners in the Kansas , penitentiary at Lansing staged u I spectacular revolt against what tlie said was poor food, and refused to come out of the prison coal mine until their demands were granted They built fires to keep the guards away from the shaft, but the smoke from these was turned backward and the mutineers tamely surrendered. surren-dered. EWING Y. MITCHELL, whom President Roosevelt ousted from the position of assistant secretary of commerce because he could nol work In harmony with Secretary Roper, Ro-per, retaliated witt public charges thai "special Interests' dominate the Commerce Com-merce department. He cited especially a government contract con-tract with tlie United Unit-ed States lines foi the permanent lay- ! nf tl1n cnmnl,;. E. Y. Mitchell T , .. Leviathan, asserting assert-ing that it was against the public Interest and that "those Interested In the company, Including P. A. S. Franklin, John M. Franklin, Vincenl Astor and Kermit Roosevelt" stood to benefit by It He also severely criticized the bureau of air commerce com-merce and the steamship Inspection service. No one In the administration seemed disturbed by Mr. Mitchell's outbreak, but the senate committee on commerce at once summoned hire to explain and expand his charges. Mr. Mitchell turned out to be an excitable ex-citable gentleman, prone to Jump to conclusions and to voice his opinions opin-ions rather than facts. He talked a lot about inefficiency, "sinks ol corruption," "favoritism and graft" and such things, but he didn't tell the committee much that It didn't already know. He asserted the United States lines, a subsidiary of the International Mercantile marine, ma-rine, had received a "gift" of $1,-721,000 $1,-721,000 through the retirement ol the Leviathan. Controlling I. M. M., he said, was P. A. S. Franklin, Kermit Roosevelt and Vincent As tor. At a press conference later he attributed the $1,721,000 gift to friendship between President Roose velt and I. M. M. officials. POOR old NRA, now just a thing of skin and bones, has a new sei of managers. President Roosevelt issued an executive order extending the emaciated affair af-fair until April 1 next, in accordance with the resolution adopted by con gress, and then announced an-nounced that James L. O'Neill, vice president of the Guarantee Trust Co. of New York, would serve as ad ministrator. Assisting Assist-ing the banker in G- L Bei r theeffort to persuade the public, business busi-ness men and labor to abide volun tarily by the codes no longer en forceable, and in the assembling of statistics, are Leon C. Marshall, director di-rector of the division of review ; Prentiss L. Coonley, director of the division of business co-operation, and George L. Berry, assistant to the administrator, representing la Dor. air. Kerry, wno nas oeen serv Ing as a code administrator, is pres ident of the International Press men's union and was once a candidate candi-date for nomination for Vice Presi dent of the United States. O'Neill, Marshall and Coonley were made directly responsible to the President. An advisory council of six members was named to help them. On this council are Charles Edison and Howell Cheney for In dustry; William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, and Philip Murray, vice president of the United Mine Workers, for labor, la-bor, and Emily Newell Blair and Walton H. Hamilton, for consumers. consum-ers. There are 5,400 employees of the NRA, 4,500 of them In Washington. Reduction of the personnel eventually even-tually to 1,500 is contemplated, but it is expected that most of the dismissed dis-missed employees will be absorbed by other alphabetical agencies. A FTER three bloody riots in Omaha's street car strike, In which one man was killed and nearly near-ly two hundred were injured. Gov. R. L. Cochran of Nebraska took charge of the situation. State troops were called out to preserve the public pub-lic peace and tlie governor, meeting meet-ing with representatives of the traction company, the central labor union and the strikers, ordered that the dispute be arbitrated immediately, imme-diately, lie also ordered all guards employed by the company removed fiom the cars and decreed that ail paid organizers cease their activities. activ-ities. President Roosevelt succeeded in averting the threatened strike of bituminous coal miners. Both operators op-erators and the United Mine Workers Work-ers agreed to a truce until June 30. |