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Show STANDING STRAIN Prussian Minister Reviews Situation Sit-uation and Forecasts Important Import-ant Tasks After the War. Berlin, April 25. Wireless to Say-, Say-, ville Further dotails of the interview regarding German finances given recently re-cently by Dr. August Lentze, Prussian minister of finance, were prepared for publication' today, by the Overseas News Agency, which says "Dr Lentze emphasizes in his communication com-munication to the Lokal Anzelger the necessity of strengthening the finances finan-ces of the state. He pointed out that each of the federal states has its historic his-toric individuality and its particular tasks, as for Instance the system of public Instruction. The financial problems of these states after the war will be difficult, but they will be equal to them if their former source of revenue direct taxation is left untouched by the federal government. He pointed out that up to tho time of the war It was an unwritten law that the Imposition of direct taxation was a necessity. "The most Important tisk after the war." he continued, "will bo consolidation consoli-dation of the floating debt contracted during the war. Moreover, It will bu necessary torn eet new expenses for pueh Items as public buildings and extension ex-tension of railroads on account of the policy of strict economy during the war. "Dr. Lentze said that after the war current expenses must be covered by current Income. Of the Income of the Prussian state, he said, forty per cent was derived from the railroads, forests for-ests and other property, and 60 per cent from direct taxation whuch must be left untouched by the fedoral authorities. au-thorities. "Dr Lentze declared tho present organization of industry and finance would enable Germany to stand the strain of war for an Indefinite period, as virtually no payments for war purposes pur-poses are made to foreign countries." oo |