New Britain herald., 1916-02-18

V present taxes will raise only an amount equal to a drop of water in the ocean, and that the bulk of the debts must be liquidated by strict economy.
 Count kospoth's doctrine is hailed by everyone as sound, but not a few have smiled at it's declarations, for he is a man of comparative wealth. His recommendation that Germans be content to ride in street cars in stead of taXicabs, and to do with four hunters instead of eight hardly ap- peals to the poorer classes
 He predicts openly that cOnfisca- tion of private property will be neces- sary, but he dislilles the sound of the word cOnfiscatiOn and finally com promises by naming it the "1essenng of individual fortunes" Many again agree to this argument, but they also smile once more when thov contem- plate the confiscatiOn of the "fortunes'' of the average workman.
 Simple Life of Forcfa thers.
 "Go back to the simple life of our forefathers," he urges and cites the parsimony of Frederick William TIT in eating a few cents worth of fruit and turning his coat 50 that it's shah biness would not show. IIe predicts confidently that the German nation. hich has so Dravely and unfalterine- ly given it's sons in it's .ause, will even more willingly give it's money to settle the national de''t.
 The extent of the probable debt of Germany after the War is at present favorite topic of discussion in the newspapers of the nDire. The Frankfurter Nachriclten seems to take middle ground with it's estimate that the total debt--nerely from the war-wil be some 't ere between forty and fifty billicns of marks, with consequently interest charges annually of from 2,O00 to 2,5O0 millions of marks That, pl!ls the .-4,'te taxes, will increase the aggregate annual in terest to be raised by 3,5E0 or 4,OOO millions of marks
 In peace times the empre has to raise something like 2,10O millions a year., 700 of which are for the army and navy and 200 for interest on debts This sum, added to the interest on the war loans, past and prospective, raises Germany's future tax budget to about six billion marks Cor one aid half billion dollars) Q year.
 The Nachrichten predicts that this sum will be raised wher-v.r r it can be raised It predicts taxes on war profits and on every form If increase of fortunes, direct ard indirect. The yearly burden will be as treat, says the paper, as yhe combined incomes If all Germans who reCieve moro than five thousand dollars, and the prin- cipal equal to the combined fortunes of all German millionaires.
 The possible effect of war indem- mites is a favorite topic of specuIa- tion with many newspapers The Berliner Tageblatt inss,s that it wore mistaken and politically dubious'' to try at the present time to estimate what taxes are going to be, or to at tempt to work out the problem until the indemnity matter is d.'t'litclX set tied.
 It cautions, to be sure, .'ainSt the building up of any hcpe that the in demnities will be very grea', and at tacks certain unnamed newspapers which of late have amused themselves by working out ncathcriatical and financial problems by counting on all sort of huge indemnities, by in ''wcird games with figures
 The Tageblatt is content merely to estimate that the taxes undoubtedly will be ''heavy, very heavy," and that monopolies in all proba ',ility will be necessary It expresses absolute confidence in the ability of Dr. IIelf- ferich, secretary of state for the treasury, to determine wisely what the best method of taxation shall be and how much will be necessary, without impairing the economic life of the people.
 Starvation Not Necessary.
 If passable roads are chosen,' the Tageblatt concludes, "the German en- pire will be able to raise the necessary taxes without, to use the now popu- lar expression, having to starve itself in the effort. Our people will not be lacking in the needed spirit of self sacrifice and willingness to 10 with out things. The duty of the press is to awaken this spirit and keep it awake"
 In varying ways, members of the Reichstag, regardless of party af- filiations, indicate expectation that the tax problem, and therefore the wage problem is going to depend on the size of the indemnity which Germany may receive. Each man interviewed gave expression to the confident belief that the empire will receive some thing from it's present opponents when the final accounts are cast up.
 Six Billion of Dollars.
 One representative of the center party, not personally accounted rad ical, placed his estimate of the prob able indemnity on an even basis with the indebtedness incurred by Germany during the war-Over six billions of dollars to date-and would not grant that state of affairs could arrive which would so impoverish every na- tion involved that no one could pay such staggering sum.
 ''It is foolish to try to delude our selves into thinking'' he said, that