The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-03-02
PAYING WAR TAXES.

Every American man and woman whose
income is at least up to normal is required
to pay an income tax. The unmarried man
or woman earning more than $1,000, the
married man or woman earning more than
$4,000, or the husband, wife and children
combined earning more than $4,000 a year,
or whose income from other sources is
larger than those minimum figures, are call
ed upon to pay directly to the support of
the government. AS the returns are being
made out for submission to the government
during the next two weeks the question will
arise among the people included in the tax
alton group how long those taxes will
have to be paid. No one can forecast
the financial achievement of the gov
eminent, but present facts indicate a
period of forty years in which the war
taxes must be carried. Whatever reduction
in that period is made will be the result
of economy and efficiency on the part of
the government
The United States government owes in
round numbers 100000, 100000. Before this
debt is paid the accrued interest which
must be added will increase the amount to
about $4,000,O0O,000. The appropriations
necessary to operate the government during
the next fiscal year, aside from the $3,000,-
900, 900 deficit, will total $6,000,0OO, 1000.
At best, the expenses of operating the gov
eminent in the future will not be less than
SO ,000,0 100000 a year and $4,000, 100000
would be a reasonable estimate. These
annual expenses are outside the payment of
interest on the public debt and creation of
the sinking fund to pay the principal at
In a word, the $3,000,000,O00
or S4,000,000,000 a year does not provide
for the payment of the 100000 900, of
public debts contracted as a result of the
war.
If the government adds $1,000,000,000 a
year to the operating expenses of the gov
eminent to become a sinking fund for the
of the public debt and interest it
will require forty years in which to pay
the same. During that time the people
will have to pay either directly or indirectly
from $4,O00,000,00O to $5,000,000000 an
nually to operate the government and to
provide the funds from which the govern
ment debt can be paid. Unless unprece-
denied prosperity or efficient administration
of government finances reduces the time
business people may expect to pay taxes
in some form during that period.
No American regrets the money spent by
the government to support the soldiers in the
field or in preparation for the field But
having supported the army and navy to the
limit it is necessary to take a calm survey
of the obligations incurred, and determine,
if possible, what the extent of the response
bility is and how it may be met with the
least inconvenience. People who pay income
from revenues that are little more than
livings and business concerns which are now
paying such taxes would do well to make
their opportunities and their conditions fit
the possible future. Most of them have been
paying the taxes under the impression that
they are an expedient made necessary by
war emergencies, but which will be removed
as soon as peace conditions return. They
have not accepted the idea that income and
other direct federal taxes must remain in
some form for many years.
Business will have to be adjusted to that
solution and the time to do it is now while
the adjustment will not disturb settled con-
iitions as it will later when the mental view
point is different.