Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-17

ried Englishmen of title. They do not
all come IN the class Of those who must
pay the maximum tax of one-third of
their incomes, but all OF them must pay
very heavily. Practically none will pay
less than fifteen per cent, the rate that
falls on those who have over $4,000
year.
American wives OF Englishmen are,
of course, not the only Americans who
pay the tax. for a great many American
millionaires have transported themselves
to England and become naturalized there.
The most conspicuous case OF an
American expatriate is, of course, Will.
lam Waldorf Aston. Many Americans
feel particularly aggrieved by his case,
because he is the largest landowner in
New York and derives a constantly in
creasing income. without exertion from
the industry and growth OF the city.
1t would seem that he is under a Pc
culiar obligation to spend his income and
money in New York. But twenty odd
years ago he caused it TO be known that
he considered America mo place for a
gentleman TO live in" and moved to Lon.
don. He purchased the Marquis of
Lansdowne's house in London, the Duke
OF Westminster house, "Cliveden," on
the Thames, and several other lordly
habitations.
Strange TO say, he won no popularity
in England. He was constant subject
Of cartoonists and the victim OF para.
graphs in the English press which,
though more sedately expressed than
they might have been in America, never
theless stung him cruelty. His strenu.
Gus efforts TO gain title were fruitless,
although some very plcbeian English
millionares obtained them easily.
Mr.. AstOr was Infatuated when he first
found that he had to pay the heavy Eng
;e1, ;y,n
the war tax has fallen on him he must
be in pitiful state Of mind. a despatch
from London has estimated the tax he
will pay under the new budget at
S1.250,000 year.
This seems a low estimate when we
remember that the value of his New
York property has been calculated at
S2OO,O00,000. This ought to yield an in
come OF SS,000,000, and a tax Of one.third
would, of course, be about $26O0.0OO 1t
is possible that the British Government,
in view OF the fact that all Mr. Astor's
money comes from New York. agrees TO
lower return than the real one.
1t would be idle to criticize Mr. Astor's
children for DESERVING New York, for
they were mere children when he took
them away. They have all become Brit
ish subjects. The oldest, Waldorf Astor.
is Tory member OF Parliament and
married the charming Mamie Lang.
horne. one Of the brilliant Langhorne
sisters Of Virginia. The second son.
John Jacob Astor. Is an officer in the
Kings Life Guards and has once been
sent home from the front, wounded.
One OF the many oddities of Mr.. AS
tors case is that his ancestor who
founded the Astor fortune in America
was a German immigrant.
The position Of some of the Americans
In England will doubtless excite general
sympathy in this country. Lady Beatty,
beautiful and brilliant Chicago girl, is
married 10 Admiral Sir David Beatty.
the most distinguished figure in the
British navy in the war. He has twice
defeated the German fleet on the only
two occasions when it ventured in force
into the North Sea.
Copyright, 1915. by the Star Company