Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-25

Problems Of the Macdonald govern
ment in Great Britain are impressed
upon Americans as they study the
new budget prepared by Sir Philip
Snowden, chancellor of the excheQuer.
Heavier taxation, unemployment, war
debts and a continuing deficit. have
been faced by the people Of that
country and the courageous attitude in
meeting the situation is discussed on
this side of the water. There Is . diff
ference Of opinion as to the wisdom
of placing the weight of taxation on
those who have large resources.
Under the new taxation, 1t Is pointed
out by the Boston Transcript, there Is
IAN increase on incomes OF more than
So, 1000 a year, upon death duties or In
supertax The intention" continues
the Transcript, "is to go easy upon the
workingmen, but they, too, VIII have
to pay their share of 1t In the taxes on
beer, on tobacco and on tea. All very
we'll for a Labor government; but IS
every added burden upon the capital.
ists-even the smallest Of them-and
consequently upon practically all en-
ployers, renders it increasingly dih1cult
for British industry to get out OF the
Condition of prostration that has fallen
upon it, the new burden is likely to add
to unemployment and thereby to In
crease the sufferings of the poor. Thus
the new budget becomes but another
step in the vicious circle Of national
embarrassment"
That Americans are amazed by "the
euuaninity with which the British &C
cept a boost in the income tax that
already takes several hundred dollars
~ nm
comment of the Cleveland Plain
Dealer, with the further suggestion as
to political effect that 1.-The chief result
of the rallying of the Liberals to the
Laborite financial policy probably
means the next election in Britain Will
be fought on tariff issue"
such taxation, considering the dim
culties of British industry and the state
Of unemployment" declares the OF
tawa, Canada, Journal, rs al put sag.
gering. It Is by long odds the heaviest
taxation in the world. This, however,
is the British way. Britain Is the one
nation that Is paying her debts; pay:
ing without a whimper." The journal
also refers to the fact that England Is
meeting bills for unemployment and
other social services that would para
lyze the ordinary state"
4 y +
American newspapers disagree as 20
whether the term "socialistic" should
be applied to the Snowden l,i messu tgso
major elements" as analysed by the
kansas City Star. LAS a result OF the
prolonged economic depression" con-
tinues that paper, "the governments
revenues have been gradually declining.
At the same time its expenditures have
been growing, in part, at least, because
of the ever-increasing cost OF socialistlc
legislation. His proposals Involve
an increase in various taxes, but IN COCO
socialistic fashion the burden seems 70
have been placed almost wholly upon
the rich"
Against this contention appears the
Judgment Of the Louisville Courier
Journal that the budget els thoroughly
orthodox and "embodies no soc1alistic
theories" That paper adds IN expla:
nation: "It seeks no new sources OF
revenue. It confines itself to traditional
British procedure and does not 60
astray into doctrinaire fields. Though
the Tory press Is clamoring that 1t Is
solely aimed at the rich, 1t Is the
farthest thing from capital levy, and
1t distributes the burden so that those
most able to stand 1t are apportioned
the predominant share"
y X
The Chicago Daily News also states
that while ''Mr Snowden' Is a theo-
retical Socialist, his financial views are
rather conservative" and that che Is
opposed to imitation, to fat money, TO
confiscation of capital as q means of
reform; that che believes In economy
and retrenchment." The Daily News
points to the possibility that "the
Labor government may suffer ship
wreck on thA yocka Of lEnsmpln4unenR'