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PUBLISHED BT
PROSPECTOR PUBLISHING CO.
H. B. SELBY, Editor and Proprietor.
VALDEZ. ALASKA
Published Daily Except Sunday
Entered as Second-Class Mail Matter,
July 23. 1912. at the postoffice of Valdez,
Alaska, under act or March 3, 1879.
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1917 AUGUST 19171
suwmohTtue wedthufri,s*t
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I2el27l28l29l30l5ll II
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1917
WAR TAXES UNSCIENTIFIC
That the present war taxes are
both crudely and unscientifically ad
justed by men who are unfamiliar
with their duties and who are using
the war clamor as a pretext to roll
up a large fund of which the larger
part will go as salaries to commis
sions and boards, is growing more
and more aparent as the public is
let into the secrets of the game. Taxa
tion primarily intended to raise im
posts for war purposes, are growing
heavier and heavier and but little
real preparation for war is evidenced
in proportion to the money spent.
Extravagant log-rolling, the unwise
and inefficient expenditure of funds
by government bodies, and the ap
pointment of hundreds of useless men
on the public payroll are part of the
besetting sins of the period. The ma
chinery employed to raise huge rev
enues has proven so efficient that the
gates have been opened to useless
waste and inefficiency.
The spending of money by the gov
ernment cannot and never has had
the beneficent effect upon a commun
ity that vast sums spent by the indi
vidual can have; the effect on the
one hand is to lower the country’s
prosperity, and on the other to in
crease it. Capital is proverbially tim
id and will never emerge from ob
scurity so long as there exists a prob
ability of confiscation or unjust and
prohibitive imposts. An excessive im
post necessarily will destroy its own
productivity by destroying that which
produces taxes.
The tax recently enacted by tin
government levying a tribute of Is
per cent on business profits over and
above S per cent on tile capital em
ployed. regardless of whether such
profits have emanated from war con
ditions is unscientific and unsound.
The recently enacted so-called excess
profit tax which is now proposed to
largely augment lays a heavy burden
not alone upon business due to war
but upon all business, much of which
is injured instead of benefited by the
present war, and any scheme of taxa
tion which imposes an unnecessary
burden upon small enterprises and
handicaps the small proprietor is un
sound and ultimately will destroy
that business. Direct taxation of busi
ness activities ■should be avoided as
much as possible only when such bus
iness has been built up and fostered
by the continuance of war’s activities.
To take away 65 per cent of a man’s
income and give to another man who
is making millions out of trading
with the government is farcical and
unjust.
Small business will stagnate and
decay during the depressing period
of the present war, while big business
will grow and prosper exorbitantly.
The man who possesses much wealth
and who lives idly off his money can
place his capital in tax-exempt secur
ities, and is none the worse off, while
the man who places his capital and
brains into activity must pay a heavy
penalty for his energy. Otto H. Kahn,
who is authority on imposts, has sug
gested that the most sensible tax
would be a tax on purchases of all
kinds of merchandise (excepting food
stuffs and some raw materials) of one
cent for each dollar or greater part
thereof, exempting single purchases
of less than five dollars. This tax.
which would be paid by the purchas
er, would produce a very large in
come, and would be borne mainly by
the well-to-do. It would he more
widely distributed than almost any
other form of taxation and wo\ild be
but little felt. It could be easily and
cheaply collected, and would accrue
from the beginning. The proposition
to place the burden of taxation upon
the present generation is both un
wise and has little merit. The future
generation should bear its proportion
of the government’s debts, just as the
present generation has borne its share
of the debt of the Civil War.
After three years of grinding war
not a country in Europe has an in
come taxation schedule as high as
that of the United States, neither
France, England or Germany, and of
THE MPRESS
SATURDAY EAGLE HALL 8 SHARP
Introductory Picture
of Travel
THE EMPRESS CIRCUIT PRESENTS
MARGUERITE CLARK IN
“Helene of the North”
A SIX PART PARAMOUNT FEATURE
THE CAST
HELENE (MISS DEARING) . MARGUERITE CLARK
Ralph Connell (Lord Traverse) . Conway Dearie
■Pierre, a half-breed . Elliot Dexter
Capt. Westforth, Ralph’s uncle . Robert Rogers
Miss Cadwell . Katherine Adams
John Nearing, Helene’s father . Frank Losee
Father Duvall, Cure of Seven Pines. David Wall
Mrs. O’Neill . Ida Dar,In8
Col. O’Neill . Theodore Guise
Philip Brookes . James Kearney
SUNDAY—Laura Hope Crews in “Blackbirds”
Chas. Chaplin in “Behind the Screen”
Regular Admission - 25c
~ steam heat newly furnished
SEATTLE HOTEL
MRS. E. MILL, Propr.
