Western Kansas world. [volume], June 21, 1917, Image 6

About Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current

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Western Kansas World
H. S. OtVTxBR. Pub.
lamed every Saturday anrf entered into the
Mtoffice at Wa-Keener. Kansas. aa second
ciaaa matter.
TERMS OF SUfiSCKiPTION
Par year in advance - . SI. 50
ESTABLISHED MARCH 2. 1879.
-Thursday. June 21, 191J
TIME FOR ECONOMY IS HERE
The war is already teaching - us
economy, and will be a .benefit to us
at least to that extent. We have lived
in the midst of practically unlimited
rescourees daring our development as
. a nation. Our wasteful habits have
become so strong that economy
appears to be a hardship. People
from other countries have come into
our neighborhods and prospered, even
become wealthy upon a less wage
than our own. These foreigners as
we term them have in the mean time
enjoyed as good health and seemed
as happy as we ourselves. Generally,
they work but little harder than we
and were at a disadvantage in not
understanding our language or cus
toms. Practically all of them have
prospered as a direct result of their
frugal habits. We as a nation will be
forced to eliminate waste and exer
cise more care as our population in
creases. A few years ago no thought was
given to the supply of lumber and if
some had . prophesied that in ten or
fifteen years it would be hard to sup
ply the . demand at any price he
would . have .. considered a fanatic.
This condition exists today and is not
denied. The . coal dealers dole out
small quantities, of coal and the mer
chant sells but a few pounds of sugar
to a customer right now. ,
This means that we are facing a
general shortage, of foodstuffs' as
well as material for construction and
power. The time has come when we
must learn the lessons of economy or
suffer from want. We have lived up
on, the stores hoarded by nature for
thousands of years.. We have despoil
ed for more of these stores than we
have used and now they are practic
ally gone.
The soil has been robbed of its fer
tility and must be built up again. The
forests must be replanted and protect
ed. Coal must be burnt sparingly and
without waste. Most anyone who is
real thoughful can see many ways in
which real economy can be practiced
in his own life. It is not necessary to
be frugal. Economy is enough. Prac
tical use of the comforts of life with
out the frills or intemperance. A little
more careful use of everything will
practically double its period of use
fulness and save half the expenses.
Methods of economizing will pres
ent themselves to any one who stops
to think. Ex.
DOUSE YOUR GLIM
A provision of senate bill number
675 that may be of interest to car
owners: That every automobile using
any public highway of the state shall
show between one-half hour after
sunset and one-half hour before sun
rise two lamps exhibiting white lights,
visable at a distance of 300 feet in the
direction toward which the automo
bile is proceeding, and shall also ex
hibit a red light, visible at the rear.
The lamps shall be so placed as to be
free from - obstruction to light from
ttther partsef said automobile. No
driver on any automobile or other
motor vehicle while operating same
upon the public highways of this state
shall use an acetylene, - - electric or
other headlight unless properly shad
ed or supplied with dispersive lenses
or glass with a mechanism or apar
ratus for. turning down such illuminat
ing. Lights in such -a way as not to
llind or dazzle other users of the
highway or to make it difficult or un
safe for such other users to ride,
drive or walk thereon. It is merely
made unlawful for the driver of any
automobile or other, motor vehicle to
direct the rays of light known as the
spot-light upon . an - approaching
vehicle on any highway in the state.
The above law goes into effect on
July X, 1917. '
' Sanol Eczema' Prescription is 'a
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Enema and skin diseases. Sanol is
a guaranteed remedy. Get. a 25c
large trial bo tie at the drug store.
AAr. 13. I
IIOW SHALL WE
PAY FOR THE WAR?
A Constructive Criticism on tin
House Revenue Bill.
LOANS BETTER THAN TAXES
Five Reasons Why Exoessiv Tax .a at
the Outset of War Are Disadvantage
ousGreat Britain Example Worthy
of Emulation How the Taxes Should
Bs Apportioned.
