TAX REBATE

To the Editors of The Crimson:

The "unbiased" Crimson front-page article of January 16 states that the major elements of President Ford's economic proposal are a $4 billion corporate tax rebate, a $6 billion annual permanent corporate tax cut, and a $30 billion energy tax. Such favoritism to business would be rather shocking (the reaction I got from several of my Crimson-reading friends), were it not that you entirely omitted the most important features of Ford's plan: a $12 billion personal tax rebate, and a $16.5 billion annual permanent tax cut for low and middle income taxpayers. Inasmuch as these most basic facts about the plan are readily available to all on the front page of the past few days New York Times, I do not know whether to accuse you of incompetence or malice. Take your pick.

I am aware that the majority of Crimson editors do not share Mr. Ford's political views. I certainly don't either. The actual inequities of his tax proposal should give you enough to criticize; there is no need to resort to distortion. You do a disservice to those of us who may not be lucky enough to have the time during reading period to read the truth in the New York Times. You also further damage your sagging credibility. Alan Sokal, North House

The story on Ford's proposal, rewritten from Associated Press copy, included two paragraphs on the tax rebate, which somehow disappeared before the story appeared in print. The Crimson apologizes for the error, which was not politically motivated.