Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-30

revenues are estimated at about six
billions less. AS the tax bill has not
yet been drafted, the estimate may be
taken for what 1t Is worth, considering
the fact that the estimators say both
that there may be deficiency and an
excess OF appropriations. Combining
loans and taxes. the total coast OF two
years Of war Is put at fifty billions. an
immense total even for this country.
1t is idle to compare this country
with any other, or with itself at any
preceding period. to discover the true
burden of the fifty billions. We have
outSrown all comparisons with our
selves so rapidly In the last few years
that the civil war comparisons arr, flu
tile. Comparisons with any one other
country arc unfair, for the reason that
the others have been spending blood
and treasure for four years, while we
have hardly yet got into our stride I'M
der either head. one Of our leading
banks has estimated that the total
cost of the four years Of war to the
entente would he 100000, 900, 900 up
to the first Of next month. That
would allow nearly one half to the
United States alone. England's ex-
penses were put at $4,000, 00O, 900,
and FRANCES at $4,000, 100000, or a
trifie more for the two than for the
United States alone for only two years.
But England's largest years cost was
less than fourteen billion, and
Frances's something over seven bill
Ions. Gerrnanyis total lies between
Engfand's and Frances, and the total
fn fha Ill
forty nine billions.
Such totals tell little about the bur-
den Of them. That is proportional to
population and wealth In both re-
spects we lead the world ~ much
more than we lead 1t regard'ns, ex-
pehses that the mouth filing fifty
billions gives us no ground for either
Boosting or complaining. or course
our cost Of blood is not to be men,
toned In comparison with that Of
other populations which had SO much
less to spare than ourselves. II is not
credible that Germany can lose en- ougn
more men to bring our losses lip to
that OF our allies. As regards money
cost, our excess above the coats of
England and France IL reversed on a
per capita comparison. Next years
taxes and costs are as yet 50 uncertain
that 1t is necessary to speak OF the
past rather than the future. Eng
lands cost per capita has ranged up to
$27s, and Frances to $3.50 Ours has
been put at $10s. and Germany's at
sli4. The average for the entente
allies has been estimated at 500, and
for the teutonic allies at 3114. The
largest the population, the less the cost
for each unit, and Russia's enormous
population drags down the total and
average for the entente.
Attic our fifty billions is so
much larger In itself. the earnings Of
Americans are so much greater than
our individual burden 10 less than for
any other country. The population OF
RUSSIA 10 greater, but the earnings Of
Russians are in reverse relation. It
may almost be said that Russian earn
ings under present conditions ar, not
worth calculating. Months ago Il. was
calculated that even then the war
costs nearly equaled the average Rus
SLAMS earnings, against one quarter
of the American average income for
American war costs. England is
spending more than it's income on the
average. but is In good financial and
physical condition. Germany is
spending less than Its income OH pa
per. but its morale and physiqu,. are
deterforating toward insolvency even