The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-05-17
WAR TAXES.
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the idea of the administration, information
from Washington indicates, is to make 1t partlcu-
larly hard on the rich when it comes to paying
the bills.
The income tax never has made a hit with cou-
NON CLIPPERS, of course; and rich Republicans-as
well as rich Democrats-are a unit IN decrying
the "inccome tax business; y poor, ordinary or av-
erage Republicans and Democrats have never
been much exercised over the tax.
Il is said that income taxes will be jammed up
until they take a quarter to a half OF a rlcn mans
nccme-which is considerable to squlfm ABOUT!
This plan has been followed in England, now
.yer: and it was found entirely satisfactory TO the
masses who didn't feel they could afford much
more tax--aving. In England the income tax is
in the neighborhood of eight times as heavy as IN
mr. country; and even before the outbreak OF the
var was in the neighborhood of four times as
heavy.
When the break with Germany came stocks IN
Wall street went up, rejecting the state OF nina OF
Wall street, There were profits in sight. The
"~street" was quite joyful over the prospect, ara
1isplayed American flags to show OF its PATRIOTISM.
Watch out for the show when the government
begins putting on the income tax screws. we
tr,,st. however, that none of the brethren IN the
took brockerages plants will take in their Amer
;can flags on that account.
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Injuries AND THE WAR TAX.
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That the man who can afford to buy luxurles
deserves to be higher taxed than the man who
ant, is an axiom of wartime taxation
The war tax bill, therefore, lays it on heavily
T,uxuries are under the ban as the nation fights.
Yet a reasonable amount of luxury is the es-
sence of civilization. The difference between US
and the Cave Man is that we know how to make
more ~luxuries.
Resides, ideas regarding luxuries change.
What we consider as necessities the Cave Man
would have thought only fit for the tribal chief or
a god.
We don't believe the governments war tax
will kill off luxuries-reasonable, legitimate lux
,ries. like music. In fact, millions Of people have
been civilized and cultivated to the point where
they consider music as an absolute necessity anu
neither a war tax or a government ofnclals spec"
ious reasoning can convince them otherwise.
Resides. the man or woman who can indulge IN
,,xuries in spite of the war should do so; ne is
doing a service to his country by helping to keep
going industries whose extinction we cannot per-
nit in spite Of the war.
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7 THE NAVAL RESERVE.
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The count " has been made keenly aware OF
the lack of a ma val reserve. On yes, we lave the
ships-the reserve ships which lie at anchor IN our
Ell vards-the secord class battleships, cruisers and
auxiliary craft. Pa a visit to the Philadelphia
navy ward and you will be quite impressed witt
their number.
But the na ~ needs 47,5oo additional men tt
man the reserve feet, else it cannot get into &C.
a ton! -..t
For years the navy and army have beer
e drumming ui' e%nlistments, with rather poor sue
e cess. The navy has been as a re-
sult. A decale ago it required something like SO(
men to mar ! su oer-dreadnaught; now it requires
v 1000 cr nee. 1t is said that most Of our frs
Is .h;ns # thtline are not fully manned. Be thai
20 as it nav, .owever, it is a fact that the reserv'
,e fleet j. sea ely manned at all, except with crew.
using the sap, as training schools.
The fiji t act Of the American navy in the pres
ne ent crisis s t. load up with the required numbe
Of of MEN 70 ssaI its ships. And with action in sight
ce this prob,dy can easily be done.
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HOW MANY U.BOATS.
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s- We az read stories that Germany has 60
he U-boats feiday t9 de their ruthless work. W.
by believe hese figures are much exaggerated.
~ Prudent Wilson is said to have obtained in
~forrnaen that Germany really has from 80
100 m ''super-submarines" ready, or nearly SC
mt witt lhich to embark on the starvation cam
We pa thNt has interferred with our rights on tn
I'd. hi Jeai, The latter figure is at least reasonable
~ p pears then, that the kaiser is depending
~ a II addition Of about 100 of his submarine
ar out a policy that defes the neutral world
his, 1T ill be his last card. Anyhow, come wha