| OCR Text |
Show AS OTHERS SEE THEMSELVES. IN the intimacy of the Senate committee hearings on the war tax measures, where the solons recently came face to face with the fellows who have to pay the freight, a rare opportunity was afforded af-forded for determining what the automobile manufacturer, the movie magnate, and a host of other representatives of their own particular line of business, think of themselves, and what they all think of each other. Here are a few samples of the side lights afforded the committee com-mittee at a recent sitting: F. I. Barrows testified that the automobile manufacturers were hurt more in their feelings than in their pockets because of the company com-pany they were compelled to keep in the tax measure. "I think the s public is making a mistake," said Mr. Barrows, "and I think the committee com-mittee is making a mistake to put the automobile into a class along with things that are of no utility at all for instance, with chewing gum and moving pictures. If there is an accident of any kind to a train, you get your automobile down there and if there is a wreck you bring the injured people home and take care of them. If somebody is sick in your family you call for your physician, and he has an automobile auto-mobile and is able to come quickly. So with urban and interurban transportation. It is unfair to the industry for people to say 'I guess the government does not want us to use automobiles because be-cause it is not patriotic to use them.' I do not believe that Congress will tell the people that this necessity for health and for business is in the same class with whiskey. I do not know but what I like whiskey I would not say but I will say this, that I do not think that we are on a par with that. But if the Senate wants us to do something some-thing else besides make automobiles, and let them ride in wheelbarrows, wheelbar-rows, just let us know. We do not wish to stand back on any proposition proposi-tion of that kind." ' ' . William A. Brady, representing the movie magnates, spoke next and took strong exceptions to Mr. Barrow's statement. He said : "As patriots, we are willing to be taxed as much as any other industry in the country. But we do not want to be looked upon as we apparently are by a gentleman who spoke for an industry a moment ago, when he said, 'Don't tax us; tax motion pictures and chewing gum.' We resent that. We are a respectable industry. We have artists and we. have authors. By what right does the gentleman say, 'Tax chewing gum and moving pictures?' The motion picture is just as respectable as the automobile business. It has had fewer failures." Then Mr. Brady proceeded to divulge some of the dark secrets of the movie industry in the following fashion: "If it is true that Mary Pickford is getting $1,000,000 a year, then Mary Pickford is going go-ing to pay $330,000 this year to the government. That comes directly from the moving picture business if you get it from the actors ; and we hope you do, because the actors are getting it all. you sav and rightfully say, 'Gentlemen, you must be making an awful lot of money, because we read so much about it in the news-9 news-9 papers.' Showman's brag and bluster ! The natural inclination of the showman is to exaggerate about 1000 per cent. We have a great national na-tional figure who indulges in that same practice, a natural-born showman. show-man. Why don't you tax him?" Everybody laughed, and then E. B. Bartlett, representing the piano manufacturing industry was heard. "If there ever was a time in the history of the nation," said Mr. Bartlett, "when we need to keep up the spirits of our people, when they must have suitable enter- jr tainment and recreation, it is now. I know nothing1 that contributes more to the peace of mind and to the happiness 'of the people than music. It is considered essential in the hospitals for the wounded. They are even using it in the insane hospitals. Let us not burden the industry any more than we are obliged to." Then the circus man was called upon the carpet. John M. Kelly, representing Ringling Brothers and others, raised this rather pointed question : "What are we going to do with the horses and elephants and other animals," he said. "They eat their heads off if they are retired. re-tired. So the show must go on, and these men will strive to have the show go on and bear its burdens, and collect for the government its revenues, so long as a camel bears a hump or a zebra wears a stripe. And a patriotic effort will be made to collect for the government any tax you may impose." Whatever these gentlemen who arc engaged in the amusement enterprises may think of each other, it is apparent' that they have strong faith in themselves and are willing to do their bit for the government. gov-ernment. In more than one respect, many of the men at the helm of the so-called legitimate industries would do well to emulate their patriotic example. Certain it is that if those who are engaged in providing pro-viding amusement for the people choose to consider their business as both dignified and serious, no one should dispute their claims. At that, Harry Lauder fairly expressed the situation when, in justification justifica-tion of his melancholy task of merry-making, he said: "If my son can die for his country, surely I can sing for it." |
