The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-24
The Chances of War.

Henry Clews says: We are possi- bly now on the verge of war with Germany, a catastrophe that only Ger many can prevent. If war comes which Heaven forbid, it's consequences to the United States cannot be very serious. Owing to our geographic po- sition we are less exposed to harm khan any of the belligerents and are relatively safe from attack. The Ger man navy cannot reach our coasts, and Dur own navy can do little beyond aid Ing the Allied nayies. Our army has yet to be created and it would be months before we had a well trained and equipped force to send across the Atlantic. Our most vulnerable point would be the relatively small Ameri- ran fleet of merchant ships, which would of course, be subject to sub marine attacks. A big bond issue would be one of, the first accompa pani- ments of war. Business relations be- tween Germany and the United States, small as they are, would probably be placed under legal restrictions, if not prohibited. It is not likely, however, that hosti1ities would very seriously disturb our financial markets. War might cause sharp temporary set back and shock; also a general mob1l1- cation of industry which it would ne ressitate. Some of the industrials would unquestionab1y be affected ad- Versely, while others, especially steel and munition concerns, would beneht through the placement of munition and equipment orders. Otherwise do- mestic trade would not be very mater ially affected. The withdrawal of any large number of men from active en- pIoyment would induce some embar- rassmeht owing to the general scarity of labor, and would further aggravate the present labor crisis. Foreign trade would be affected but little; commer- ciaI intercourse with Germany being already suspended. All happenings Of this character are based upon the pos sibility. of war. Yet. war may not come, and, if it does. it can scarcely be of long duration, while the end Nnfght arrive before we are actually ready with any important body of troops. It is premature to give up hope regarding the peaceful solution of the present crisis; and it seems in- credible that Germany will deliber- ately invite further isolation and the loss of her only remaining influential friend.
 One result of the war would be that the country would have to face an inn portant increase in taxation. The pre- paredness movement alone will prove very costly and may require an addi- tfonal expenditure of $2OO,000,O00 to $500, 100000 a year. What actual war would cost cannot be foretold, but it would certainly be several times the cost of preparedness Various means of raising further taxation are call ready being discussed; such as an in erease in the rate of the income tax, its extension to smaller salaries, an increase in the inheritance tax, and also rise in the tariffA Not much ad- ditionaIl revenue could be obtained through the latter source, for the req son that when the tariff reaches the prohibitive standpoint, it automatically ceases to be a revenue producer. States and municipalities are also adding to the burdens of the taxpayer; &he gen$ eral disposition being to tax property wherever feasible, and not infre- quently with a flavor of vindictiveness. Thus far there is wide public oppo- sition to increased taxes, simply be- cause the average man is ignorant of the fact that all taxes have a tendency to distribute themselves and in time are ultimately passed on and paid by the consumer, who blissfuIly sleeps in the delusion that his more prosperous neighbor pays the tax. Taxation is one of the most pressing problems of the day, and will soon become more SO, especially abroad.