Evening star., 1942-03-16


class will begin to pay at a rate
far higher than they ever paid
before. There is no escape for
either class-no way for any indi-
vidual to avoid the levy.
But that is not all-next year,
both the 7.00o, 900 new taxpayers and
the $4,000 900 old taxpayers will have
their taxes increased over this year.
How much we will not know before
July, but 1t already has been made
clear that stiff as are the 1941 rates,
the l942 rates will be sitter still.
In many instances they will be
doubled. Nor is there any certainty
that still further increases will not
be imposed. The certain thing Is
that so far as present generations
are concerned, these taxes are
permanent. There is no prospect Of
reduction In our time-quite the
contrary.
This being so. the vital question
is-what change, II any, will they
effect In the attitude of the people
toward their Government? To q
considerable extent. the answer to
that may determine whether We
shall remain strong, stable nation
or sink into economic chaos. The
reasons are clear. Heretofore, all
efforts to arouse the people to the
dangers Of wild governmental ex-
travagance have proved futile. A
majority OF the tax-paying class, it
Is true. has been deeply stirred,
but the millions upon whom taxes
weighed lightly and the many mill
lions who paid none at all have
been impervious to alarm and In
different to consequences.
Warnings Disregarded.
With complacent approval they
have watched the administration
waste billions Of the public funds
and pile up a peacetims debt be-
yond all reason. All warnings were
disregarded and, even before the
war, a critical stage had been
reached. In addition, to carry now
the stupendous expenditures OF war
50 enhances the peril that 1t should
be apparent to every man capable
Of coherent thought. In the past the
trouble has been that the millions
who could think would not think.
The new, all-embrscing and exceed
ingy painful taxes are counted
upon to make them think, and with
thought will come action. That Is
the hope.
In q majority Of the homes of the
working people the two most cher
ished possessions, usually kept
locked In the bureau drawer, are
the life insurance policy and the
savings bank book. These are the
evidences Of thrift, the marks of
success and independence. Without
them most people would have moth
ing. There are 225 life insurance
companies in the country with more
than IS 900 900 policyholders. These
companies have $120, ,0o0, 600, 900 Of
insurance in force, with assets of
s32, 500 900 900, largely divided in
municipal. State and Federal Sc
curities, railroads and Large indus
trial concerns, There are more than
IL, 900 900 depositors in mutual saw
ings banks with total deposits of
SIC, 900 900 900. This does not in
clude savings in commercial banks.
Savings bank funds, like insurance
funds, are invested in city, State
and Federal securities and in the
bonds and stocks of industry.
The conclusion is inescapable that
the wage earners Of the country
have a high personal stake not only
in the soundness Of their city, State
and Federal governments, but In
the health of industry as well. The
only, ones of which this Is not true
are the small number with nothing
to lose and an itch to change our
form Of government. It has always
been true that the paralyzing of
industry or the bankruptcy Of the