The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-12-21
CHRISTMAS DIVIDENDS

It is estimated in financial centers that 175OO00OOO will be paid out by the first of the year extra and regular dividends, wage increases and bonuses in this country Primary reason is the tax on undstrbuted earnings under the revenue act approved by the last Congress Much of it already has been paid which resulting in of the greatest Christmas businesses on record In fact it is taking such boom proportions that rumbles heard in some sources that it resembles the boom days just prior to 1929 and something should be done to check it.
 One of the best indications that the spending spree of the present time resembles in no way the market boom prior to the crash is the simple fact that the corporations of this country have to pay in wages and dividends in order to dodge an earnings tax That of course the recent vail of the late political campaign that Roosevelt pros perity was only a matter of government spending isl awry and the facts are that the nations feet well on the way to a normal business life.
 This billion and three quarters dollars now being paid in dividends wage increases and bonuses IS genuine not imaginary as some of the boom of . the late 'twentes, and affects many corporations Dividends declared since the beginning of November have toaled about $1000000000 eclpsing all previous records for a comparable period according to the New York Times. Wage increases that will put at least ss5ooOoOoO extra in pay envelopes during the next twelve months and bonuses of more than s4oOooOo0 have been announced About l4o0 cor porations announced dividends while more than 400 of these have declared extra and unusual pay ments.
 General Motors Corporation last month announced
 distribution of $65 250000 to shareholders Chryser Corporation came forward with $50 a share, or s23 971 15O: Standard Oil of New Jersey voted s32 232OlO1 in regular and extra payments United States Steel voted its preferred shareholders $7 a share or total of 5219677 account of arrears piled up during hard times Eastman Kodak stock holders promised $5064572 in regular and extra dividends and the stockholders of E. l. du Pont de Nemours are to get $22 54 in increased regular and extra dividends.
 Wage increases and bonuses to employees, while not so numerous as extra dividend declarations, have reached remarkably large totals and have been report ed by most leading industries An increase of 10 cent has recently been effected in wages throughout the steel industry giving the 526000 workers the high peaceme rates of pay record about 19 cent above the 1929 level In the of the United States Steel Corporations 230O0O employees the increase will mean about $300O0000 year. The automobile industry also moved to share of its increased earnings with employees. General Motors announced a wage increase of cents hour involving about s20OOOOO0 and Christmas bonus of $10,000000, both affecting 100000 employees; Chryser Corporation announced bonuses for its 67OoO employees based on length of service, the minimum payment being $50 and the total disbursement being estimated at $4,o0O000
 Standard Oil of New Jersey announced that one weeks pay would be added to employees accounts in the company's thrift plan, move affecting 47oo0 employees and involving S4,5000OO.
 The undstributed earnings tax which has pro