THE ACID TEST.
And yet, at first sight, it seems so eminently fair that a taxpayer should be called upon to pay in accordance with hiS capacity that few are disposed to challenge the point which is so readily made by defenders of the high Income, Super Tax, and Death Duties, &c. The whole matter, however, resolves itself surely into a question of whether our present system of extravagant expenditure bolstered. up by enormous direct taxation does or does not minister to the prosperity of the country as a whole. If it does, little more need be said in its defence, though it must be clearly understood that by the prosperity of the country as a whole is meant whether it does or does not add to the total wealth fund and not Simply whether through taking money out of One pocket and transferring it to another the standard of living and the hours of leisure may. be raised over the entire community. • Because, if the wealth fund as a whole is diminished and not increased, and if, moreover, forces are being set at work which impede industry in its competition with foreign countries,- then sooner or 'later there must come the time when the Present'systeth breaks down by its own weight.
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