Evening star., 1921-05-12
ITALY. WITH GREAT TAX BURDEN,
SEEN RECOVERING BY PREMIER
On Eve of Elections Giolitti Is Optimistic
+. Despite Financial Straits and the
Emigration Problem.

manifold. There are income. exces-
sive profits. hercdity and property
taxes. which are familiar 10 virtually
all countries. To these has been
added long list of other taxes de-
signed to gather revenue from those
best able TO bear the burden. You
may be sure we have taxed luxurtes
TO the limit. We have taxed trolley
carfares. railroad fares. tickets to
moving picture theaters and all kinds
or amusements. The government col
lects A tax for virtually every trans
action In business. 1t collects tax
for the right te do business, and pro-
fessiona! men. including newspaper
men and writer's, are liable to this
tax: Then there are taxes on wine.
medlcines, perfumes and sugar. be
SIDES the large income obtained from
me monopolies in tobacco and salt
The government has searched dill
gently for places where othex taxes
could be levied, but ii:..found no
possible place"
adverse exchange rates have sent
the Italian Ira downward to record
fsHres. This had tendency to force
prices to an enormous height. ac-
cordfng to the conceptions of our
people. but the people paid the prices
During my administration. through
d"esed striving and prudent man
asement of expenditures the Italian
Ira has increased in value until to
day the dollar is valued at only 19
lire. while at one time the dollar
change rate will improve. unless 1t Is
affected by the industrial crisis.
which Is affecting trade in general
all over the world.
Country OverpopuIated.
Italy is a thickly populated coun-
try 1t has almost 400 inhabitants
to the square mile-twice as many
as your populous and richest state
New York Italy Is oyerpopuiated
There are not sufficient resources in
the country to sustain such virile
healthy increase. every decade. Out
of our almost 1000 square miles
Of territory but one-hfth may be cul-
tivated; two-t1fths of the territory
lies on hillsides. which can be only
partially titled. while the remaining
two-fifths IL absolutely barren noun
tain and rock Given this situation.
It ia imperative that we find an out
let for our constantly increasing pop
ulation.
"New American restrictions on I'm
migration have dealt us severe
blow. but we must find other quarters
to which we can send our emigrants.
Before the war the people leaving
Italy for, other countries numbered
100000 each year. Of whom 100000 re-
turned nome annually. We pidn tnat
in future we will send abroad 100000
yearly. providing we can find a field
for them. Last year but 400, 900 emf
grated. largely due to the lack OF
ocean transportation.
I'm the pre-war days Italy had
trade balance against her of a little
more than s200,000.00O. but this was
more than overcome by the wealth
brought back into the country by
our emigrants, which amounted to
5000 900, 900. and the money brought
into the country by foreigners tour
ing italy. who spent 1920. 900. 900. Thus
there was a material increase in the
national wealth by the operation Of
these forces. They are gradually re-
suming their pre-war rate.
Hope Seen in Election.
we are now on the threshold of
the general elections. This is a source
OF great pride to me. for it seems the
greatest proof that Italy is absolutely
free from revolutionary tendencies.
Elections are not signs Of revolu-
tions. but are, rather. certain proof
Of the contrary. We are looking for
ward to new chamber of deputies,
in which the entire process Of gov
ernment will be able to function.