Showing papers in "Annals of The American Academy of Political and Social Science in 1918"

The Relationship Between Loans and Taxes in War Finance

Abstract: I shall discuss the relationship between loans and taxes in war finance solely with reference to the present case of the United States. I shall also assume that the people are prepared to adopt that financial policy, however burdensome it may be, which will enable us at the earliest possible moment to place an adequately equipped army in the field and sustain our allies with abundant supplies of food and military material. That this is a well-founded assumption general acquiescence in the selective draft affords convincing evidence. This policy, however strongly advocated by military experts, would hardly have been adopted if the experience of other countries during the present war had not made clear to the ordinary layman that it was the wise course to follow. Similarly, I feel certain that if the people become convinced that a particular method of financing the war-financing it mainly by taxation, for examplewould contribute to the speedy and effective mobilization of the economic forces of the country for war purposes, they would adopt that policy in the same spirit which they have manifested toward the conscription of men for military service. On the other hand, if it makes no particular difference in the conduct of the war whether the bulk of the funds is secured through loans or taxes, if it is a purely financial question, it is altogether unlikely that the people would be ready to meet by taxation a large proportion of the cost of the war. Revenue from taxation during the war, slightly exceeding the amount which will be needed in subsequent years of peace to meet ordinary expenditures and debt charges, would be the policy which almost certainly would be adopted. On purely financial grounds, the amount of taxation during the war should be somewhat greater than in the following years of peace since patriotic fervor lightens the burden upon the taxpayer, and during the continuance of a war business is somewhat more active than during a series of years good and bad in times of 83

Loans Versus Taxes in War Finance

Abstract: The fiscal problems of the war may be divided into those of a general and of a specific character. War expenditures can be met in three ways: by taxes, by loans, or by paper money. The specific problems have to deal with the nature and the details of each of these expedients; the general problem is concerned with the principles that underlie the preference among the respective methods. Inasmuch as paper money is by common consent to be regarded as the last resort, the general problem at issue here pertains to the choice between loans and taxes and the relative proportions in which each is to be employed. If we look at the facts we observe a marked change in modern warfare. In former times, whether in classic antiquity or in the Middle Ages, the expenses of war were defrayed in large measure out of accumulated funds or treasures reinforced by taxes, and were reimbursed to the victor by the booty of war and the indemnities imposed upon the vanquished. Since the development of public credit, especially since the middle of the eighteenth century, loans have taken the place of the accumulated treasure and taxes have been utilized chiefly for the purpose of raising the interest on the war loans and of furnishing in addition a more or less considerable amortization quota. The facts of the present war are no different. During the last fiscal year Great Britain raised by taxation slightly over 17 per cent of her war expenses; Italy, although also levying heavy taxes, has raised a still larger proportion than England by loans; in Germany only an insignificant fraction of the war expenses has been met by taxes; in France, as a result partly of the occupation of its territory by the enemy, the taxes hitherto levied during the war have not sufficed even to pay the ordinary peace expenses; while Russia has been in a still worse position. Although there is indeed a notable difference between the zero of France and the 17 per cent of Great Britain, the fact remains that in all the countries, with52

How the Public Should Pay for the War

Abstract: There are many popular fallacies as to the ultimate source of funds for paying for the war. In the first place, there is the "business as usual" fallacy, one which is fostered today by propaganda on the part of those special interests that do not wish to retire in favor of the public interest. It is perfectly natural that a manufacturer or vendor of superfluities should in a time of war resist sacrificing his business, especially if others around him lack patriotism and set him a bad example, but it really makes my blood boil to see the efforts that some of the big interests in this country, that I might mention by name, are making to befuddle the public on this subject by telling them that the way to finance this war is to keep their business going so that they can subscribe to liberty bonds. In other words, if we pay them $100 they will pay $5 to the government. Of course if we paid our $100 to the government in the first place the government would be $95 better off than if we support somebody in order that he may subscribe. There are two ways in which we subscribe to liberty bonds, or two ways in which we pay our taxes. One is the right way and the other is the wrong way. The right way of subscribing to the liberty bonds is to sacrifice in some other expenditure in order to buy them. If, for instance, we give up the purchase of a pleasure automobile and put the same sum that we would otherwise have put into the purchase of that automobile into the purchase of a liberty bond, we have done our duty in the full sense of the word, because we have not only given Uncle Sam the funds but we have gotten out of his way in industry, and the same labor and capital which would have made my pleasure car will make a motor truck. But if we decide that we will not give up that pleasure car and at the same time think that we can be patriotic without any sacrifice, and subscribe to liberty bonds by going to the bank and saying, "Here, I have not got the money; I am not willing to give up my pleasure car but if you will lend me the money I will lend it to Uncle Sam;" if, in other 112

