New-York tribune., 1908-11-08
THE GEPN4N TAX BURDEN.

Amid the bellicose pother in the Balkans the
recent reopening of the Prussian Parliament
passed with slight attention, although 1t had
great significance. Seldom IN time Of peace
has a sovereign's formal speech on such an oc-
casion been more heavily fraught with in
terest to the people than King Williams
That it is being pondered with much care by
all intelligent PrusSianS is not to be questioned
That we shall hear much more of 1t in the not
distant future is confidently to be expected.
The salient feature OF the Kings speech was
It's announcement of new taxation. We dis
cussed not long ago the German Finance Min
| isters warning of an impending heavy increase
in imperial taxation, and II was then, as often
before, remarked that such an Increase might
not be burdensome, provided the incidence of
1t were not upon sources already worked by
the state governments and that while state
taxes were already high imperial taxes were
comparatively low In that view of the case
Germans were prepared to endure with fOrt-
tude Mr.. SydowS new scheme for increasing
the imperial revenues.
But now the King Of Prussia informs his sub
jects that not only the German but also the
Prussian taxes are to be greatly increased.
There must be permanent addition of at
least $5OOOOOOO q year to the state revenues
That is considerable levy against a popula-
ton OF little more than 100000. 1t will mean
about 81 3S head and, as the people are now
paying ST so head in direct taxes to the state
the total will rise to So 49, 1t must be borne in
mind that the direct state taxes only part
Of what the people have to pay, the land taxes,
house taxes and trading taxes being municipal.
Inc public debt of the kingdom amounts to
about s53 30 d head, and the yearly charges on
it are 81 25 q head. Obviously the present bur
dens OF the Prussian people are heavy.
no will iS frIla hp mi IL
tary purposes but rather in great part for
such Il purpose as the critics and opponents Of
militarsm most favor-tO wit education. 1t
is deemed necessary TO reorganiZe the school
system and to raise materially the salaries of
teachers, and also of the subsidized clergy. For
such purposes the $50,OOOOO0 a year will be
used But even the praiSeworthy character OF
the expenditure will not make 1t easy for the
already overburdened nation TO assume this new
imposition.
This fact seems 10 have been In the Kings
mind when he prepared his speech, for he con-
fessed that already tho finances OF both the
kingdom and the empire were In an unfavorable
condition and that the economic progress Of the
nation was temporarily retarded-in brief, that
Prussia and Germany were suffering from hard
times and business depression. Nevertheless
the additional taxes were necessary. They
would be imposed upon public companies, upon
property, and upon all incomes exceeding
81, 100 year. and the King exhorted bis sub
jects to bear them "in spirit of economy and
self-sacrifce." It is a gloomy outlook, and will
not be void Of political effect, though that ef-
feet may not be as marked as 1t would be under
q more equitable system of suffrage than that
which now puts the ruling Of the country into
the hands of an ogarchy.