The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-22
DISCIPLE Of NAUTILUS
B0BS UP IN GOTHAM
Says Society Is Unhappy Because
Earrh's Production Does Not Keep
Pace With Population.

New York, Oct. 20-The Mills
Legislative Committee. which is study
Ing taxation. has turned UP some
strong things during the course of its
two weeks soiourn in New York City,
hut ii brought forth a real surprise
today in the person of Professor j.
+. JohrAon. OF New York University,
who disclosed himself as a disciple of
the late Thomas Robert Nautilus pre-
ponent OF the theory that there can
never be a happy society because pop
ulation tends to increase at a much
faster rate than the old earth, work
Ing overtime, can provide food, rail-
ment and other things that make life
worth living.
Now a friend OF the Malthusian
theory IL about as scarce as a man
with eleven toes. In golden Junior
days he used to be batted all over the
lot by the sorriest stabber after eco
nomic honors If there was one
thing that everybody knew it was how
10 refute the theory OF the famous
wrangling Canta brigham. But here
came Professor johnson sideeteppinR
the main issue just to say a good
word for him.
Discusses Income Tax.
Discussing today the income tax,
Professor johnson. who appeared as
chairman of the Merchants Associa
TONS committee on taxation, said he
wanted to nail the expressed opinion
that the exemption accorded to the
married man should be greater than
that which the lonely bachelor en-
Joys.
Since you are talking about ex-
emptions." he said. II might add this:
I would not exempt the married men
7 would not give any preference to
the married man over the bachelor.
I don't believe 1t is good thing to
encourage matrimony by lowering
taxation. On the contrary I would
discourage matrimony by making the
married man pay a higher tax,
think we should not do anything to
encourage matrimony and child-bear-
ing"
Surely YOU are not serious. are
YOU, professor" inquired Senator
Bovland
IT certainly am serious shonld
have to give YOU quite a disnuis,tion
to explain my conclusions. and !
doubt If II would he practice BILE for
you to consider the subject now. AMI
YOU would have to surrender to pub
lie opinion, anyhow. II you do put In
force a new system of taxation yon'll
have TO treat the married man
easily.
Confirmed Disciple.
IT am still a confirmed disciple of
Nautilus and I believe that the awful
war in Europe is being fought out he.
cause the human race has deliberate
" refused TO see the lessons Of his
doctrines. which were taught hun.
bred years ago"
Professor Johnson is professor of
economics of New York University.
He is himself a married man and has
three children.
I'm my opinion no married man
should be allowed to have children
until he can convince some authority
OF his ability to provide properly for
that child" said Professor Johnson.
We want all the increase we can
get in the direction OF the COOL c'e-
nent OF population. but we ought 10
keep down the riff raff.' although you
know. as a matter OF fact, there Is no
human riff raff.' yet we allow them
TO increase without any regard what.
ever. As for those who are able to
take care of themselves let them
marry and have children, the moro
the merrier."