Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-01-08
ENORMOUS LEVY
SPECTRETOHUNS
Tax Outlook Makes Fu-
ture Look Dark To
Fatherland'

BERLIN, Jan. 8.-The spectre of
tie enormous emergency levy on
property which threatens drastical-
ly to reduce German industrial for
tunes in the next ten years makes it
difficult for Germans to forecast the
economic outlook of their country
for 1920. Leaders in financial, polit
lcal and social circles are divided in
their opinions of the measure for ma
tlonal relief proposed by Matthias
Erzberger, minister of Finance,
There is a widespread belief among
financiers, bankers and financial writ
ers IN Germany, that if two of Err
berger's plans are put into effect.
Germany will face future over
cast with black clouds, if not actual
ruin. The most important of these
two measures is the emergency lew
on property which financial writers
assert will reduce industrial fortunes
of 100000 marks to less than s.
100000 in a decade. The second
measure is the income tax which, it is
claimed by some, will "beggar every
modest fortune as well as every great
fortune
Bankers say it all comes down to
this that america must come to our
aid"
Dislike Foreign Loans.
Ihey wish a comparatively small, /.
direct credit and disapprove of the /
much discussed international loan
which, they believe, would saddle the
debts of England and France on the .
United States and thereby, perhaps.
reduce the amount of credit Germany
might obtain.
The opinion appears to be gaining
in Berlin financial quarters that Err
berger's days are numbered and that
he cannot long continue to exert his
influence on the majority VINO pay
least and therefore support his finan-
cial policy.
Berlin writers declare that Ger
many's political future depends in
the last analysis upon the working
this document has been consunated
in all its technical details, Germany
will be unable to locate her fresh
starting point. This is regarded here
as the cruX of the whole situation
and Germans expect the situation 10
remain acute until this has been ac-
complished
Germany's more conservative po-
litical leaders frankly admit Boil
shevist gains at the next election
They say the Reds may capture so
seats instead of the % which they
won a year ago and that they may
poll 100000 instead of the 2,750-
600 they obtained in the last national
election. The conservatives, how
ever, assert that the Independent,
Sparticist and Communist elements
will become less popular as the oDptr-
tunities for work increases III Ger
many.
See Government Unchanged.
Political leaders say that indica-
tions point to an indefinite postpone
ment of the elections on the ground
that the present government, on the
strength Of its popular mandate. is
entitled to continue with a program
of specialization at a pace in keep
ing with the nations economic recov-
cry. 1t is pointed out also that the
new LIBERALISM cav satisfy itself
with lifelong President as a sub
stitute for a constitutional mon
archy.
1t is agreed by German industrial
leaders that the German workers arr
weary of striking and that the la
Dor situation has been improved so
far as the shortage. of coal and raw
material permits. The authorities
say that German industries are work
ing an average of perhaps four hours
daily and that this is the limit pos
sible with the present under supply
of coal. When the coal situation i'm
proves it will be possible, they say, to
make real industrial beginning with
raw materials.
Germany's recovery and progress
during the next year is felt by Ger
mans to depend on a whole success
sion of "ifs." Many of them believe
that if Erzberger drains German in
dustries with his taxes, there is little
hope of their recovery. The same
critics declare that if the Entente
does not tighten Germany's load
little bit, the nation may be driven
to Communism II Carpoor ;rJ
try cannot recover some measure of
It's former efficiency, they say, the
world will be the loser in the end