The Washington herald., 1917-04-29
How the Editors Are Viewing
America and the World War

Stafs anu otIlpes tFOopeu Win thc coiOfs
of the armies against Germany, but they
expect 1t.
The statement Of Rene viviani, for
mer premier OF France, indicates that
not only will the physical force of our
army be welcome on the battle fronts,
but the moral effect viii be quite as i'm
portant to our common cause.
1t is question that has dominated the
war situation in this country from the
very beginning
Americans have signined our i'm
portance as a base Of supplies for the
allies and many. particularly those with
acihc tendencies, have believed that our
obligation ends with the maximum pro-
duction of shells. artillery and food sup
plies.
1t is becoming increasingly appar-
ent that something more than our in
dustrial resources must be marshalled.
We must send men.
We must be fighting factor, as well
as patriotic banker.
And 1t can be done. Men can be or
ganlzcd and spared. Probably we are in
better shape to rise to this need than
we have ever been since the close of the
civil war.
Moreover. a decision to send men
nothing else can do. Men hesitate about
rison duty is not attractive.
The New Republic.
The Committee on Financing the War
OF the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States has submitted to the busi-
ness men OF the country a plan of war
taxation which is remarkable in some re-
spects for its breadth and in other respects
/ for its restrictions. The report of the
committee recognizes the desirability of
collecting as a part of the expenses of
the war unusually large sums from tax
alton; and 1t proposes a series Of leyies
which are estimated to produce about
81 10000, 600. This total is approximately
the same as the total which Prof. Selig-
man recently calculated as the indis-
pensable minimum which should be
raised from taxation during the first year
OF the war. 1t is a smaller sum than
can be and should be raised, but It con-
stitutes a larger proportion of the ex-
penses of the first year than any Euro
pean country collected and II indicates
an unfamiliar and encouraging willing
ness on the part of responsible business
men to volunteer taxes. But the COM
mittee goes astray in its proposed plan
OF distributing the tax burden. 1t pro-
poses to raise 800, ,00O, 900 from levies on
Incomes which would mean a very mod
crate percentage and one much smaller
than could easily be borne. It proposes
to raise only 500. 900 from an excess
profits tax, although Great Britain is now
obtaining over $500. 100000 a year from the
same source on a smaller volume of busi-
ness. The residue which constitutes
three-hfths of the total is to be derived
from stamps. customs and eXcises, most
OF which would constitute burdens on
consumption rather than on wealth. Some
additional revenue can and should be de-
rived from these sources but the Com
mlttee OF the Chamber of Commerce de-
pends on them for an excessively large
proportion OF the needed revenue II its
plan were adopted its effect would be
at least in part to lower the standard OF
living of the class which is already de-
prived OF sufficient means OF subsistence.
New York Evening Post.
From many quarters come reports of
an imminent breakdown Of industry.
Yesterday 1t was the coal mines which
were going to be so hampered by lack
OF labor and transportation that their
production would fall far below normal
and curtail all other business. This is in
the face Of wage agreements in both
bituminous and anthracite which are un-
precedented for their promptness and
cordiality. Just now comes the report
that the maintenance Of the coal sup
ply has been assured by an agreement
between the producers. workers. and the
Council of National Defense Why
should we have all this calamity howl
ing? That war has produced many new
conditions which will cause a great de-
parture from normal, is a commonplace.
And that we must be reused to the
necessity Of adjusting ourselves in the
novel may excuse some Of the current
exaggeration. There will no doubt be
shortages here and there ,,-;I,
not be calamitous. To shout so loudly be-
fore we are hit is to show small faith in
the common-sense ability of the country
to solve the problems which confront II.
We are not going into national bank
ruptcy because of a declaration Of war.