By EDWIN R. A. 8ELIGMAN,
MeVIckar Professor of Political Kcon
omy.. .Columbia University. -
On May 23, 1917,: the House of Rep
resentatives passed an act "to provide
revenue to defray war expenses and
for other purposes."-. In the original
bill as presented by the Committee of
Ways and Means, the additional reve
nue to be derived was estimated at $1,
810,420,000. The amendment to the In
come tax, which was tacked on to the
bill during the discussion in the House,
was expected to yield another $40,000,'
000 or $50,000,000. T
In discussing tbe House bill,, two
problems arise: ... .
L How much should ..be raised by
taxation?
IL In .what. manner should this sum
be raised?
I. How Muoh Should Bo ' Raised by
. Taxation f
How was the figure of $1,800,000,000
arrived at? The answer is simple. When
the Secretary of the Treasury came to
estimate the additional war- expenses
for the year 1917-13, he calculated that
they would amount, to , some $0,000,
000,000, of which $3,000,000,000 was te
be allotted to the allies, and $3,000.-
000,000 was to be utilized for the do
mestic purposes. Thinking that It
would be a fair proposition to divide
this latter sum between loans , and
taxes, he concluded . that the amount
to be raised by taxes , was $1,800,000.-
000.
There are two extreme theories, each
of which may be dismissed with scant
courtesy. The one Is that all .war ex
penditures should be defrayed by loans.
ana the other Is that all war expendi
tures should be defrayed . by taxes.
Each theory Is untenable.
It Is indeed true that the burdens of
the war should be, borne, by , the pres
ent rather than -the future generation;
but .this does pot mean that, tbejr should
be borne by this year's taxation.
. , Meeting all war expenses by taxation
makes -the taxpayers In one - or two
years bear the harden of benefits that
ought to be distributed At .least over a
decade within .the same generation..
In the second place, when expendi
tures approach tbe. gigantic sums of
present-day warfare, the tax-only pol
icy would require more than the total
surplus of social income.' Were this
absolutely necessary,, tbe ensuing hav
oc In the economic life of the communi
ty would have to be endured. . But
where the disasters are so great and
at the same time so unnecessary, the
tax-only policy may be declared im
practicable.
Secretary McAdoo had the right in
stinct and highly commendable cour
age in deciding that a substantial por
tion, at least, of the revenues should
be derived from taxation. But when
he hit upon the plan of 50-50 per cent,
that is, of raising one-half of all do
mestic war expenditures by taxes, the
question arises whether he did not go
too tarm
The relative proportion of loans to
taxes is after all a purely business
proposition. Not to rely to a large ex
tent -on loans at the outset of a war is
a mistake.
Disadvantages of Excessive Taxes.
Tbe disadvantages of excessive taxes
at the outset of the war are as follows:
1. Excessive taxes on consumption
will cause popular resentment.
2. Excessive taxes on industry will
disarrange business, damp enthusiasm
and restrict the spirit of enterprise at
the very time when the opposite is
needed..- . .: j
3.. Excessive taxes on incomes will de
plete the surplus available for Invest
menta'and Interfere with the placing of
tbe enormous loans which will be neces
sary in any event. '
4. Excessive taxes . on wealth will
cane a serious diminution of the hi-,
comes which are- at present largely
drawn, upon for tbe. support of educa
tional, and- philanthropic enterprises.
Moreover, these sources . of... support
would be. dried up precisely at the. time
when the need would be greatest.
5. Excessive taxation at tho outset of
the war will reduce ths elasticity avail
bis for the increasing demands that
are soon to come. ..i .. :j.
Great Britain's Policy.
Take Great Britain as an example.
Durtag the first year of the war she
Increased, taxes only slightly. In order
to keep industries going at top notch. '
During the second year she raised by
new taxes only 9 per cent, of her war
expenditures. During the third year
she levied by additional . taxes (over
and above- the pre-war. level) only
slightly more than 17 per cent, of her
war expenses. -
If we should attempt to do as much
in the first year of - the war as Great
Britain did in the third year It would
suffice to raise by taxation $1,250,000.
00O. If. In order to be absolutely en
the safe side. It seemed, advisable to
increase the sum to $1,500,000,000. this
should. In our .opinion, be tbe maxl-
I clM MsnsJdsrteg . tliav.appoztlonment. at
tbe extraordinary burden ox taxes)!. in
war. times certain, ecientiflo . principles
are .aenniteiy estaDiisbea: ,..- . .. '
How Taxes Should Be Apportioned.
