IN WEATHER AND FOR LITERACY, TUESDAY WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Tuesday was a beautiful day ... not only weather-wise but community spirit-wise here in Cape with the second YELL DAY.

Almost $38,000 was raised for literacy, NIE, and United Way participants. The NIE funding for 2,900 newspapers delivered daily to area school children helps the Southeast Missourian with its $120,000 commitment to literacy, better grades.

Today, the JACKSON CASH-BOOK has its YELL DAY and the sun should again be shining down on the SEMO FAIR and its anticipated visit from BARBARA BUSH ... herself a strong advocate of teaching young people how to read.

Our thanks to the many community volunteers and purchasers of the special YELL DAY newspaper projects. Also to media outlets, KGMO, KZIM and KFVS-TV who helped promote the event.

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Last week our Editor KEN NEWTON, myself and WYNN RUST, (who was one of the speakers ... and one of the better ones) attended the MISSOURI PRESS ASSOCIATION's annual conference in St. Louis.

We won seven awards in competition with the billion dollar corporation-owned KANSAS CITY Star (which owns ABC); the SPRINGFIELD News-Leader (owned by Gannett-U.S.A. Today); the multimillion dollar Pulitzer Media-owned ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH; the multimillion dollar Dow Jones-owned (Wall Street Journal) JOPLIN Globe, ST. JOSEPH News-Press, etc.

PETER KINDER's column tied for fourth best serious column in the state. JON RUST's YELL edition (last year's) and PERSPECTIVE feature tied for fourth in their categories; our chief photographer MARK STERKEL placed second in sports photography.

Many of our other reporters and KEN NEWTON's column received strong praise, but didn't win honors with the tough and arbitrary judging. A number of our advertising department products were also winners.

SPEAKOUT always penalizes us with journalism school graduate judges, who don't like to lose control of their news content. However, we believe a newspaper's two-way dialogue and community input is a major part of First Amendment Rights and we're more interested in satisfying OUR readers than contest judges.

All in all a good show. Especially when we once again ranked in the top rungs on COMMUNITY SERVICE.

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IP0,0Luxury tax hurts

more than it helps.

IP1,0A "luxury" tax was instituted last year that forces consumers who purchase cars, boats, furs, jewelry and airplanes costing over a specified sum ($30,000 for cars, $100,000 for boats, for instance) to pay an additional tax of 10 percent on that amount.

It was designed to generate additional revenue for the U.S. economy from those individuals who could best afford it. In other words, it was designed to "soak the rich."

However, the luxury tax has hurt much more than it has helped. And it has especially hurt the average American.

The new tax has effectively raised the prices of these so-called "luxury" items. This has resulted in fewer purchases of these items, forcing businesses to eliminate jobs. Working people and their families, therefore, are the real victims of the luxury tax.

A 1991 American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) survey of its high-line dealers found that they laid off 7,500 employees. High-line manufacturers have experienced major layoffs in their U.S. headquarters and field offices.

The boat and airplane building and retailing industries last year laid off nearly 20,000 Americans. Locally, the St. Louis Business Journal recently reported the planned liquidation of St. Louis Yacht Sales Inc. The article reported that the owners cite the luxury tax for the company's demise.

The jewelry and fur industries also report widespread job losses.

The people who are losing their jobs are working people, such as parts personnel, secretaries, janitors, mechanics and craftsmen, who have kids to feed, house and send to school.

Besides all the jobs it has cost American workers, the luxury tax simply does not do what it is supposed to. It is a revenue loser--and the losses continue to mount every day.

While exact figures are not available from last year, a study conducted in 1991 by Temple, Barker & Sloane said that federal and state governments will realize a $135 million drop in revenue in 1991 from automobile sales alone. That $135 million drop translates into reduced dealership income tax payments of $26 million, lost customs duties of $22.5 million, lost gas guzzler revenue of $22.5 million and lost state sales tax revenue of $64.5 million.

These estimates don't include the additional cost of enforcing the tax, paying unemployment benefits to the thousands of workers laid off, or the reduced tax payments by workers out of jobs.

The luxury tax is a poor safety policy. Larger, more expensive cars historically have been the leaders in innovative safety developments such as air bags and anti-lock brakes that ultimately benefit all consumers. If the cars don't sell, such developments will be slowed.

As a result of continuing legislative and regulatory changes to improve emissions and fuel economy, the price of cars continues to escalate. That means even more cars, including family-sized sedans and station wagons, will be subject to the "luxury" tax.

Finally, the luxury tax is hurting domestic automakers, not just imports. According to the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, an estimated minimum of 65 percent of the cars subject to the luxury tax are made by domestic manufacturers.

Simply put, the luxury tax is a job destroyer, a revenue lower and a big mistake. Congress must do what's right for all Americans and repeal the luxury tax.

Ron Moore ... president and chief executive officer of the Moore Automotive Group, which includes Cadillac, Jaguar, Pontiac, Nissan, Jeep and Eagle automobile dealerships in West St. Louis County.