The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-05-12
TAXING BACHELORS

centuated in consequence OF the
great loss of life because Of tie war,
is receiving serious consideration at
the hands of the Government. The
Importance of checking the decline
is recognized by the statesmen OF
the Republic and many plans have
been suggested.
Two have been received with con-
siderable favor. One proposes the
payment Of bonuses to large families.
The other contemplates the discour-
agement of single-blessedness by
means of heavy tax on bachelor
hood.
The bonus plan provides for the
education by the Government of all
children of a single family in excess
of five, with liberal financial aid
FOR the support of the excess chill
dren. 1t is argued. by it's opponents
that the plan will encourage large
families among people of poorer
circumstances.
The idea of tax on bachelorhood
proceeds from the belief that such
penalty will force the selfish bache-
lor to take unto himself a helpmeet
and will go to swell the population.
Of the two plans, the bachelor
hood tax is in greater favor, primar-
ily becau-e it does not involve the
expenditure of public funds, but, on
the contrary provides plan which
may increase the nations revenue.
1t is not unlikely that France will
levy heavy tax on bachelorhood.
AS a means of raising revenue, it
is admitted by those opposing the
bachelor tax that it will bring re-
suits. But revenue is not the prime
object and the plan it is urged, will
not produce the results expected OF
it.
Opponents of the bachelor tax
cite the fact that during the days of
Augustus, the Roman empire sought
to check the decline in its population
by means of a tax on bachelorhood.
But Notwithstanding this, the old
families of the empire died out to a
large extent; and the fall of Rome
it is argued, was due largely to the
decline of Roman stock.
The Roman empire sought to in
crease population by the passage OF
a law that was designed to encour-
age large families. The lex Julia de
Maritandis ordinabis required all men
under sixty and all women under
fifty to marry. 1t levied a heavy tax
on bachelors so as to encourage mar
riage. 1t provided further that no 'un-
married man could inherit or dis
pose of an estate, the property OF
these circumstances, passing to the
public treasury.
But the law it is claimed, did nof
check the decline in Roman stock.
There were plenty of marriages, bul
they proved childless. The govern
ment was not so much interested in
marriages as it was in children, and
that is what rance is interested in
today.
The Romans sought to reach the
problem by placing childless hus-
bands in the same category as bach
elors and levying upon them a heavy
tax; but taxation, it is stated, failed
utterly as a solution. The Roman
empire continued to decline.
The birth rate throughout the
world, it is contended, has fallen off
with the increase and spread of
wealth. Though, it is more apparent
elsewhere, it is being felt in the Uni
ted States. The old New England
stock, it is pointed out, is decreasing
most of the large and many of the
influential families of that section
today are of alien descent. In Boston
two-thirds of the children are said to
be of foreign parentage, and but for
the immigrants the population of
Boston would be stationary.
Theodore Roosevelt was not far
from right when he began his agita-
ton on this matter. The question de-
serves more thought that it receives