The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-27
DEATH, TAXES SURE - BUT HOW LATTER
 ARE SPREADING
June "A, 1888 To Editor, Waterbury Democrat:

To Editor, Waterbury Democrat:
 We have an old saying. "There IS nothing so sure upon this earth as death and taxes" This statement can now be discounted as regards death, as well as disability.
 According to figures furnished by the state board of health, the death rate in the State of Connecticut has declined more than 10 per cent since 1928-the commencement of the de- pression. In 1897 the death rate was reported at 99 per thousand of pop ulation-the lowest in the history of the state. According to the U. &. Census, the life expectancy of the average man aged 35 has increased by l 1-2 years, or approximately 5 per cent between 1914 and 1880, the date of the last census. This would indicate that what has been going on in Connecticut has been going on in the nation as a whole.
 The rate of industrial accidents and automobile injuries has also decreased materially since 1928.
 The evidence available seems to show that the expectancy of life is greater and disability from disease and accidents has been lessened during the depression. By so much we have postponed the certainty of death.
 On the other hand, let us look on the side of taxes.
 The federal debt in 1914 stood at 1,188 million dollars; June 30, 1937 1t stood at 37,500 million dollars and 1t is probably now in excess of 38,- 800 million dollars, without any con- tingent liability for what are called "self-liquidating" loans. The actual debt, therefore, increased 308 per cent between 1914 and 1887, and now amounts to a debt upon every man, woman and child in the Uni ted States of over $500. The federal government has a mortgage or lien upon their futures in that amount.
 Is that all? No. The Bureau of Census reports as of 1892 that the aggregate debt of all states and communities was 19,576 million dol- lars. It is now estimated to be in excess of 2l 500 million-adding at least another $l60 to the per capita mortgage laid upon each one of us by the total public debt.
 If the population is reduced to families, 1t will perhaps more ex- actly illustrate the facts, since in a great majority of instances the bur- den of debt is carried by the head of the family. Again according to the census of 1880, there were in the United States at that time 3l,50O thousand families. If the total pulp lie debt, now amounting to approx imately 60 billions of dollars, were distributed over the families, 1t would show that each family is car- rying public mortgage in excess of $500; and this is rapidly in- creas,ng. Further, the average cur rent cost of government in the Uni ted States is now approximately $523 per year for each family. This also Is increasing rapidly.
 The certainty of death has de- creased 10 per cent. The accumu- lating uncertainty of taxes has in- creased III excess Of 300 per cent and Is still going strong.
 Apparently as the specter of death and disability recedes, that of the public debt advances, with its un- avoidable dangers of imitation.
 This accumulation of government tai debt will eventually force every head of a family, every working man and woman to face one of two alternatives. Either the growth oi this debt by billions of dollars year ly must be arrested permanently and the task-of reducing it faced courageously. or 1t must be repudi- ated in whole or in part.
 The process of repudiating a na- tional debt are known the world over as imitation. If a government borrows more than can be repaid imitation is an inevitable result When an individual attempts this he either works harder to produce more, or goes bankrupt. When a government attempts it the un- avoidable effect is a rise in prices; though the results are by no means as simple or immediate as in the case of an individual. Having the power, & government tries sundry monetary devices to maintain its credit and avoid bankruptcy. These