Health and Recreation

Abstract: are a disgrace to our civilisation) as the poor man's clubs. It is a commonplace that active amusements provide the ideal way of spending leisure, but cinemas, theatres, and \"?public-houses are perfectly legitimate forms of social leisure; and what is required is the education of people to better tastes, together with insistence upon healthy buildings so far as possible?both big 'undertakings. Mr. Carson thinks it is time the allotment plots were returned for the use of children's games, and the question of the amusements of children he regards as the most important aspect of the whole subject. He is undoubtedly on firm ground in giving this latter point prominence, for in the education and training of children in games, as .in most things, lies the most hopeful line of progress. It is good to know that great advance is taking place in active recreation for women. The games mistress and director of physical education is now an important member of the staff at all schools; and the girl of to-day, with her well-developed body and fearless outlook on life, compares most favourably with her Victorian predecessor. The social-welfare movement among working women instils in them the general principles of hygiene, improves their health, and makes their work a pleasure to them. Little has yet been done for the working man's wife. She has increased leisure now that children can be fed at the

Vocational Work of the Invalided Soldiers' Commission of Canada

Abstract: lost an arm or a leg. Now there are reasons for our thinking this way, but I happen to have some striking figures as to the ratio of surgical to medical cases in the present war. In a report issued by the British Minister of Pensions for the week ending August 23, 1918, the latest report to be received on this side-at least it is the latest that we have in Washington-was that there were 55,869 men under treatment in the hospitals in Great Britain. Of that 55,869, 20,495

Making the Camps Safe for the Army

Abstract: surrounding zones within an effective radius, shall not be places of temptation and peril.&dquo; Into these words, written six weeks after America’s entry into the world conflict, the Secretary of War condensed a policy not only strikingly new in American preparations, but also in the military history of the world. They were included in a letter written on May 26 to the governors of all the states. Essentially they only gave expression to the conviction which had been previously incorporated in the legislation known as sections 12 and 13 of the Selec-

The War Work of the Young Men's Christian Associations of the United States

Abstract: When America entered the war, there was created the National War Work Council of Young Men's Christian Associations. It was designed to unite the national, state and local organizations of this movement in order to prevent undesirable duplication of effort and in order to make possible the most efficient service of the men in the American Army and Navy. Its work was given an official status by the following executive order:

Military Surgery in 1861 and in 1918

Abstract: The fundamental difference between the surgical conditions during the Civil War (1861-65) and the present World War (191418) is our ignorance in 1861 and the enormous increase in our knowledge since that date. Between these two dates is a veritable chasm of ignorance which we can only appreciate when we peer over its edge and discover how broad and deep it is. Doubtless in another half century our knowledge will have again outstripped our present knowledge as far as our present knowledge exceeds that of fifty

Tuberculosis and the War

Abstract: All are questions of present interest. There is no disease which could make for greater inefficiency among soldiers for the reason that it is distinctly a disease of young adult life, and, developing insidiously, makes the individual incapable of performing his duties without his recognition of the cause. It is evident, therefore, that it is worth while endeavoring to spot it early so that the tuberculous soldier may be dealt with according to his condition; relieved from duty if unfit and put into a selected position if capable of carrying it off without danger to himself or others. To accomplish this has required a very large corps of extremely expert examiners capable not only of diagnosticating the case, but also of judging what might be expected of it. For an army of 3,000,000 men, 400 to 500 such examiners have been found

