The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-12-05

/ comments quite freely and interest
ingly from time to time on various
phases Of business. In reviewing
conditions now existing in the coun
try, this financial publication finds
much evidence of prosperity, with
promise of more prosperity to come
Under the caption: " Definite Proof
Of prosperity with more to come, The
Trade Rerord recently carried the
following:
an economics, income taxes are
called the fairest levied, but in this
country people are so unaccustomed
to them that resentment against such
levy extends deep into politics. with
| surprising results when votes are
counted, particularly in the East,
which pays most OF them. Neverthe
less returns from the income tax for
year ending December 81, 1915, made
public yesterday, are clearest proof
of the countrys prosperity. 1886 ,652
people paid an income tax of $67,943,-
294, an increase in year of $27,000,'
900 and most of the increase from net
incomes of $4,000 or more. This OF
course. was under the old normal tax
and not the doubled article Of this
year.
Some genius will some day figure
out relation of automobiles owned to
number of people paying income tax.
The strong point of all is that these
figures cover onl: ~ initial months
Of improve business indicating some
thing phenomenal for the calendar
year 1916. in the way of increases.
The state OF New York paid nearly
half OF the individual income taxes
and was equally prominent in the
amount of internal revenue paid on
fermented liquors and cigarettes.
When it comes to corporations
which made returns on the income
tax, there were 336443 of them and
they paid $5S,547.OS1. When 1t Is
remembered that the Stock Exchange
has listed securities of less than zoe
corporations volume of increased bus
mess In sight for 1t may be guessed
at as mercantile and manufacturing
concerns learn advantages OF wide
markets for their stocks and bonds.
II the calendar year 1915 could
make as good showing as it did of
the prosperity OF corporations and
some individuals. rsturns for the
year 1916 can be safely estimated al
a potent factor in furnishing to Uncle
Sam some of the money he needs so
much to meet his enormous ap.
preparations"
These figures show prosperity,
without question. But they do not
tell the story. Prosperity does not con-
sists in large incomes for com.
parative few. A country is prosper.
Gus when its great masses OF wage
earners and salaried men are living
well, living in such manner as to de-
velop their maximum efficiency, and
so as to give to their children the
best Of opportunities. The Trade
Record might have gone further and
quoted as definite example OF pros.
perity, the increasing of wages
throughout the country. This is even
more important than the increase in
large incomes.
The country is, unquestionably. en-.
joying vast prosperity There is but
one fly in the ointment at the present
time, and that is the high cost of
food necessities. Even this evil can
be abated considerably by a practice
of economy. The people of the Uni.
ted States are yet to learn that they
waste much. When they cease to
waste, consumption will be less,
prices lower and consequently. ex.
penses of living lower.
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