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THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
PIBIISHED IN NINE SECTIONAL EOITIONS
BEN SHLYEN
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
JAMES M. lERAULD Editor
NATHAN COHEN Executive Editor
JESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor
IVAN SPEAR
Western Editor
FLOYD M. MIX Equipment Editor
General Manager
RAYMOND LEVY
Published Every Saturday by
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OXOFFICE
LIF THOSE RESTRAINTS
7 •^^ HE evidence has been building up for a long
time that concerted and aggressive action will be undertaken
by the industry in combatting unfair and discriminatory taxai
tion. This is further emphasized in remarks made by Eric
Johnston in his address at the convention of the Theatre Own- i
ers of America, as follows:
"Through collaborative effort, we can do more than improve the good
name of the industry. We can also improve its good fortune. It is time
vre stopped being easy marks on the tax front—the favorite target for
taxation in Washington, in state capitals, and in municipalities.
"We are perfectly willing to carry our share of the tax load. We
|
always have. But we do complain—and rightly— at being singled out
for unfair and discriminatory taxes. I think we are on solid ground with
a two-fold position on discriminatory taxation.
"First, the motion picture is a free medium of expression which
should have the same rights as the press, and should receive equal \
treatment at the hands of all legislatures.
"Second, the motion picture is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Here in
America, as elsewhere around the world, it fills a vital public need in
bringing information, entertainment and relaxation to the great masses
of people. Stalin and Tito wouldn't be buying American films—far from
it—unless they clearly recognized the motion picture as a necessity.
"We have already joined hands against the wartime federal admissions
tax which lays so unfair a burden on the moviegoing public. It was
one of the first evidences of this growing spirit oi collaboration within
our industry."
Charles Sawyer, secretary-of the U,S- Department of Commerce,
addressing the same group, held out a vague assurance
on the possibilities of tax reduction when he declared,
"There is general agreement that wartime excise taxes should
be repealed as soon as possible." What made this vague was
the qualification: "Here, as elsewhere, the problem for the
government is to replace or lose the revenue which comes
from this source. At a time when we are undertaking to stimulate
consumer expenditures, we should survey carefully the
possibility of reducing taxes which discourage such expenditures."
Mr. Sawyer made no comment on the fact that, through
increased consumer expenditures, which would result from
the elimination of nuisance taxes, the government treasury
would be replenished by added tax income derived from increased
business profits and higher personal incomes.
However he concurred with Mr. Johnston on the vital pubhe
need of the motion picture when he said, "We in America
have a stake in the maintenance of the solvency and strength
of the movie industry. We w^ant to make life in America pleasant,
and you make one of the great contributions to that end.
In order that you may continue, you must operate your business
at a profit." There will be wide agreement with that.
Of further significance is this parallel to Mr. Johnston's
remarks:
"In America, motion pictures are produced without (federal) censorship,
without control of subject matter by the government. They are as
free as our press. In nearly every other country of the world the motion
picture lies under the heavy hand of government regulation ... I know
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