New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-24

denial for the cause OF victory bN-
ample at the top is still, though
many rich people have set 1t with
excellent results, plenufully lacking
In 1.-THE Times Of November "a
caustic correspondent suggested
that IL might be as well TO remind
n,crbers of the bar that we are at
war since the Midland Circuit IS
about TO celebrate somebody's eleva-
ton TO the bench with dinner cost
inc OBS a head. This is one Of the
most fragrant examples Of unpatri-
Otto extravaganza that we have no
ticed. Fashionable women, who do
not know what money means, and
employers and workers in the indus
trial centres, who suddenly ma
themselves better off than ever be
fore, may to some extent be excused
If from mere ignorance and thought
lessness they spend without thought
of the national need. But members
Of the bar. men Of alleged intelli-
oence and so-called education, can
not plead ignorance. That such
thing could be done or contemplated
bv members of the profession which
is usually believed to bloom with the
flower of England's intellect in the
third wear Of the costliest war that
ever was waged elbows very clearly
that compulsion is the only argu-
ment that will check extravaganza.
Like Mr.. Snodgrass, the govern
ment is taking off its coat and say
ing that it is going to begin"-in
the matter Of food. 1t is high time;
but better late than never. The
Food Controller, when he is APP
pointed, will have plenty to DO and
probably will have 10 do a great
deal more than is at present con
templated. But extravaganza IN
food is only one form Of vice that
is weakening our war effort and i'm
pairing our financial strength. Ex-
travagance of all kinds has 10 be
checked, and can only be checked
effectively and quickly by taking
away the money Of those who are
wasting il; in other words, by taxa
ton in one form or another. Since
there are evidently many people, as
shown by the example Of the high
minded lawyers referred to above,
who will not recognize that the wars
demands make every shilling wasted
an act of treason, their superfuous
shillings have to be taken away from
them, so that it may no longer be in
their power to help the enemies Of
their country by untimely self-in-
diligence.
To allay the commonly held opin-
ion that the country is being ex-
plotted by war profteers a stiffen-
ing of the excess profits tax is urg-
emily needed. We quoted last week
q remarkable statement by Lord
Rhondda that mo man ought to be
allowed TO make a profit out Of the
war" These words were quoted by
a correspondent Of "The Times
writing on the subject of the atti-
tude of the Welsh miners, who add
ed that if Lord Rhondda were taken
at his word and an excess profits
tax of 100 per cent were imposed it
would have a more salutary effect
on the miners than any other prac-
ticable measure" We then observed
that 100 per cent is, perhaps, too
much, since it is hard to expect hui
man beings to extend their risks and
responsibilities without any chance
Of any extension in their profits.
But 60 per cent is clearly too low
a proportion of war profits for the
government TO take, since it leaves
large numbers of people with money
in their pockets which they spend
extravagantly, so setting an evil OK
ample, wasting by their self-in-
diligence all the labor that is used
to produce the goods and services
on which they waste their money and
causing a dangerous feeling Of dis
content among those who believe
that they are being exploited. If
the excess profits tax took so instead
Of 60 per cent and any distribution
of the balance were forbidden, as in
Italy, the revenue would benefit APP
preciably and much bad spending
would be checked.
An interesting suggestion has
been made to us that since not only
now, but at all times. it is consump-
ton rather than income that needs
to be checked, income tax should not
be imposed on that proportion OF the
income that is saved. That is to
say, if taxpayer has an income of
81 900 and can show that he has in
vested 5000 his taxable income
should be reduced to $500 to reward
him for having placed 900 at the
disposal Of industry in time Of peace