(1) The burden of taxes ..must be
spread -as - far- as - possible over the
whole community so as -to cause each
Individual to share in .the sacrifices ac
cording to Jiia ability to pay and- ac
cording to his share in the Government.
2) Taxes on consumption, which are
necessarily borne by the community at
large, should fee. Imposed as far as pos
sible on articles of. quasi-luxury rather
than on: those of necessity.., .
- (3) Excises should be imposed as far
as - possible upon commodities in the
hands of -" the' final' consumer rather
than upon the articles, which serve pri
marily,; as ; raw '. material .for further
production..,. '
(4) , Taxes. upon business should be
imposed, as far as possible upon net
earnings rather than upon gross re
ceipts- or capital Invested.- - - -
- iSi - Taxes- upon - Income - which will
necessarily be severe should.be both
differentiated and graduated. That is.
there should be a distinction , between
earned and unearned incomes and there
should be a higher rate upon the larger
Incomes. It is essential, however, not
to make the income rate, so excessive
as . to lead , to evasion, administrative
difficulties, or to, tbe more fundamental
objections which have been urged
above. '
-(6)- The excess profits which are due
to the . war constitute the most -obvious
and reasonable source of revenue dur
ing war times. But the principle upon
which. these .war-profit taxes are laid
mast, be equitable in theory and easily
calculable in practice.
- Th Proposed Income Tax.
The additional income tax as passed
by the House runs up to a rate of 60
per cent; This is a sum unheard of in
the history of civilized society .t It must
be remembered that It was only after
the first year of the war .that Great
Britain Increased her Income tax to the
maximum of 34 per cent., and that
even now in the fourth year of -tbe war
the income tax does not. exceed 42V4
per cent. - --
It could easily be shown that a tax
with rates on moderate incomes sub
stantially less than In Great Britain,
and on . the - larger, incomes about as
high,: would yield only slightly less than
the $532,000,000 originally estimated in
the House bilL ,.
It is to be hoped that the Senate will
reduce the total rate on the highest in
comes to 34 per cent, .or at most to 40
per cent, and that at the. same time It
will reduce the rate on the . smaller . in
comes derived from personal or profes
sional earnings. ,
If the war continues we shall have to
depend mere and more upon the in-oome-tax..!
By imposing sxosssiv rates
now we are not. only endangering the
future, but are inviting ail manner of ;
difficulties . whioh even Greet Britain-
ha been. able to escape. . - .
. ,., -Conclusion.:
The House bill contains other, funda
mental defects which may be summed
up as follows: - ' '
: (IX It pursues an -erroneous principle
In Imposing retroactive taxes.
(2) It selects an unjust and unwork
able criterion for the excess-profits tax.
(3) It proceeds , to an unheard-of
height in the income tax.
(4) It imposes unwarranted burdens
upon the consumption of the commu
nity.
(5) It is calculated to throw business '
into confusion by levying taxes on gross
receipts instead of upon commodities.
(6) It fails to make a proper -use of
stamp taxes. .
(7) It follows an unscientific system
in its flat rate on imports. :
(8) It Includes a multiplicity of pet
ty and unlucratlve taxes, the vexatious
ness of which is out of all proportion to
the revenue they produce.
The fundamental lines on which the
House bill should be modified are sum
med up herewith:
(1) The amount of new taxation
should be limited to $1,250,000,000 or
at the outset to $1,500,000,000. To do
more than this would be as unwise as
It is unnecessary. To do even this
would be to do more than has ever
been done by any civilized . Govern
ment in time of stress. ,
(2) The excess-profits tax based upon
a sound system ought to yield about
$500,000,000.
(3) The income-tax schedule ought to
be revised with a lowering of the rates
on earned Incomes below $10,000, and
with an analogous lowering . of , the
rates on the higher incomes, so as not
to exceed 34. per cent. A. careful, cal
culation shows that an income tax of
this kind would yield some $450,000.-
000 additional. - "
(4) The tax on whisky and tobacco
aught, to remain approximately as It Is.
with a yield of about $230,000,000.
