The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-09-23
GERMANY. READY
(cortirued Prom Page One.s

which the nation finds itself. PoSeeritg
must pay the penalty.
To-Day the German public debt Is S27.-
757.oo0n4o about Sl.oo0.ooo.oGa less
than that Of the United States.
Austria has a public debt Of $127sz.-
900 400 while the debt Of France. despite
the fact that this country has been tnra
BY the actual tIghtins. has contracted
about 5000 100000 less than that OF
Germany. Before the war Germ Iny had
a public debt OF only little over $1,000
h0c 900. less by a narrow margin than
that Of the United States.
Actual figures az 20 the amounts or
tho various German war loans are I'M
available. but il is generally known thai
they have been larger than those OF
/ Great Britain. The total English cxpen-
d;ture ut the end of March 1918 has
been $1,000. 100000.
Throuh her present method, OF taxa
ton Germany cannot even hope TO pay
the interest on her war loans. The at
.c,,t7t to levy an increased tax met with
stem oppositio non the part OF the fed
eral states and q tax on increased In
comes WAS then rcsnrtcd to. while an ad
/ ,-olorcn lnvy was made upon all prop
| "
taxed and On excess profits tax similar.
! in a way. to that in vogue in the United
states. was adopted but the German cor
: rsorntions did mt respond. Attempts at
tax evasion through false bookkeeping
anil other means were brought 70 light
! and punished.
The personal property tax called for
certain exemptions Among these jewels
we're included and Inc German flnaneiers
made huge Investments in pearls and
other precious stones. These were taxed
Il. turn but other mems Of tax lodging
were discovered. The German will freely
lay down his life for the Fathcrland- but
he will not lay down his money unless
! 1t is reasonably secured And fair rate
Of interest is promised.
Public interest in the German war
loans has been stimulated By American
! publicity methods.
When i. was discovered during the
carly loans that the farming class was
not buying bonds to the extent expect
ID. IN educational campaign was inauE-
, urated for their especial benefit. The
; third and fourth loans wcrc designed for
/ the special benefit Of tn" lahortnE class
es Bonds a. low AZ SIS wrrc placed on
! the market and met with ready sale. Tho
| last loans have hecn fn- tho big invest
ors and since tn" bonds sold ut from
! 37ls 70 aS1t it has not boon difficult for
! tho government to find plenty OF buyers.
| Tho banks hay" S!rnn great hid In tho
! disposition Of the bonds. For their
! share in disPoslrE nf the bonds they
| were given fat commissions. method
which worked we'll during certain per-
| iod$ Of the American Civil war. Munic-
/ in,lities. as such. mode heavy invest
. rncnts in bonds, tho public trcaSu-!cS o.
: these municipalities being compelled to
, borrow Tho money with which to make
! the purchases.
! Educational knmpaiSnS hay" been An
/ important means OF stimulating interest
! in the war loans. hut coercion In on"
form or Other has also bccn used with
;'charct nristic PruSsan high handedu"sS.
| This has been especially true in the
case Of soldiers. If they did not buy
; bonds leave Of absence was denied. d!sa-
o.: sres.@hle duties were forced upon them
. and they wore ncvcr in line for promo
ton.
| Mnny leaders have ordered many sotn-
tinns %: tllr post bctlum problem which
cnniron's their country. FlturH gene
rat;ons have been Saddl"d 4t;h debt
which they can sc:lrcely hope 10 clear or
even h. drastic means until the vitality
of tho country has bern slapped. Govern
.rl~nt control Of tobacco and other lu1u-
RIGS rr:tj- BIZ expected.
: Ia\snort IL ::lrr" is n German govern
nc"ut ai'trr IN" war u. * prhhahlc the
s;atr will dominate all Industry and IN"
orc fits. thus earned by thc, state. Will l."
u:,rd I" virc "'Ij The debt whHh Ger
many has placed upon h"T people.