Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-09

Tar HaSioul OF the Earth
The tact and diplomacy shown by King
Edward of England In his dealings with
neighboring powers, will be put TO the
severest test in the pending negotiations
designed to harmonic the differences be-
tween the House of Commons and the
House of Lords over the taxing provisions
of the ~Lloyd-George budget. The situa-
ton at home Is much more difficult to
handle than dealing with another nation.
1t involves the fierce antagonism of party
politics, the scheming for party advantage,
the appetite for spoils, and the all but
endless qualifications OF wealth and priv
ilege opposed to increased taxation. All
the dexterous moves possible in a party
contest will be made by the opposing divis-
ions, and these must be met by the royal
conciliator in such manner as will lead
both sides to believe they are victors. The
adjournment of final action Of the budget
by the House of Commons defers the prom
Used crisis for at least six weeks. Mean
while speculation on the outcome Of the
royal negotiations will be tense. If reports
are to be relied on, both sides are eager
for an appeal to the country, each ex-
pressing confidence of winning. Above the
tumult of clashing party interests there
are possible conditions which the peers are
not likely to invite. Outright rejection of
the budget seems improbable. Such dras-
tic action would invalidate the annual taxes
which went into effect on the introduction
of the bill, producing chaos in the Treas
ury department and grave disturbance to
business. The more probable plan of the
opposition is to hang up the bill by delay
ri $500 .v-G.WA Taag
embarrassment to the nations finances,
but 1t is one so destitute of courage that
the electorate would robuke 1t at the first
opportunity. The situation as 1t stands is
not a cheerful one for the lordlings. Posi-
bly, their embarrassment had much to do
with the anxiety of the king to soften their
fall.
France has a revenue deficit almost as
robust and perplexing as the deficits of
england and Germany. 1t amounts to
$40, 100000, a huge sum for a country where
taxing has reached a fine art. Finance
Minister Cookery, has drafted a budget
Increasing present tax rates and impos-
ing taxes on persons and things which
nave heretofore escaped the tax gatherer.
Increased death duties are proposed. There
is now a graduated scale OF duties, rang
ing from 1 per cent on estates Of not more
than $500 to 8 per cent an those of more
than SO, 900, 900, which so to the nearest
possible heirs. Beneficiaries not in the
direct line Of succession or not related to
the decedent pay morer in an increasing
scale, until legates removed six degrees
In relationship or unrelated must pay Is
per cent on the smallest requests and
2O.5 per cent on the largest, so that on
an estate Of S12, 900. 900, which was left to
remote relatives or non-relatives the state
would collect 81, AGO, 900. Mr.. Cookery pro-
poses to increase all these rates, raising
the lowest from l to 15 per cent and the
others at an increasing ratio until the
highest is raised from 205 to 26 per cent,
and he would make the highest rates
apply not only to the sixth degree of
relationship, but to the fourth degree
and all beyond. 1t is estimated that from
increased death duties $1,000, 900 additional
revenue will be secured. Other items will
be S13, coo, 900 from tobacco, $1,000 900 from
alcohol, 100000 from absinthe and bit
ters, $500 900 from stamp duties and
100000 from publicans' licenses. There will
also be a tax on automobiles, and the
tax on advertising signs which are lighted
at night will be doubled. In this way it
is hoped to make the budget balance.
zee
King Victor Of Italy intends TO have a
heart-to-heart talk with the German chan
celIor on war taxes during the latter's visit
to Rome this month. Italy has as large a
variety Of burdensome taxes as any ma
ton in Europe and is less able to keep tho
pace in naval and military expansion. and
naturally is anxious to reduce the strain.
As a partner in the triple alliance, IT is
Italy's privilege to take the senior robust
partner aside and whisper a few hot words
in his ear. Something must be done Ia
check naval rivalry, or the second class
powers must retreat before bankruptcy
begins. The seven great maritime nations
are spending on their ornaments at pres
ent nearly S6li, 900. coo annually: England,
SlS5, 7l3,5OO United states, Sl4S, 1913, SIS. Ger
many, $97, 100, so; France, SG6, 769, It's; Russia,
$50, H,O55; japan, $3.50 o us; Italy, s33, 776, ass.
ss
Statistics as compiled by T. st. John
Gaffney, the American consul general at
Dresden, show that Germany owes its
present commanding position among the
nations of Europe by its high birth rate,
and, as well, to a surprising decrease,
within recent years OF it's volume OF emf
grafton. OF the twelve countries Of Eu-
rope, Germany now has the lowest emf
grafton, which, in 1908, was 1850. This
was a falling off, as compared with 1907
Of u,7l6; the first time since The founding
OF the German empire I'm 1871 that the emf
grafton had fallen below 1000. After the
Franco-Prussian war there was an eco
homie crisis and the people emigrated in
great numbers, reaching 9O2 900 for the year
1881. Then began a gradual decrease tn
1893, when an average OF 10000 a year was
reached. With that year, however, Ger
man industries began 10 develop. and in
1894 the emigration suddenly dropped 20
1854. Since then II has continued TO de-