The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-05-25

"OdIu ulluOubOCNly NduSN.
Seeking a source of war revenue,
we turn from the average citizen to
the people of means, who have ac-
cumulated wealth under their com-
try's flag and institutions They can
not bear the main burden of defend
ing the nation in the field or on the
sea because there are not enough of
them. But they can and should bear
the money burden. and no doubt will
be glad to do so if properly impressed
with their responsibility. They are
financially strong and they can fl
nance the war from their surplus
wealth practically without personal
hardship. To them, to their patriot
ism and willingness to offer to the
country whatever it requires, we must
look in this hour of general and mu-
tual obligation which the great fam
lily of American citizenship has as
sumed.
A large war tax, even to the point
VI IdhlnS all dbpNc an income ul
100000 a year would not in any
way cripple or discourage these more
fortunate citizens. Certainly there
should be a tax on small incomes, al
though the increasing cost of living
VIII probably be tax enough on the
average family; and for this reason
70 4b,,,, Il. L.
small indeed and graduated so that
the burden of actual Inconvenience
and self-denial shall be equalized as
far as possible. The measure Of all
war taxation should be its effect on
the life, health and happiness of each
class of citizenship, rather than the
size of the contribution made to the
government. All should give in ac-
cordance with how much they can
give short of distress.
Effect of Large Tax on Large
Incomes
Reducing large incomes for the
period of the war and until the war
debt is paid (and soon paid) will
have a salutary effect on the coun-
try. 1t will tend everywhere to
economy and thrift, which, by re-
ducing the demand for luxuries, will
lower the cost of necessaries to the
general public; whereas the alterna-
tive of creating huge bond issues and
leaving them unretired for years
inevitably tends to initiation, to ex-
travagance and to raising the cost of
living-already an oppressive bur
den.
Rich Endorse Plan
Along this line Mr.. E. W. Scripps,
the millionaire newspaper owner of
California, said in a memorandum
which he sent to the Ways and
Means Committee:
From the source which none of
US have yet even dreamed-that of
the infliction of a great war-we
may draw the greatest reform and
the greatest blessings to our peo-
pie.
Some of us have very large in
comes, and we are prompted, and
even by the opinions of society
compelled, to indulge in great eX-
travagances. We employ servants
who produce nothing for the com
mon good, and only minister to our
vices. We purchase costly and snowy
clothing, houses, food, furniture, au-,
tomobiles, jewelry, etc, etc, the pro-
duction Of which has taken the la
Dor of many hundreds of thousands
of men and women, who, if they
were not so employed would be pro-
ducing other commodities in such
quantity as to cheaper them and
make them more accessible to the
poor.
IAN enormously high rate Of In
come Tax would have the effect of
diverting all this labor, that is Civ
en- to practically useless things, into
other channels, where production
would be useful to the whole peo-
pie.
''In the case of the government of
the United States, the income is so
enormous that out Of it could be
paid double the amount that the war
is costing England annually; and ex-
cept for the disturbances and read
justment, the people of the country
would suffer not at all, while they
would be greatly benefited by the
discipline and the necessity of think
ing hard, and perhaps working
harder"
Such a policy of paying the war
bonds and certificates by taxes on
large incomes assuming that the
rich will not evade such taxes but
cooperate patriotically in the effort
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