The Washington times., 1922-03-30
MONEY-TRADE
War Extravaganza.
Taxation Protest.
High Cost Of Living.
National Load Too
Heavy.
By GEORGE w. HINMAN.


against tho local taxes comes from
the farmers of the Illinois corn belt.
A similar protest comes from the
business mon Of Chicago. The COM
plants Of other taxpayers are re-
ported in brief dispatches from
small cities and county seats. They
do not seem very important but
they are. They are Of great i'm
portance because they are q part
OF nationwide outcry against local
government expenditures in the
United States.
We are so occupied with the
81 .00O. .000. 900 levies from Washing
ton that many newspaper readers
seldom pause to consider the near
by burdens. But the levies are
made and the money spent Just as
regularly At home as in Washing
ton. Legislatures and city councils
have been caught in the same
spendthift habits az the House of
Representatives and United States
Senate.
In the last six or seven years
the State governments have in
creased their yearly collections
from $1S per family to $35 per
family. Small city governments are
collecting on the average $25 more
from every head of a family of
five and large city governments
still moro.
Amount Spent Annually.
The money spent annually by
New York city amounts to $50
family moro than IL did in 1914;
by Chicago, to $40 q family more
than in 1914: by Philadelphia, to
nearly 500 more q family than in
1914. and 30 on.
Small cities are not exempt from
the spending and taxing mania.
For instance, In three years Youngs-
town, Ohio, raised its expenditures
at the rate Of $50 for every family
within the city limits; Wilmington,
N. c.. in three years has doubled
its expenses at an average cost of
$l6 to every man, woman and child
in the community. And others have
been doing the same.
Dry figures. Of course, but q few
have to be given to show how To-
cal burdens. often not considered.
pile up. oppress taxpayers. stifIe
business, and, for millions of Amer
leans, take much Of the 10y out Of
life. II all the county, village and
school district taxes could be as.
certained and tabulated In addition
to those already mentioned, q still
moro Impressive picture of the
conditions resented by the Middle
Western farmers would be pre-
sented.
Tar In New York State.
Here and there the total h2s been
figured or estimated. In Massact u
setts the direct taxes, lnc;uCinx
those Of the United States Govern
ment, come to Sis & person, or
1878 a year for the family q. five.
So far have they gone and arc still
going up. In New York State the
corresponding figure Is 1856 a yesr
for q family Of five. The >e totals
are given merely to show how, py
adding local taxes to United States
taxes. local increases 10 Fe.icrnl In
creases. a limit has been reached
where both business men q aad farm.
ers, rural men and city men. cry odt
for relief.
Many Of US mourn for the
financial Affections Of the French
people. yet even Paris, after bearing
the brunt Of the war. has not in
StCdocu HCI expenditures anu TAX
burdens as much n many American.
cities that never heard a gun or Il
bombing plane. After due allow
ances for the inflated money, tho
Paris expenditures are to be
reckoned at only a quarter mrre
than in 1914. So fast lave we gone,
20 fast are we going in wasting OH
jobholders and official spanders
the wealth Of the country.
Boosts Liking Costs.
This great increase in taxes and
casts put up the price Of living.
handicaps Americans In competing
with other nations, reduces their
ability even to compete with foreign
producers in the American market,
goes without saying. 1t is all as plain
a. the multiplication table.
Al other nations pull out Of the
financial chaos Of war, this burden
will be felt even more grievously-
unless. like the middle Western
farmers. the business men, rural and
city. big and little, join in the move
ment to stop everywhere the war
extravAgance and the increase In
taxes those eXtravagances entail.
The load, the local and national
load, is too heavy. Not only the
middle Western farmers, but business
men everywhere cry out against 1t.
Cotton Market.
NYU,n vODE M.rch IN n-Th. ret