Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-08

of his produce 81 per cent in taxes to the
imperial government and from to s per
cent in taxes to the local government
There are some prosperous business
men in Japan. some few rich men. If a
mans income reaches the amount of $780,
900 a year he must pay 6S per cent of
the whole to the government as an in
come tax, or an annual tax of $4,000 out
of $4,000. And that tax is not based upon
return made by the taxpayer. but upon
an estimate made by the secret agents
of the government, in a land where the
secret agents know every secret. There
are only Is men in japan who pay taxes
on an income this large. But the income
tax pursues. In descending scale, the man
In every walk of life, down to an annual
income of $50. And the very poorest
must pay an average income tax OF 80
per cent. The land tax In cities is 20
per cent per annum on the assessed val
uation. The assessment is made at about
so per cent of the actual value, so that
in ten years the owner of city real estate
has paid in taxes the full value of his
property.
These enormous taxes are paid almost
without complaint. Just before the war
with Russia the taxes were quadrupled
for war purposes. Patriotic japan did
not protest. Just after the war the war
taxes were almost doubled again for
what purposes? Patriotic Japan en-
dured and paid. Patriotic Japan is still
enduring and paying, and there is no
prospect that the taxation burden will be
lifted. There is some protest, Of course.
There was a boycott of salt as a result
of the government monopoly increase in
prices. The newspapers have inveighed
against higher taxes, but their protest
has been no more vigorous and no more
successful than the campaign for taxa
ton reform in the American press. The
ministry was forced, by public opinion, to
place a limit upon the expenditures of
the navy and army, but the limit is
quite literally high
The national debt of japan approx
mates A,140, 600, 000-a per capita Indebted
ness of s2l93 more than twive the per
capita indebtedness of the United States.
The japanese debt represents money &C
tually borrowed abroad for the purpose
of pushing forward the imperial pro-
gram. The American debt is largely an
artificial concern kept as large as possible
to enable an absurdly inadequate bank
ing system to keep up an inadequate cur
rency issue. The difference is that the
Japanese debt will have to be paid In
ROOQ colo caSh, anu the ld4 COAASClOAS diS
now busy taking money from the people
to lay up against the day of reckoning.
The financial condition of Japan is
such that a war with the United States
or any great power is practically impos-
sible. The only war japan is in condi-
ton to fight would be one with China,
which might result as the other one did
In a net profit for Japan's treasury.
Yet the difficulties of this fiscal prob
lem will not prevent the statesmen OF
Japan from pushing forward their plans
for the great Japanese empire. If the
people will continue to stand the heavy
taxation, that taxation will be imposed.
If they will bear the burden long
enough, the statesmen may be successful
in establishing a mainland empire and an
industrial system which will repay the
nation for its toll and privation. Yet
there Is a limit even to Japanese patience.
If the statesmen are not wise, If they
push beyond that limit, then the end OF
Japanese ambitions will be found in
Japanese revolt. There is nothing so I'M
likely. Despite the deplorable condition
of Japanese finances, there are few clouds
In the political heavens Illuminated by
the still rising sun Of Nippon.