I VALDEZ ALASKA
Ihe three above mentioned, England. |
which is the higher, has a minimum
rate almost fifty per cent below the
rate proposed in the recent House
Bill. Not a country has deemed it
wise to impose a tax on their subjects
as high as has the representatives of
the United States. And in all these
countries living is much cheaper than
in the United States, even after two
years of blockaded ports.
Canada's recent income tax bill
passed by Ihe House of parliament, is
less than one-half that proposed by
the United States. Moreover the act
provides that income taxation will be
remitted to individuals up to the i
amount which they are paying dir j
ectly or as members of a co-partner-1
ship or as shareholders in corpora- i
lions, for excess war profit taxes and
other special war taxes under the ex
isting laws.
While every sensible man knows
that the war must be financed, yet its
expenses should be borne by those
who thrive and prosper by its con
tinuation. Small business is loaded
to the plimsoll line already, and a fur
ther addition to the cargo will un
doubtedly sink the ship.
SEW A HD has adopted the plan of
dividing the payment of taxes into
two parts, and after a year’s trial it
has proven so successful that at a re
cent meeting of its council it was
voted to continue the plan indefinite
ly. It was found that under the plan
the burden of taxation fell much eas
ier upon the people, and that much
less property fell under the auction
eer’s hammer from failure of owners
to pay taxes. Nearly every town and
city in the states now pay taxes in
two payments, with no interest until
after the date of the last payment,
when in some towns interest in charg
ed for the last payment as a penalty.
In view of the heavy burden that
mosl of our citizens are bearing why
would this not be a good plan for
Valdez to adopt? l’aying the tax in
December and June. To the man with
but a few dollars to pay the present
system is not burdensome, but the
man with a hundred or so to pay
finds it hard to meet his obligations.
IK half as much publicity was giv
en the question of immigration as is
givin politics by the average Alaskan
paper, we would tiave a bumper crop
of tourists each year. And the average
man gets about a.^ much out of poli
tics as the turkey found in the knot
hole. Hut politics seem to have reach
ed a stage where it is a disease in
Alaska. Everything else is subordin
ated to it. The Juneau papers and the
Anchorage papers are hammering
away over the echoes of the election
as hard as if it was to occur tomor
row, and the Fairbanks papers are
handing their plants over to the at
torneys of the interior metropolis by
indulging in numerous suits for libel.
And right here, we rise to remark
that we do not believe a newspaper
man can be libeled; or if he can be
libeled he is not a newspaper man.
All this wasted space would bring Al
aska all that is coming to her in the
way of advertisement, and would ac
complish results. But every squirrel
running a paper must have some tree
to climb, and it might as well be poli
tics and libel suits as anything else.
Why Worry About Draft?
While discussing the draft measure
in the Aviation Bill, Senator Fletcher
introduced some rather grim humor
by reading the following article writ
ten by an Atlanta youth in France:
Here is consolation for every man
who has registered and expects to be
drafted in the great war lottery this
month. It comes from an Atlanta boy
who has been on the firing line in
France and knows what he is talking
about:
You have two alternatives—either
you are drafted or you are not. If
not, you have nothing to worry about.
If you are drafted, you have two al
ternatives—you are in camp or you
are at the front. If in camp you have
nothing to worry about. If you are at
the front you have two alternatives
—either you are held in reserve or
you are sent to the firing line. If you
are in reserve you have nothing to
worry about. If you are sent to the
firing line, you have two alternatives
—either you fight or you don’t. If you
don’t, you have nothing to worry
about. If you do you have two alter
natives—either you get hurt or you
don’t. If you don't you have nothing
to werry about. If you do get hurt
you have two alternatives—either
you are slightly hurt or badly hurt.
If slightly hurt, you have nothing to
worry about. If badly hurt, you have
two alternatives—either you recover
or you don’t. If you recover you have
nothing to worry about. If you don’t
you’ll be dead.
So what’s the use of worrying
about the draft?
Try that New Roof Paint that just
arrived at Rudolph’s. tf
If it Isn’t an Eastman it isn't a
Kodak. We carry a complete line of
Eastman Kodaks and supplies. Val
des Drug Store. tf
I
FOR THE MAN
BEHIND THE GUN
THIS store offers complete shooting equipment
either for large or small game. Guns, ammu
nition and hunters clothing of proven quality.
HUNTING COATS; extra well
made of waterproof khaki; large
game pockets. Trousers to match.
SPORTING BOOTS; light
weight designed for duck hunt
ing. Heavier boots of best makes,
Hipress and U. S.—try our wool
socks in these boots.
SWEATER COATS; nothing
like a warm woolen sweater when
shooting on a raw chilly day.
Many styles, weights and colors.
AMMUNITION; All kinds and
loads. Selby “Famous Black” are
guaranteed in every respect.
Soak ’em, they are waterproof.
