Several Bills were recently introduced in the Austrian National Assembly, by which new heavy burdens are laid on property and income. Property, of which the Exchequer intends to seize from 5 to 65 per cent. by a capital levy, will be hit by a property tax ranging from two per mil. to three per cent., and by an increased real estate tax. Income tax will be doubled, and rise to 60 per cent.
All profits resulting from the sale of property—for instance, the sale of stocks and shares—will be subject to the new income tax. Several other existing taxes will be raised, and every sale and commercial transaction taxed. The proceeds of these new taxes are estimated at one and a half milliards of kronen per annum. Yet there is small hope that this sum will suffice to restore order in the household of the State, even should the Capital Levy Bill be passed by the National Assembly a doubtful contingency, as the difference of view between the Social Democrats and the Christian Socialists is very great.
In this respect a speech made by the Christian Socialist State Secretary Mayr was very _significant. He announced the dissolu-
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