Rabbis Hit Fare Tax for City Relief

Eloquent pleas to avoid any tax measure for unemployment relief purposes which places additional burdens on the poor and needy themselves were voiced yesterday by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and Rabbi Sidney E. Goldstein.

Both rabbis appeared at City Hall before the joint committee of the Board of Estimate and the Board of Aldermen at the second of a series of hearings on proposals for financing the city’s relief program.

Ridiculing the proponents of proposals to place a two or three cent tax on subway fares, Rabbi Wise, who appeared as a representative of the City Affairs Committee, said these were people who “lay awake nights devising means of relieving the needy and poor” and then, as if inspired, propose a tax on subway fares—a burden which would fall specifically on the poor rather than on those who can best afford to pay.

ATTACKS LOTTERY SCHEME

“What about a plan for municipal lotteries, Rabbi?” asked Borough President James J. Lyons of the Bronx, who has vigorously advocated lotteries as a means of raising adequate relief revenue.

“Such a proposal is fantastic, childish and basically unethical,” declared the Rabbi. “The plan is nothing but a swindle. It is adventerous and not worthy of the consideration of any thoughtful person.”