American Jewish Relief in the World War

Abstract: Our latest figures show the collections by American Jewry, acting as an entity, in behalf of the Jews in the various War Zones of Europe and Palestine, have totalled, since the beginning of the war in 1914 and up to the present year, approximately $20,000,000, of which the bulk has been disbursed. There has been but a single distributing agency for the disbursing of this huge sum, namely, the Joint Distribution Committee of the American Funds for Jewish War Sufferers, comprising in its membership representatives of the various committees, whose duty it has been to collect the funds. Upon this Joint Distribution Committee, of which the Chairman is Felix M. Warburg, many well known leaders of Jewry in America have served.

Work Among Delinquent Women and Girls

Abstract: making clear to the individual the nature of the predicament and what that predicament involves. It continues by showing a way or ways out of the trouble and it concludes by appealing to the motive that will help the person decide to master his predicament and carry out that decision. Until very recently case work as thus described could not possibly have been done for girls who had &dquo;lost their virtue&dquo; in a community composed largely of the virtuous. Only too well the &dquo;fallen women&dquo; were made to realize the nature of their predicament; there was no possible way out, for had they not &dquo;forfeited their claims,&dquo; and no amount of motivation on the part of the social worker or good intention on the part of one who had &dquo;lost her honor&dquo; could find it for her. The inevitable followed, the &dquo;ruined girl&dquo; soon became a prostitute. Social agencies with case work standards evaded these cases where the way out was so very obscure, and the institutions to which she was referred were usually, like the one whose charter is quoted above, well-meaning; but smugly self-righteous, content to afford the girl shelter while the enormity of her offense was impressed upon her. Of late years there has been a movement directed toward the prevention of sex offenses on the part of girls. Numerous national organizations, as well as local agencies in many places, are doing excellent work with girls who have not yet crossed the dead line, but

Borrowing as a Phase of War Financiering

Abstract: Since the United States became an active belligerent many opinions have been expressed relative to the financial management of this war. I have tried to analyze these opinions in order to discover, if possible, the economic basis on which they rest. I have also followed the debates in Congress on finance bills, and have read the utterances of the Secretary of the Treasury, who, by virtue of his official position, ought to be the leader in financial opinion and the formulator of a comprehensive financial program. While the legislative outcome of all this writing and speaking does,

The Cripple and His Place in the Community

Abstract: For many generations the cripple has occupied a rather obscure place in the community, and has not had sufficient chance to share equally in all opportunities offered to normal children and adults. It is true that many individuals representing various organizations have been interested in the cripple and have helped in securing proper medical treatment for both crippled children and adults in some communities and limited educational advantages in others. Yet they have been unable, because of very apparent and justifiable reasons, to interpret to the community the real individual behind the handicap. However, through industrial accident boards the needs of the adult cripple have become increasingly more apparent. As a result of recent infantile paralysis epidemics some of the immediate and pressing needs of children have also become apparent, stimulating in the community a deeper interest in both these groups. Although industrial accidents and infantile paralysis,-both serious causes of crippling conditions,-have increased the total cripple population, the community has not been aroused until the present time, to take any active steps in carrying out a constructive program, thus indicating their recognition of the significance of this group in community life. Now, because of the war, the care of the returned crippled soldier forces the community to immediate action. Already, plans for his medical care, for educational, vocational, and industrial opportunities are well organized. Everything is being done to assure him of a permanent place in the normal life of the community. As a prospective idle dependent he is realized to be an undesirable citizen, so every chance for expressing himself in the kind of work he is best fitted for, by education, training, and physical condition, is to be open to him. It has even been said that a plan for some readjustment of the Workmen's Compensation and Liability Act is to be made, thus releasing the employer' from the extra rates of insurance,-an expense incurred by employing handicapped labor. 36