Students Sign Petition To Block Tax Dodges

More than 550 students have signed a Harvard-Radcliffe Young People's Socialist League petition demanding the elimination of income tax loopholes.

The petition, circulated this week in the Harvard and Radcliffe dining halls, calls for six changes in the current income tax laws. "Reform is essential to make taxation fairer and to help redistribute income," the petition says.

YPSL plans to present the petition to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-mass.) in April, according to George R. Pattullo '72, organizer of the petition.

The proposed reforms would tax capital gains income at the same rate as ordinary income, end the seven per cent investment tax credit, and abolish all depletion allowances. In addition, the petition calls for an end to loopholes in estate tax laws and for the taxation of state and municipal bonds.

"The existence of widespread tax loopholes for the wealthy creates a potentially country," said Steven J. Kelman '70, executive committee member of YPSL. "Working calls voters, resentful of their high tax burden, are persuaded that their taxes are due to welfare spending and thus vote conservatively," he said.