Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-03-28
Taxation And Extravaganza.
MD.

editorial comment from time to time and
in the conversation Of the man one meets
upon the street. 1t is well that it should
be so, for it is hopeful sign Of general
interest in the conduct Of public affairs.
That kind of interest. once aroused. is
likely to become militant and to exert
wholesome influence in legislative and
executive branches Of governments.
An immense debt has been incurred in |
the prosecution of the war. and until our
army is disbanded and our navy placed |
upon a peace footing. we will have to make
large military expenditures, as well as to
pay the interest upon some twenty-four
billions Of dollars of debt and provide a
sinking fund for its extinguishment. The
taxes for the current year are scarcely less
than those for the previous year. and, in
addition, loan Of seven billions is neces
sary to pay the maturing obligations of the
government
All of this money is to be paid out Of the
resources of the government; but the re-
resources of the people of the country,
which the government may by law appro-
pirate to meet its obligations. This appro-
priation may be accomplished in many
forms, and it affects every income and
should awaken the interest of every citizen.
But Federal taxation is not the only bur-
den that has been increased by the expense |
of the war. Sources Of revenue hitherto
untouched by Congress and largely relied |
upon by the States for local development. |
are now being levied upon by the Federal
government to degree that, added to the |
State levy. creates an oppressive exaction
from the great mass Of the people. 1t is,
for example. entirely within the range OF
possibility that the inheritance tax i'm
posed by Congress may be made so high |
as to force the States to decrease 1t or
abandon il altogether. with the result that
the rates upon land and other tangible |
property will be increased and weight added |
to the burden Of agriculture. Other meas |
ures also tend to cripple the States and to
create a condition in which taxation for |
local purposes, in the benefits Of which all
classes of the community participate. will
be unfair and discriminatory. In word,
as some one has said lately, 1.-The Federal
government is impoverishing the State |
governments, and unless check is found
to this process profound change will occur
in the whole structure Of our institutions.
Such a change would not. in our opinion, be
for the best interests Of the people. but 1t is
a subject that requires fuller discussion
than can be given to it here, although ii
should not be ignored in our reflections
upon the topic under review.
A disturbing element in the situation is,
that along with this recognition of the
seriousness of this subject Of taxation,
there is more or less widespread demand
on the part of thouehtless and dreaming
people for government activities along
increase the public expenditures. Every
faddist is clamoring for State aid fanati-
cism in dozen fields is connecting schemes
Of reform the enforcement Of which would
require an army Of officials and mint of
money. Matters Of real and pressing neces-
sity also, such as the repair Of WORKOUT
highways. imperatively demand large APP
preparations Of the public funds.
As we said above, these things can be
paid for only out of the resources Of the
individuals composing the nation. 1t fol-
lows that the utmost economy in public
affairs consistent with their decent and
efficient administration should be exercised.
In our individual affairs we constantly
postpone the purchase of things which
would afford us pleasure and comfort, be-
cause we cannot. at the moment, afford TO
spend money upon them. The necessaries
of life absorb our incomes. And we gen
orally discover, after brief season OF dis
appointment. that we are not materially
worse of for our failure to realize our
desires. There come times in the history
of communities when like spirit OF thrift
and self-restraint is essential to the imme-
date general welfare and to continuous
and stable progress. The spendthrift spirit
is as disastrous in government as in indi-
viduals. and infinitely more criminal be-
cause 1t involves thousands who are in no
way responsible for the ruin.
Another fact contributing to the Difficult
ties Of readjustment is that owing to alb
normally high wages and the employment
by the government Of thousands of extra
clerks in the departments, great many
people have. as result Of the war. enjoyed
a scale Of living they never knew before
The money came easy and was spent law
ishly-often foolishly without moment
consideration Of what would happen when
the source of supply was cut off. Mean
time luxurious habits were formed. This
is the class upon whom discomfort sits
most heavily when they can no longer
enjoy what they have learned to love. II
never occurs to them to save against the
day Of unemployment or to form habits Of
patient industry which would insure a
living in comfort in the changed conditions
that were sure to follow the feverish haste
and waste Of war They lapse into state
Of idleness. nursing a Crouch, and in some
instances disturbing the peace. in order to
gain their ends-thus agsravatine the con-
/ditions Of which they complain and post
ponine the day Of relief.
In this state Of affairs large measure
of responsibility rests upon thoughtful
citizens as well as upon those who make
and administer the laws. Politicians are
prone to listen and yield to those who
clamor for what they want, and 1t is per-
haps true that the class whose interests
suffer most from legislative extravaganza
are those whose voices are not heard
because they lack the aggressiveness which
Ia l.. al.