Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-27

the last year for which figures have
been compiled. but II is expected that
1921 and 1922 will show still further
decreases in all these classes.
For the purpose Of this computa-
ton. it has been arbitrarily assumed
that the m%illionaires make returns of
10 per cent and our classification has
been worked back from that hypothe-
sis. Doubtless there are many posses
sors Of 81 .OO0,OoO earning but 5 per
cent on their fortunes. If this class
ification be included, the total number
OF milliOnairPs is greatly swelled-more
than doubled.
OF the $4,000 income class-a !
per cent WELD on $1,000. O0O-there
were j,161 in 1914. These added to
the 2,3iS Of the higher classes. would
give a total of 100 for 1914. The
figures for the other years for these
millionaires are: 6.S4T for 1915. or a
total when added to the upper classes
of 1861 all told: 1882 for 1916. or a
total Of 11.NS5: II. 439 for 1917. or n
total of 19.103; 1896 for 1918. or a
total of 14.495: 1920 for 1919. or a
total of 1886; 1908 for 1920, or a
total Of -, 742.
The figures show that the groups of
lesser millionaires. that is, those hav-
ing estates ranging from S1.OOO.0N
TO $4,000. 00. have held their fortunes
through the war better than the super
mill o~naires with fortunes above $40
coo. 900.
When Poor MilIionaires FIourished
In fact, the high point for single-mil-
h0naIres. that is, poSseSSors of 81 900
600 yielding incomes of 500, 600 a year,
u-o. 49, ,.aIol ,,-41 IhJn .-L,al rrn-
three years after the high point for
the super-mjllionaires had been passed.
In fact. every class Of lesser million
aires from the impoverished possessors
Of n mere million up to those with
$1,000. 900 or $4,000, 600 was more nu-
merous in 1920 than in 1914. when the
war started; whereas. there are but
half as many super-millionaires shown
for 1920 as for 1914.
The 100000 fortune seems to be
about the most steady. OF these, paying
incomes of 100000 n year. there were
2333 in 1914: 1856 in 1915; 126 in 1916;
103 in 1917: i01 in 1918; 3D. in 1919,
and BOT in 1920. A steady, healthy
growth is shown up to the peak in 1916
and then a falling off: but a result at
the close of the period showing a sub
stantial gain in this class over 1914.
The other net gains over 1914 are not
able also.
There were in 1914. 147 possessors
of $4,000. 900 and in 1920, 169. Those
with $1,000. 900 estates in 1914 mum
bered 90. while in 1920 there were 40.
Those with S5.OOO,OO numbered ia
in 1914 and 123 in 1920. The highest
single class of all for the period was
that composed Of persons with Sl,WD,
nfnl - tG1- 1tora y-nrp K .Itp IN that
class alone in 1917. the year the United
States entered the war.
The possessors of these great for
bulk of the government taxes. While
tunes are the persons who pay the
the average tax paid by the man with
the average tax paid By the single
"a 1000 income in 1920 WAS but $3.50,
millionaire was S39.519t11, and ithe
average tax paid by the million
aire was 81, 490,451.12.
In the aggregate the large number
of small s~alaried persons received more
1920 the net income of persons with
income than the super-mllllonaires. In
incomes ranging from $1,000 to S2.Oot
a year reached the gigantic aggregate
of S4.0jO. O66, 61S, while the group oil
super-millionaires had to content them
selves with an aggregate income ol
only tI.OiS.l bui tue iicofhe vi
81, O5O. O66.61S received by the rela'
among 2.671 $50. while the super-mil,
lively poor people had to be divided
lionaires had their S77,07S,l39 to di-
vide among only 30. 49,,
While the 81 1000 income class whlcf
received an aggregate income of ~.
O50,O66.61S paid a total tax OF only
$36.S59. 49,, the super-millionaire class
with an aggregate income of only Sill
07S.1 39 paid the greater sum of S4?,-
1SJ,OSJ. That the rich people OF the
country bear by far the greater part
of the tax burden is shown by the fact
that all the income classes from Sl.Ot
a year up to $4,000 a year paid but
$261 .OOO, 900 in 1920. while the classes
ranging above $4,000 a year all the
way up to the super-millionaires paid
total Of SSO3, 900 1000. These figures
are for 1920. which was Il year of high
wages in the lower classes, but a poor
year for millionaires. The explanation
is found in the fact hat the average
rate of tax in the $1,000 class was bu,
1.13 per cent in 1920, compared tc
64.65 per cent for the supeE-million
| aires. =