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Show THE CITIZEN predict that a great pestilence is possible such as is generally caused from great wars where many people are killed. The estimate of the dead has been as great as 320,000 people. Many of the small coast towns have been entirely wiped out and the people all killed. Yokohama has sustained the greatest loss in both destruction of property and loss of life. English insurance companies have been hit hard, they having secured the bulk of the Japanese business. President Coolidge of the United States has called upon the people of the United States for aid. Governor Charles R. Mabey has also appealed to the people of Utah to help the suffering. .' ELECTRIC POWER. The demand for electric power in the United States is increasing enormously. Power plants which a few years ago seemed adequate for years of future growth have suddenly become unable to meet the demands, and local conditions may be such that the only solution of the problem is interconnection. The problem would be simple if this situation had been foreseen, and the proper standards of transmission and distribution of electric current had been provided. However, the industry is going ahead full speed to make up for lost time. High tension wires are spreading in all directions from power sources. The interconnection idea is spreading. Electric power from many plants is fed into main wires, for distribution in sections where power cannot be generated economically, just as gas and petroleum are fed into transmission pipes from many wells. ' By means of this interconnected superpower system, it will not be many years until the whole country is supplied with electricity adequate for its light and power need, if not for heat, dravn from the waterfalls and coal mines and generated and transmitted more economically than has yet been possible. Electricity is revolutionizing housekeeping, farming, transportation and manufacturing. The United States has been a pioneer in electrical development and the initiative, perseverance, faith and courage of its inventors, engineers, investors and managers of electric properties are resposible for these wonderful achievements. 5 and flood, with a resultant appalling loss of life and destitution and distress, requiring measures of urgent relief. Such assistance as is within the means of the executive department of the government will be rendered; but realizing the great suffering which now needs relief and will need relief for days to come, I am prompted to appeal urgently to the American people, whose sympathies have always been so comprehensive to contribute in aiding the unfortunate and in giving relief to the people of Japan. In order that the utmost coordination and effectiveness in the administration of the relief funds be obtained, I recommend that all contributions, clearly designated, be sent to the chairman of the American National Red Cross chapters for transmission to Japan. W. Mont Ferry is chairman of the Red Cross chapter of this . district. TIMBER TAXATION. In the state of Washington in 1921, says the Mercantile Trust Company of California in a recent Monthly Review, eight per cent of the total state income from taxes was supplied by timber lands and three per cent from the lumber industry, making a total of about 11 per cent, or in the neighborhood of $7, 000, OCX). In Oregon the proportion was higher. Out of a total of levied on taxes in 1921, $7,240,000, or about 18 per cent, came from timber land and lumber manufacture. In some of the densely wooded counties of these states the share of timberlands in the total county tax income is 50 per cent or more. The average assessed valuation in western Washington on land bearing standing timber is about $26 an acre, on denuded land $9.42 an acre. Assessments land as low on wooded land run as high as $80, those on cut-ov$41,-117,3- 67 er as $2.50. Excessive timber taxation discourages conservation of our forests due to the fact that the aggregate tax paid in a few years will absorb all possible profit. Also, it discourages reforestation on account of inability of timber owners to carry on such work and at the same time pay heavy taxes over a long period of years. The future of the timber industry depends in a large measure upon a scientific scheme of taxation. i CLASS PRIVILEGE. A number of industries are becoming worried over the Increas- ing amount of money that are being withdrawn from productive bonds. activity and placed in In one year, the number of Americans paying taxes on incomes of $100,000 decreased from 3,600 to 2,300, not because less money is being made, but because they are withdrawing their funds from taxable undertakings and buying city, county, state and national securities the income from which pays no taxes. The existing situation tends to create classes of privileged persons who enjoy incomes free from taxation while withdrawing their money from the ordinary uses of industry and commerce. Not only does industry and the citizen have to pay increased taxes to make up the sums thus lost to the government, but industry has to pay increased rates of interest in order to induce capital to invest in properties which are subject to all forms of taxation. Our late President Harding recommended an amendment to our tax-fre- e present laws which would do aiway with further issues of public bonds and it is high time action was taken on this matter. tax-exem- pt PRESIDENTS APPEAL. To the People of the United States : An overwhelming disaster has overtaken the people of the ifiendly nation of Japan. While its extent has not as yet been officially reported, enough is known to justify the statement that the cities of Tokio and Yokohama, and surrounding towns and villages, have been largely if not completely destroyed by earthquake, fire A Danish delegate to the International. Congress Against Alcohol gave his impressions of a four months' visit to the United States and criticized prohibition as he found it in this country. He declared he would never vote for prohibition in Denmark unless at least 70 per cent of the population demanded it. The inference was that there was no such demand in the United States. Senator Smith W. Brookhart of Iowa is doing a lot of talking in eastern states and advising the farmers and laboring people how they should vote in order to get better results. Brookhart is able to tell the people how to vote providing they vote his way but up to the present time he has not suggested the proper remedy to make everybody rich in America. It sure is interesting to all of us that in the near future if we follow Brookharts aavlcc we will all have plenty of money by making capital divide the spoils. When the lineup comes for the division, you will find those who have nothing the first in line dictating how the alleged spoils are to There will be a hot time in the old town that night. be divided. states now impose a consumption tax on gasoline or will do so by the end of this year. Various states which are Thirty-si- x now levying such a tax, ranging from one to three cents a gallon, expect to increase their revenues by $41,607,835 during the current year. Special taxes such as this are easy ways to raise money, but they represent class taxation, not equal taxation. When gasoline is taxed all the consumer can stand, the same method will be applied to some other commodity. Ihc fact that it can be done does ont make the principle right. . |