Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-18
EXCESSIVE TAXATION.

excessive taxation.
lie pointed out that money by the
billions was needed in this country to
exploit the undeveloped resources of
the United States, which resources
are urgently needed for the prosecu-
ton OF the war
The United States, contended Mr..
!cnedict. has but one source by which
the resources of this country can be
developed, and that is by capitalists
who have surplus money, and If the
government goes to the length of taxi
ing greater part of this surplus earn
leg, in taxes on incomes and excess
profits, no resources can be devel-
oped, the United States will be short
of needed war supplies, and the in
dustries of the country will suffer
Anything that tends to disturb the
industries of the country will hamper
US at war, said Mr.. Benedict
Mr.. Benedict drew a fine COMPARE
son oe old world countries whose re-
sources are entirely developed, and
''''f'' 'b'N 'il Nii'ot tOhntlltS ldhtS
could be higher, because there was
no place to invest the surplus earn
ings In developing resources at home
that would add to the needed war
materials; while, on the other hand,
there are in the United States untold
billions In unearned increment which
~ surplus earnings can he turned
into AN earning increment, as well as
adding to the supply of war neces-
carries.
Mr. Benedict cited that, the total
valuation of the United States in 1915
was Sl7S,000, 900. 900, according to
tho assessment rolls, which do not
represent more than one-third of the
actual value. The real value of this
country-that Is, the individual value
of lands live stock, etc.--is perhaps
nearer $500, 900 600 600. These fig
ures do not include the undeveloped
country owned in fee by the federal
government. lie pointed out that,
according to the governments own
figures, there were in the state of
New Mexico alone 191 900. .000, 900
tons of coal. AT ten cents a ton"
declared Mr.. Benedict, "the New Mex
leo coal alone would bring in more
money than the total war cost of this
country for year.
There are 300,O0O,0O0 acres I'm the
public domain, rich In colossal fig
ures. Altogether, the federal govern
ment owns 4S0.000,000 acres of coal
lond--one acre would make a man
rich The federal government owns
lb0.0C0.000 acres OF producing
land. and 5000, 600 acres of oil-bear-
ine land 200, 900 acres of timber
land, and 200. 100000 acres of hydro :
electric power lands-rich beyond the
dreams of n CrOesus. There are am
pie resources in Alaska alone, which.
If developed by surplus capital, would
pay $4,000 600, 900 in interest alone
on a war loan. That territory is rich
In sold, coal, timber. sealing, agri-
alone in 1916 brought more money to
the United States than Secretary Sew
ard paid for the entire territory In
the sixties.
II the United States cared to enter
into the business OF developing the
natural resources II owns. we could
finance the war for a dozen years at
double its present cost of $40, 900, 00O,-
00O per annum, without taxing the
people one cent. But it Is not the
policy of this government to do its
own developing but II is the duty OF
This government to foster develop
ment, and If the surplus incomes are
taken In whole or In majority part,
these resources cannot be developed.
nor can they he fostered.
The United States Steel company
is earning half "A billion dollars a year
half OF that Will go to the gov
ernment In excess profits, the other
half will 80 into developing tho iron
mines of this country. employing hun
dreds Of thousands OF men, and bring
ing into United States earnings. more
billions of dollars that are not now
being earned. The wealth OF this or
any other nation is measured not by
money, which is a mere token. but
by the resources. which are devel-
oped, and IL left updeveloped have
no earning power.
The Dupont powder works will
earn a quarter of n billion dollars this
year. but the Duponts have estab-
lished In New Jersey dye industry
which has cost s275.000. 900, which
will supply for this country the dyes
which we have formerly purchased
from Germany, and that money will
not only stay at home. but will give
this country supremacy in the dye In
dustry, employing hundreds of thou
sands OF men and women at good
wages.
The earning increment of the peo-
pie of the United States in 1916 was
S3S, 900, 100000, The year 1917 will
show more than $4,000 000. 900.
Every dollar OF money appropriated
for the war or loaned to the allies will
remain in the United States. In 1915
a