The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

..... WILMETTE LIFBI FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15. 1924 n- A Pettt·,o n· t:· ·the ·Cbngres ·. 'Of the United States · To the Members of the House of Representatives 'and the Senate of the United States Congress: Secretary of the Treasury Andrew W. . Mellon has recommended that congress reduce the nation's tax burden. I NTYman ~UTS a tax ltp to s per -plus ~hove ming tsand 0,000 ~ In an address in Cleveland on January 22, last, Ho~. Oscar Underwood, United States Senator from Alabama, said: "How far we can carry the bur- . den 'taxation' and not lose our footing, no one can foretell. But the fact remains we are fast approaching the danger-point; and it is apparent to those who realize the vast importance of a sound system of finance and stability in business conditions, that labor may be employed and agriculture find its markets, and that we have reached a point where we must -~ ---- eall a halt on any further increase in taxation or extension of national credit . . . in my judgment there can be but one courie to pursue and that is to reduce the taxes." rER- LON He has outlined where you can cut $323,000,000 from the national tax bill: Regardless of your party affiliations, we believe Mr. Mellon's recommendations should be enacted into law. Putting aside any question of politics ourselves, and speaking for the benefits we know such tax reduction would bring to the country in general, we earnestly urge that you give favorable consideration to the measure when it - comea before you for definite action..We know that cutting $323,000,000 from the people's tax bills will stimulate business; and prosperous business means prosperity and happiness for all. To reduce taxes is not a favor to any one taxpayer or to any special business. The Mellon tax plan, as we see it, means more than a reduction in direct taxes to the small taxpayer. It means a reduction in living costs because the taxpayer who is the ultimate consumer pays all of the taxes through increased cost of everyday commodities. It has been pointed out by tax experts that one who saves twenty-five dollars through the proposed Mellon cut actually saves two hundred dollan because the tax paid by the producers, by carrie~s, by wholesale and retail dealen finally is ~yr~ mided to the ultimate consumer-the mdlvidual taxpayer. The Mellon plan of tax reduction is fair. It encourages the citizen with ~ larger inc~me to-invest his money in productive enterpriSeS rather than in tax free public securities. It does not attempt to confiscate the property of the rich: "One cannot confiscate the pr~pe"r, of the rich without making the poor destitute. I·disfor telemis- yers 623,ws: ome 1 ,(XX) ,(XX) (XX) ,(XX) by tail the in- In Washington, on January 21, President Coolidge, in a talk to governmental officials, made this declaration: "With the easing of conditions, the time is at hand. when we shall decide whether a business administration is to continue. . As for me I am for econ~my. There is scarcely an economic ill in our country that cannot be traced directly or indirectly to high taxes. To increase that burden is to disregard the general welfare. Through constructive economy, to decrease taxes is to enlarge the reward of every one who toils." The signers of this petition to Congreu are content to rest their appeal on the statem~ts of the two distinguished statesmen quoted-coolidge and Underwood. Respectively submitted, (See Otlaer Side lor Li·t ol Petitione1W) Advertisemeat.