Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-05
Rule That Falls Down.

Rule That Falls Down.
The expert economists who used to
devote their mental energies to supply
irg ready-made family budgets showing
just what percentages of the household
income should be spent for this. that.
and the other items of living costs have
now turned to tabulations indicating
the precise amounts that should be set
aside from all incomes for war contri-
buttons. For obvious reasons their
present activity seems to be about as
futile as the former.
A wellknown financial institution in
New York has compiled what purports
to be scientific" ratio of war savings
for the American people. II has taken
the estimated expense of the war for
the next fiscal year and has neatly
divided up the burden among the 2 100.
600 families and the corporations of
the United States on what it calls a
fair basis" The alleged fairness OF
the basis appears to be about as "scien-
tific" as might be the calculation Of a
clergyman's consumption of alcohol as
CLEANED from a statistical report of the
per capita consumption Of whiskey.
AS there is personal equation" which
has to be considered in certain matters,
so there is an equation Of economic con-
ditions which is an inevitable factor in
the distribution of an income
The self-constituted authority on the
relative duties of citizens has figured
out its whole neat system on a gradual
ed percentage basis. Accordingly, we
are told that a 1900 income should al
low 500 year for bonds and other war
contributions, 5000 income about $40.
a $4,000 income about $500 and a 5000 in
come about $1,000.
All differences in personal circum-
stances, domestic duties and obligations
are calmly ignored A dollar is a dol
lar and a man is a man, and we are all
coolly catalogued, card-indexed, and put
in our proper pigeonholes along with
our duties. Having performed this So
cial duty, the banking concern has pub
lished its informa ton and presumably
has resumed its routine functions. As
TO the actual value Of its report. il
might just as well have devoted its
time to devising new set OF rules for
the game of golf
To consider merely the lowest class
in the list why should It be assumed
that the man with a $1,000 income can
easily set aside 500 year for war
! bonds? OF two men in that class one
may be single. with no dependents OF
'anV and with M I
| the necessary provision for his exis-
, tence, while the other has a wife and
hVe children to support. and possibly
other obligations in the way of period
nlal duty, the banking concern has puh
tlves-in-law. If the latter can manage
under existing conditions TO allow s1N,
! a year for war purposes. certainly the
! former should be liable to contribute
s4c0 or $500, Although their incomes are
the same, their respective potentialitjes
as bond buyers and contributors are
tremendously far apart.
The same distinctions. OF course. exist
in the higher classes of income. There
is a great difference between feeding
six mouths and clothing six bodies and
/ feeding one mouth and clothing one
| body. and that difference is not TO be
/ ignored. 1t is difference that is more
sharply emphasized now than ever be-
| fore. Statisticians and economic ex-
perts talk lot Of nonsense. Human
abilities and moral duties can scarcel. 4.
be harnessed up in neat diagrams and
used as practical formula of life
Ihere are duties which every citizen
must meet at this time, but his budget
system must remain largely under the
control of his own conscience. Certain
~ the pseudoscientifc experts cannot
devise perfect system by applying a
T-square and monkey wrench to in
comes regardless Of widely varying con-
ditions-Providence Journal.