The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-05

Our object, however, was to introduce Ger
tain facts which have been collected by Mr.. c.
r. PORTER, an eminent English statstcian
This gentleman submitted paper, at the Au-
gust meeting Of the British Association for the
Advancement Of Science, an abstract of which
we find in the London .aLhen9uDl of August
10th. His object is 10 show the proportion in
which the wealth of different classes has in
creased; 50 far as that can be gathered from the
few public sources of information. His first
examination was into the amount of deposits
in the Savings banks. This shows that the
deposits in England Wales and Ireland, pro
portioned to the population, amounted, in 1881,
to S. 06 per head; in 1886, to SO %; in 1871,
to 81 50; and, in lS4S, to So 06.
The next test offers more strictly compara-
tive view of saving as between different classes
Of community, though it excludes all evidence
Of actual saving. The accounts furnished to
Parliament Of the number Of persons entitled to
dividends upon portions Of the public debt, di-
vide the fund holders into ten classes, according
TO the amount of their dividends Mr.. PORTER
contrasts by tables the numbers in each class as
they stood on the 9TH of April, and 9th of July,
Of the years 1891 and 1913, respectively
There has been very large addition between
1881 and 1913 to the number of persons receiv-
ing under 20, at each payment Of dividend,
and small increase upon the number receiving
between e. and flO; while, with the excep-
ton of the largest hoders-those whose divi-
dends exceed $4,000 at each payment, and of
whom there has been an increase of five--every
other class has experienced a considerable de
crease in its numbers. There has been a dim
mutton Of more than eight per cent. in the mum
Der receiving between $500 and .C5O0; Of ~
per cent. Of those receiving between $500 and
fl coo, and Of more than 20 per cent. among
holders of stock yielding dividends between
Ct 900 and e., 600.
The next branch Of inquiry to which Mr..
PORTER directed his attention was, the sums
assessed to the income tax in respect to incomes
derived from trades and professions in 1912,
compared with 1913. From the former pc
Rod he excludes the incomes below sGl50.
because these are not taxed by the existing
law The total amount thus assessed, after
deducting exemptions, was, in 1912, t2l PAT,
G2l; while, in 1913, the amount was $780,
900 ,224, showing an increase of 1921 per
cent, being at the rate of 4.67 per cent yearly
ian increase he remarks, very nearly three
| fold greater than the increase, during the same
period, of that part of the population of the
| United Kingdom which is. subject to the in
| come tax" He distinguishes the incomes
| thus given in several classes, with the follow
| ing results Between ESQ per annum and
$500 per annum, there is an increase between
| 1879 and 1913, in the incomes assessed, Of
Els, 724 $40. Between $500 and 81 600
per annum. the increase has been Is, 100, $40.
| On incomes between G 900 and sf2 900, the
| increase has amounted to "a ,07S, 095. In in
| comes between $4,000 and $4,000, there is
an increase of "a 059, 743; while, in the high
est class, which includes all incomes above
-c5, 600, the increase is found to be Els, 275.
Mr.. PORTER next examines the returns,
showing the sums upon which probate duty has
been paid in respect Of personal property left
by persons deceased. We have no room for
more than his statement that there is the most
perfect agreement in their results with those ofal
the other official returns, which afford means of
arriving at the truth upon this subject. All
lead to the conclusion, that so far from its being
| true that the rich are becoming richer and the
poor poorer, those who occupy middle station
are progressively increasing in number, and in
| the proportion which they bear relatively to the
population of the kingdom.
We are aware that it may be said that these
returns, with the single exception Of that Of the
Savings banks, relate to persons who belong to
the class Of capitalists and not laborers. The
smaller capitalists, however, are those whose
revenue is the result Of their personal labor and
attention in the employment Of their capital.
| The recruits to their numbers must be from the
class who are accommodating from their mere
| labor; and that their number should be such as
to be ever increasing the proportion which the
class they Join bears to the whole community.
is evidence of the same progressive ability in
them which the tables show in their superiors
in condition.
We publish in another column a letter from
| Major WEIGHTMAN TO the President of the
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