The sun., 1918-11-25
Yer Capita Wealth and Kitchln's
Sectional Taxes

Among the numerous communica-
tons which have come to THE Sun
on our discussion of KITCHENS sec
tional taxes one asks question
which has close bearing on this
very important national subject. 1t
is whether heavier Income and ex-
cess profits taxes exacted from the
States north of Mason and Dixon's
line are not due to higher per cap
tia wealth. The correspondent says !:
Now will you not write one more
editorial on the real principle Of excess
profits taxes and income taxes, using
the same figures you give in this quito
thorough editorial Of November Is: but
will you not this time bring In also the
elements of population and consequently
the per capita wealth. and also the way
in which the wealth OF each State con-
sidered Is in the hands Of small or
large proportion OF the population
AS matter Of fact the Kltchin
raiders are not helped In their de-
fence by a true comparison of popu-
lation with wealth and taxes. On the
contrary a true comparison by States
of the per capita wealth Of those thar
possess the wealth of the South
makes the case against KITCHIN and
his taxes all the worse.
In the Solid South the black man
is not merely n negligible factor in
casting the ballot. because the whites
don't let the Niger vote; he is for
the most part negligible factor In
counting wealth. Not only is all the
political power held and exercised by
the white man in the Solid South.
but virtually all the wealth of the
Southern States whose taxes we have
compared with Northern States is
lodged in his hands
The Government reports show, as
we already have printed, that while
the wealth of Florida is $1.049, 49,
22S the income and excess profits
taxes paid by Florida for the last
fiscal year were only $4.639, 116,
whereas Maine. with wealth OF
81, O69, 594, OPT, paid $12,O16,Os5. The
Government records show that in the
latest census reports the population
Of Maine was some 100000, while the
population of Florida was some $780,
900. But the black population OF
Florida was 30S,66o, the white 443,.
634. White population compared
with white population, the per capita
wealth of Maine was 81 800; Florida S
was $500.
While Rhode Islands taxes were
| S16,3S5,54S as against South Caro-.
lina's $T,SS4,000, the per capita wealth
of South Carolina, white compared
with white. was $1,000; Of Rhode
Island $500.
Vermont and New Hampshire, with
! less wealth together than Mississippi,
paid $9.9O0,OO0 taxes as against Mis-
sissippis S4,964,OOO. Yet, white com.
pared with white, the per capita
wealth of Vermont and New Hamp
shire was $3.50 as against Missis
sipprs Sits.
Massachusetts paid five and a halt
times the taxes Texas paid; hut white
compared with white, the per capita
wealth of Texas was S2,l40; Massa
chusetts $1,015.
Wisconsin paid more than twice the
taxes paid by Oklahoma. Neverthe
less, white compared with white Gal
though the Indians are Included II
the Oklahoma white tgures). the pc
capita wealth Of Oklahoma was SO,
ITO. wlsconsin's was $3.50.
Michigan paid go per cent NOR
taxes than Oklahoma. Yet as agalns
the before mentioned per caplt'
wealth Of Oklahoma-$3,170-Mlchi
gan's was only $3.50.
OF the States north Of Mason anC
Dixons line compared speciticall!
with States south of Mason and Dix
on's line in our editorial article o
November is only Georgia, white com
pared with white, showed a lowe
per capita wealth-$1, Gotham Con
necticut, with $2,0T0. But Connect
cut, it Is to be recalled, paid $62, 1870,
900 OF taxes. Georgia paid no more
than $16,23O,OOO.
As for the individual possessor o
large wealth, the rare exception ii
any State, probably the full detail
of the income tax records would b.
the only safe guide. Those detail
are not yet available. 1t Is a matte
of common knowledge, however, tina
there are no huge personal fortune
in the State of Maine. The same thin
is pretty much true of Vermont AM
New Hampshire. Connecticut is cele
brated for Its lack of large fortune
but the general well-being OF its in
habitants. Massachusetts, has ricl
men and big business earners but n,
colossal fortunes as measured agains
some Of those In New York, Ohio
Illinois and other States. On tn
other hand, II South Carolina, Flori
da, Alabama and Mississippi are no
known for great personal fortune
there are very rich men and enor
mously profitable enterprises In Okla
homa and Texas, as there are in Viz