The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-09
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FRON OTHER PENS
TAXATION IN JAPAN.

The Japanese have a domestic prob
lem on their hands which does not give
them time to think of any other Ques-
ton. 1t is the problem of taxation,
which has vexed other countries than
theirs, but which is now driving them
to desperation. Taxes are already
enormously high for so poor country,
and it is proposed to increase those on
such necessaries of life as sugar and
kerosene. There is bitter popular OPP
position to any increase.
But while the people object to higher
taxes, they insist on having certain
things which cannot be had if those
taxes are not imposed They are so
proud of the victories won over Rus
STA that they demand expenditures on
account of the army and navy far in
excess of those which the finances of
the empire make expedient. When the
government in it's estimates of appro-
priations, cut down those for the army
and navy there was furious outcry
from those who are complaining of
higher taxes. They want Iuxurfes, but
are not willing to pay for them.
There ought to be heavy outlay on
the Japanese railroads, which were al
lowed to run down during the war
When the ministry, In its budget, set
aside only a small sum for this pur-
pose that more might be available for
the army and navy, it was accused of
Indifference for the material interests
of the empire.
The Industrial depression which is
visiting Europe and America has reach
ed Japan. 1t will intensity the dis
tress which is being caused by taxa
ton carried to the extreme. Japan has
not now, and will not have for some
time to come, money or leisure for war
The manufacturers, merchants ana
farmers will have all they can do to
provide the money to take care of the
national debt, pay the ordinary expen-
ses of the government and the extraor-
binary expenses incident to the trouble
some japanese Chicago
Tribune.
THE LOSERS IN LIFE'S RACE.
Everybody knows that the losers in
life's race far outnumber those VINO
have succeeded, but seldom is the fact
brought home with as much force as
in some figures compiled by Mr..
Chiozza- Money for the London Post.
Seven hundred thousand persons died
in Great Britain in 1907; OF ,o course
Sbassser lief! the oher aai II left prop
erty to the value of $1,496,6IO,OO0
But even this does not express the
disparity of fortune in the world. Tor
of the S2.121 almost two-th1rds died,
and 10000 additional left not more
than $1,000 apiece. Thus the fact Is
that 81, 900 persons out OF 100000 left
virtually all the property. or certainly
over a billion dollars worth.
The state of society where such
condition is possible is not likely to
arouse much enthusiasm In the minds
of social reformers- Philosophers Will
saw there must be something radically
wrong in a system that produces so
great an inequality of wealth Most OF
the 100000 persons who died In 1907
were producers, yet the means OF dis
tribution of the wealth created were
SO faulty that the production, above
the necessary amount of subsistence,
went wholly to only $1,000 OF their
number. 1t Is unthinkable that these
$1,000 were the only members of the
company who, in Prof. Barrett Wen
delrs phrase, were through their own
merits raised to the cream of society,
and that the other $4,000 We're kept
through their own drunkenness and
Chicago Journal