PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1950
The Editorial Page一
'Stromboli' Tax
Your fundamental rights are violated every time you go to a movie. With every movie ticket purchased you pay an unfair and discriminatory federal admission tax of 20 per cent. Movie admission would be 10 cents cheaper if it were not for tax hungry politicians, who hate to see a reliable source of "sucker's" money go to waste.
In the first place, movies are not a luxury. In the American way of life a moderate amount of relaxation is recognized to be necessary. Moving pictures provide the maximum entertainment at the lowest cost. The working man and his family, unable to afford high cost entertainment, must depend on the movies for satisfying relaxation. To them the motion picture theater offers the only opportunity to enjoy the dramatic arts—with both eyes and ears. The movies are aptly called the "poor man's opera"
The United States supreme court has said that "moving pictures, like newspapers and radio, are included in the press whose freedom is guaranteed by the First Amendment." Since moving pictures are a part of the press, they are considered one of the great media for the communication of culture, learning, and information. Can you imagine a special tax being levied on newspapers, books, and magazines? What justification, then, is there for a tax on movies?
Originally, the tax was levied on all luxuries during the war as a necessary nuisance. Contrary to public opinion, congress hasn't been so busy that it didn't have time to trifle with the repeal of a tax. Instead, it has been trying to have the movies permanently classed with liquor and tobacco as a subject for punitive taxation.
The movie theaters are banding together and joining forces with other industries that are also afflicted by wartime excises. But they can't do any good without the support of the public. The public stands to profit entirely with this repeal. Theaters would not increase prices but would rely on the lowered price to draw more customers.
In other fields of taxation the authorities have sought to place the burden on those best able to pay. Thus the income tax is a graduated tax with allowances for dependents. The admission tax is a flat tax and, in effect, penalizes large families.
The tax is unfair to the masses who find in the movies an economical means of entertainment and enlightenment. Did you ever hear of a tax burden that increased as the family grew in numbers? The special vice of the admission tax is that it increases as the family increases, regardless of any increase in family income.
This campaign against discriminatory taxation is on solid ground and cannot be justly criticized for carrying its case to the people, to congress, and to other public officials. We should not be timid, but bold, in the assertion of our fundamental rights. —Bill Stratton.
Are We All Stupid?
What have you been thinking about lately? Aha! Haven't thought much, have you? Of course not, you don't need to. You and hundreds of other non-thinking Americans have voted yourselves into a state of mental stagnation. Why should you think? You've elected men to do your thinking for you. You've sold your reasoning right for the dubious privilege of not using the most powerful instrument you possess—your mind.
What do you think of the A-bomb, the H-bomb, capital punishment, mercy killing, Alger Hiss, Whittaker Chambers, Ingrid Bergman? Have you read any "good" books lately? Have you read anything lately? Do you think the wheat crop will be bountiful this year, do you think war with Russia in inevitable, do you think Bulgaria was wise in asking for the recall of our minister? Do you think?
No, you probably don't. Do you know why, Mr. John Q.? Want to know what's wrong with your thought facilities? They're rusted, John, corroded, dust-heavy, moth-eaten, stiff, out of practice. You'll want a reason for that, too. Here it is: your initiative has been taken from you, your personal ingenuity has been repressed, you've been taken care of for too long—you've been letting someone else think for you. John, you're in a sad state of affairs—you're in bad shape.
No man can think when he's dependent upon someone for his existence. Let's say that you're John Q. Farmer and the price of wheat isn't what you think it should be. You cry on Uncle Sam's shoulder and he subsidizes your crop so that you'll get paid what you think you should be paid, regardless of the market price.
Uncle saves your money for your old age, he saves your money for unemployment compensation, and now he wants to pay your doctor, dentist and hospital bills. Is this country composed of mental invalids? Can't you see that you're paying for your own subsidizing, compensation, old age pension, medical insurance?
Sit down and think about this awhile. See how you like the feel of those rusty cogs and wheels turning again. Yes, you! Bob Spangler
—Bob Spangler.
David and Ricky Nelson, young sons of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, say that if radio rehearsals ever interfere with football they'll give up their $150,000 contracts instead of football, and some sage has suggested that they wait a few years, go to college, and keep both.
Dear Editor-
Latest Word
The "garbage heap" letter in Thursday's Kansan was even more stupid than the earlier letter on Jim Sellards and his "dirty politics."
Dear Editor:
The story on the dance bands was obviously colored to make Sellard's band look better than the others, but I do not think it was a result of "dirty politics."
University
Newspapers always tend to give more space to well-known people than the lesser individuals. The Kansan probably played up Sellars because his name has been in print more often than the other band leaders. His activities with the K. U. band and orchestra are largely responsible for this extra publicity.
And may I inquire, what does all this muckraking have to do with the quality of music played by Sellards' dance band? Most people are not interested in the personality of a band leader if they can enjoy dancing to his music. If musicianship can make a good politician, then Sellards must be a real Tom Pendergast.
Daily Kansas
Theta Tau Initiates Four Students As Alumni Watch
Edwin and Robert Elliott, alumni members of the fraternity from Kansas City, Mo., were guests at the initiation.
--Name withheld by request
Theta Tau, professional engineering fraternity, initiated Julius Dario, engineering senior; Harry Childers, Frank Lindemuth, Ellis Allison, engineering sophomores, at a formal ceremony recently.
News Room Adv. Room
K.U. 251 K.U.376
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn. National Editorial Assn., Inland Daily Press Assn., and the Associated College Press. Represented by the National Advertising Service,420 Madison Ave., New York City.
Editor-In-Chief ... Warren Saas
Managing Editor ... Kay Dyer
Managing Ed. ... Doris Weiss
Asst. Managing Ed. ... Wale W. Fields
City Editor ... Keith Leslie
Asst. City Editor ... Francis Kelley
Asst. City Editor ... Helen West
Asst. City Editor ... Robert Sigman
Asst. City Editor ... Edward Chapin
Feature Editor ... Kary O'Connor
Society Editor ... Wendell
Social Ed. ... Faye Wilkinson
Society Ed. ... Elaine Elvig
Telegraph Editor .. Norma Hunsinger
Asst. Tel. Ed. .. Ralph Hemeyerway
Asst. Tel. Ed. .. Richard Warner
Asst. Tel. Ed. .. Harrison Madden
Sports Editor .. Nelson Ober
Geologist Promoted In State Survey
Business Manager...Bob Day
Adv. Manager...James Shriver
Nat. Adv. Mgr...Robert Honnold
Cir. Mgr...Dorothy Hegan
Classified Adv. Mgr...Forrest Bellus
Promotion Mgr...Charles Reiner
Miss Ada Swineford has recently been promoted to the position of geologist II with the State Geological Survey at the University, according to a report by the Kansas department of civil service.
Miss Swineford received her promotion for a high score on competitive civil service examinations. She has been with the State Geological Survey since 1942. During this time she has conducted specialized research on Kansas clay and clay minerals.
She received her degree in geology from the University of Chicago and has done graduate work at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, University of Kansas and Pennsylvania State College.
Read the Want Ads Daily.
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THE UNIVERSITY PLAYERS
in
A thrill packed mystery by Agatha Christie
TEN LITTLE INDIANS
TUES., WED., THURS., FRI.
Feb. 28, March 1,2,3
FRASER THEATRE
Curtain 8:15
Present I-D Cards For Reserved Seats. Ticket Office Green Hall Open Daily 9-12, 1-4
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- Taming of the Shrew - Julius Caesar