Little Falls Herald

KNUTSON SCORES POSTAGE INCREASE

Washington, May 15. The publicity given by the American press to all vital economic problems now confronting the nation cannot be paid with money, and we must not reward it with the kiss of a Judas, Representative Harold Knutson of Minnesota, thus concluded an attack on the $1,800,000 war revenue bill in the house late today.

His speech deals mainly with the proposed increase in postage rates on second-class mail, but he also objected to the principles of taxation in the measure.

Scores Proposed Tax

"This new revenue bill," he said, "seeks to impose excessive and destructive taxes upon established business which derives no increased profits from war conditions, but which already has been punished severely by greatly increased cost of production due to existing conditions.

"From my experience of many years in the publishing business," Mr. Knutson continued, "I am convinced that such prohibitive rates as are proposed in this bill will destroy many publications whose publishers are unable to pay the tax."

Will Cut Revenue

"The tonnage thus derived from the mails will result in a net loss of postal revenue to the government and thus destroy at one blow the very object of this new taxation.

"Bear in mind that a free press is the greatest production of democracy ever devised by man. The American press is performing an invaluable public service in helping to popularize the Liberty loan, and it made possible enactment of necessary war legislation. Our press will protect the welfare of the boys at the front and buoy them up in their hours of doubt and stress."

Cannot Shift Burden

"The committee believes this tax can be passed along," said W. S. Jones of the Minneapolis Journal, "but this is impossible."