The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-02-22
Joke in Indemnity Bill.
From the Sioux City Journal.

From the Sioux City Journal.
! What would the people of the United States
! think if they were presented with PROPOSE
| ton to go to work and earn money to help
Germany pay part of her indemnity to the
allies9 Suppose that, in addition to the IN
Creasing burdens of taxation in this country,
our industrial and commercial depression IN
recovering from the war, our unemployment
problems and host OF other difficulties we
have to contend with we were asked to set
aside certain sum to go toward aiding our
late enemy in settling her war bill with the
rest of the world? We have relief campaigns
to supply food and clothing to other foreign
lands, why not a collection in which they'd
pass the hat for Germany?
If such measure was introduced in con-
gress we wouldn't be long finding out that
something was wrong There would be a
riot of protest from the constituents back
home and the telegraph companies would
have Jobs for a lot of unemployed right away
to handle the messages demanding explana-
tons that would burn up the wires. II such
a law passed we'd be sure OF an entire new
crop Of congressman next election because
everyone who voted for the bill would be
branded as worse than a traitor. In other
words, it isn't likely that the American peo-
pie would take at all kindly to suggestion
to turn in now and hand Germany some
money by way OF repaying her for tearing
up the world for four years. Neither is it
likely that France, England, Japan, Belgium
But that is virtually what these five nations
did in their reparations bill just handed to the
Germans. Lost in the tumble of billions and
discussion of the indemnity terms being too
severe little joker slipped into the proposal,
and it wasn't until our own congressman got
to debating the matter that it became appar- /
ent. 1t isn't likely that the allies realize it
yet, but the l212 per cent ad valorem tax they
proposed in the indemnity bill against Ger
man exports is likely to prove a boomerang
that will strike home with a blow, once its
significance is realized by the peoples of the
allied countries. The Germans themselves
didn't like the idea at first because they fig
ured the tax would kill their incentive to pro-
duce because the more goods they manutaC
tured and sold the more money they would
have to pay the allies in indemnity. But when
the Germans grasp the real meaning of the
provision and realize that the allies will be
paying the tax themselves and all the Ger
mans have to do will be to turn around and
pay it back they are likely to be very much
in favor OF it.
The 121l per cent ad valorem tax on Ger
man exports was provided by the supreme
council at Paris as a means of getting money
out OF Germany for payment OF her repara-
tons bill in proportion to the development
and Improvement Of her foreign trade. For
this purpose the idea was a good one, but the
point which the allies have overlooked is the
tact that they themselves will be the custom
ers who will buy these German exports and
consequently they will pay the ad valorem
tax. In other words, if the measure should go
through of the United States who are not
represented in the supreme council, would be
standing by while the rest of the allies fixed
it up so that 121a per cent OF all the money
we paid for German products would ultimate
ly find its way back to the allies and repre-
sent our donation to Germany for the purpose
of helping to liqudate her war debts.
Not only in this instance does the ad valo-
rem export tax for Germany come out of our
pockets, but the action of the allies in placing
for Germany in competition with the United
States and other countries In this way we
would not only be donating money to Ger
many with which to pay us, but we would be
protecting her industries at the expense of our
own.
We've got enough calls on the public's
pocketbook now without aiding a campaign
to donate money to Germany or help her in
dustries compete with ours.