Marlin Repeating Shotguns and Rifles
SEE WINDOW
S. Blum & Company
GOOD GOODS
Photo by American Press Association
Rear Admiral Nathaniel R. Ueher. j
HOBIXSON CRUSOE IS
IN SEATTLE JAIL
SEATTLE, Sept. 1 — Robinson Cru
soe is in the city jail, charged with
begging. He was arrested at the cor
ner of First avenue and Madison
street while asking for small dona
tions from passing citizens. At the
booking office in the police station
he gave his name as Robinson Cru
so, but the police refused to believe
him. It was only after considerable
persuasion that he admitted that
he had another name, Robert Mc
Lean Peden. Although he admitted
that Peden was one of his names, he
maintained that his real name was
Robinson Crusoe, and declared fur
ther that he had adopted the name
of Peden because folks wouldn’t be
lieve he was named after Robinson
Crusoe. The arrest was made by Pat
rolman Tom Walsh.
Otto Elfstrom, captain of the
launch Katalla Queen, states that af
fairs at the Alaska-Homestake, un
der the management of Jack Whalen
are looking good, and that the mine
will be one of the largest gold pro
ducers yet opened on the Sound.
Switches from $3 up to $12. Al
so Jane Clusters, Marguerite, Dolly
Varden and Juliete curls, special
prices until Sept. 1st. at the Vanitie
Shop. tf
Do not trust to luck or amateur
methods. Have, your hair dyed by an
expert at the Vanitie Shop. tf
FOUND—Child’s bracelet on Key
stone avenue. Owner can have same
by calling at the Prospector office.
Ice cream every day, specials on
Sunday at Hunt’s Candy Kitchen, tf
Why Curl Tour Hair Every Day?
Permanent, natural hair waving Is
a great comfort to ladles with straight
stringy or oily hair. Not affected by
water or fog. Vanitie Shop. tf
Subscribe for the Prospector.
VALDEZ LODGE
NO 168
Free aad Aeeepted limi
Regular Communications first Wed
uesday In each month In McKlnle>
Hall. Visitors always welcome.
F. M BROWN. W. M.
ED WOOD. Secretary.
HOTEL SEXTON
Seward Alaska
Geo. Sexton, Proprietor.
The traveling public’s
home.
European Plan.
HOTEL SEXTON
WE PAY
Lead 8 l-2c a pound.
Rags $2.75 a hundred.
Cast iron $33 a ton.
Rope 5c a pound.
Brass 18c a pound.
Copper 27 l-3c a pound.
Rubber 7 l-2c a pound.
Beer bottles 27c a dozen.
P. O. B. SEATTLE.
ATLAS JUNK CO.
1843 Railroad Avenue, So.
SEATTLE, WASH.
Launch Patsy
for Charter Anwyhere on
VALDEZ BAY
At any Time Day or Night
J. D. Jefferson
VALDEZ, ALASKA
Arctic Hotel
All .Warm, Outside Rooms
Transient Trade Solicited
Special Rates by the Week or Month
Raths In Connection
PHONE 133 MRS. STRING, Pray
LAUNCH DELLA
Capt. H. L. Rider
Weekly trips from Valdez to
Ellamar, Landlock, Fidalgo and
nay ports. Passengers landed
at all points.
Carrying freight and passen
gers.
For rates apply on board.
CAPT. H. L RIDER
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
DR. S. WICKES MERRITT
Offices in Fish Building, adjoining
Tilllkum Club.
Phone ’13 McKinley Street
Contract Surgeon. D. S. Army
A. > PurgeoD. U S Public Health Sere
(Marine Hospital)
DR. H. COCKERILLE
Graduate National t nlveralty,
Washington, D. C.
DENTIST
In Valdez Since 1898
PHONE 110
Office Rooms in Whaling Building
DONOHOE & DIMOND
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
OBre Opposite Court House
Phone H VALDEZ. ALASKA
JOHN LTONB g g RITCHIB
LYONS & RITCHIE
ATTORNBVR.AT.LAW
OBrea In wanting Building
Phone 101 Valdez. Alaska
ROBERT SIMPSON Opt.:D.
JUNEAU, ALASKA
Glasses pitted lenses Ground
;- -
VALDEZHOSPITAL
Private Rooms
Terms Reasonable
JOS- *• SILVEUUN. It. C., M. D. Tn,.
Jot. A. & Overman PL. G. M. D.
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Office kesn—1 ts 4 p. a -7 It 8 p. a.
Sunday by Appointment
Rea. Tel. 176 Office Tel. 1»
Boyle Block Valdea
Candy Kitchen1
E. W. HUNT—la Owl Drac Start.
FOUNTAIN DRINKS
hot-COLD
J. E. WILSON
Freighting to all points
in the third division.
Horses bought and sold.
Phone 166.
Valdez Miners Union No. 188
Western Federation of Miner*
W. M. CONLEY Preside.!.
Velde* Aleak*.
GEORGE M. BARRY Secretary,
Valdes Alah.