The Washington times., 1919-08-24

4OAACEg jug EBCSGAAAS A4O" AAC Nv
quired His British Title.
n EGINNING many years ago a steady
stream Of exceedingly wealthy
Americans began to leave this coun-
try and settle down in England and other
European countries, because they believed
they could get more for their money there
more social distinction, more obsequiOus
servants at lower wages, more immunity
from democratic manners and comment.
Now the tide has turned the other way.
Five years ago, when the great war fell
on Europe, some Of our rich American
eXpatriates began to return home, and the
stream is steadily increasing in volume.
They are returning because they expect
to find more safety, less taxes and better
prospects of happy future in their native
country.
Here it should be noted that those Amer
ican miIlionaires who have settled in Eng
land have found themselves in the dis
agreeable position Of having to pay income
tax twice over The American income tax
has recently been raised to IS per cent on
incomes over a million dollars annually.
The English tax is, roughly speaking, the
same on the largest incomes.
Now the British Government requires
anv American who has become a resident
of England, even though not British citi-
zen, to pay income tax on all his income,
including that which comes from America.
The American Government, Of course, re-
ouires a person to pay tax on income
Eained In America though he lives abroad,
for it would not be right to encourage our
citizens to become expatriates.
Thus it happens that rich Americans
douiciled in England are in some cases
subject to a tax larger than their incomes.
II Is difficult to believe that many Of these
luxurious persons are living on less than
nothing a year, but that appears to be the
intent Of the law, and if they actually find
themselves with a little pocket money
they may have kept it by some kind OF
eamoufage.
One conspicuous instance Of returned
expstriates is that Of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph
A. Blake, the latter Of whom was once
noted in New York society as Mrs. Clar-
ence Mackay 1t will be recalled that in
1914 DR.. Blake went abroad on account OF
the notoriety which had befalen him in
consequence Of his first wife's divorce suit
against him, her suit for $1000,0O0 dam
ages against Mrs Mackay and other do
nestle troubles. He was then one Of the
weaIthiest and most fashionable surgeons
in New York.
DR.. Blake let it be understood that he
was going to spend the rest Of his life
abroad and that he did not find America
pleasant place He looked over the ground
in England and then passed over to Paris,
which looked very pleasant to him. 1t was
announced that he would practice among
the wealthy British and American colony
In Paris.
Soon after that the war broke out and
DR.. Blake married Mrs. Mackay. They
could hardly return just then to the un-
pleasantnesses they had left behind in
America. They stayed in Paris for four
years, but no sooner was the war over
than they came back to America. DR..
Blake announced that he would henceforth
practice principally in New York and
spend the Summer at Newport
A good story is told of an episode that
happened Immediately after the Blakes
landed in this country.
"Oh, dear how English you look" re-
marked a friend to Mrs. Mackay.
you would not have us look American,
would you?" Indignantly replied Mrs.
Mackay
well, that is the way we felt about it,
but we did not know you agreed with US"
retorted her friend.
The most notorious Of all expatriates is,
of course, William Waldorf AstOr, now
vet returned to this country and can
hardly do so without making himself ridiC-
ulous, but several members Of his family
have returned to America, and there are
indications that His Lordship has turned
regretful glances toward his native
country.
Three months ago his second son, Cap
tain the Hon. John Jacob Astor, OF the
Kings Life Guards, came over here with
his wife, who was originally Lady Violet
Elliott, daughter of the Earl Of Mimic. and
was married first to Lord Charles Marine.
who was killed in the war. Captain Astor
was severely wounded and came here to
recuperate and enjoy a deferred honey
moon. He first went down to Palm Beach
and after that visited California.
It is a very significant fact that over a
year ago Lord Astor transferred $4,000 900
Of his New York real estate to his second
son, Captain Astor. This includes Lord
Astor's share Of the old Astor House site
and some neighboring parcels. This divi-
sion Of property certainly reduces the sur
taxes to be paid by the. Astor family. and
II Captain AstOT were to reside here per-
manentIy he could avoid paying all Eng
lish taxes on this large estate
Thirty years ago William Waldorf Astor