These three taxes, .together with the
stamp tax at . even the low rate of the
House bill, and with an improved au
tomobile tax, will yield over $1,250,
00O.00O, which. Is the amount, of money
thought desirable. -; V. i, " i
The above program would be In har
mony with an approved scientific sys
tem. It will do away with almost all
of the complaints that are being urged
against the present. " It will refrain
from - taxing the consumption of the
poor. "-
It will throw a far heavier burden
upon tbe rich, but will not go to the
extremes of confiscation- It will ob
viate Interference with business and
will keep unimpaired the social pro
ductivity of the community.
It will establish a Just balance be
tween loans and taxes and win not
succumb to the danger of approaching
either tbe tax-only-policy or the loan-
only .policy. - -Above- all. tt?:rU keep
an undisturbed elastic, margin which
must be more and more heavily drawn
pon as the war proceeds. -
lt Contents 15 fluid PraoigJ
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' Dept. D 413 1311-13 Famam St, Omaha, Neb.
Gasoline Engines
The Foos Gas and Oil Engines
The highest quality engines in their class suitable
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wa-Keeney,
Golden Belt Auto and Machine Shop
Welding of all kinds. Lathe work. Vulcanizing of ail kinds.
Storage batteries overhauled and recharged. " All kinds of
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A. B. JONES
Physician and Surgeon
Wa-Keeney, Kansas
DR. C. S. WALL
ECLECTIC
Physician and Surgeon
Office In Central Telephone Building
Office Phone 10 Residence 38 '
Wa-Kbknbt, Kansas
Dr. Funderburk
Surgery and Medicine
Special treatment of diseases or
the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat.
Eyes tested and glasses fitted.
Sundays by appointment. ..
Og allah, Kansas, Phone 1111
DR. U. S. MILLER
DENTIST
Permanently located. -
All work guaranteed
Phones Office 151. Residenc 58
WA-KEENEY - - - KANSAS
L. P- ARNOTT
Graduate Veterinarian
Residence phone No. 19.
Farm phone No. 455
WA-KEBNBT
KANSA
JOHN R. PARSONS
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Wa-Keeney - Kansas
JULIUS lilUMAN
AUCTIONEER
iENERAL FARM SALES CRtEC
ANYWHERE '
see e. write oh pmomc 1009
OG ALLAH. K ANSAS
STANLEY J. STRAW
LICENSED E M BALM EE
' - AND .
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
All calls answered day or night.
Office 'phone 110 residence 79.
For Bargains
in
REAL ESTATE
see
' Jt T: W. CLOUD
' Wa-Keeney, Kansas
EL D. Wheeler
REAL ESTATE
LOANS AND
INSURANCE
Farms, Ranches, and Town
Property. Attends to busi
ness for non-residents. Cor
respondence solicited.
.Wa-Keeney, Kansas
S. XVI. HUTZEL,
Buys and Sells
Real Estate
Leases Lands Collects Rents
Pays Taxes for Non-Residents
Special attention given to Collections
Correspondence solicited
Wa-KEENEY. KANSAS
T. W. MAYMARD
Contractor and Builder
Flans and Specifications Furnished
All Work Guaranteed
Wa-Kbknkt, . . Kansas
B. F. BINDER
Contractor and Builders
Plans and Specifications
burnished.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Phone 67
Wa-Keeney, . Kansas
Union Pacific Tune Table.
C, MOUNTAIN TIME
WEST BOUND
157 Local freight.". ..... . . . : . 8:35 a m
155 Through freight 10:19 P,m
103 Passenger 8:31 p'm
169 Passenger".;,.. 1:00 p'm
119 Passenger 2:30 am
EAST BOUND
104 Passenger 5:35 a m
170 Passenger ' 9:30 a m
102 passenger - .10:19 p m
156 Local freight - 2:30 p m
154 Through freight 4:30 a m
Mountain time is One hour slower .
than central time. Wa-Keeney Is
regular stop for all trains. Through
freights do not stop except when
necessary to set out. or pick up cars.
Train 104 will not stop, except for
passenger for points east of Salina.
J- E. FBirrs, Agent.
O hildren Cry
FOR FLETCHER'S
OAS "T0 R I A