Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-17

DealeQ. In New 1OfA there Is . Cur
lateral succession tax law Of IS per
hundred dollars. which yielded 10 1890
S1,117.637, and it is estimated that at
least 50. 600. 600 will be received from
this source during the present year. A
similar law In Pennsylvania brought to
the state Treasury in 1891 the sum Of
1927, SOP.
The collateral succession law reaches
comparatively few estates because this
tax is simply on the devolution Of pro-
perty on other than direct descendants
or p~rogenttors. The law adopted by
Connecticut reads;
All property conveyed by viii or by
death of inteslate 70 other h 10 father,
mother, husband, wife, lineal descendant,
adopted child, the liueal descendant OF any
adopted child, the wife or widow Of q son,
the husband OF the daughter Of descendant,
or some charitable purpose, or purpose
strictly public. five per cent. OF It's value
above the sun Of Sl.OUO, for the use OF the
State.
The Massachusetts, law OF 1891 is sub
stantially the same with the exception
that the amount taxed is $4,000 and
over. The rate is five per cent. and
charitable, religious, and educational
requests are exempt.
The succession tax as Mr.. PORE points
u twouId not fall on the poor, and those
whose estates amount to $4,000 can
well afford TO give 500 TO the State in
return for the protection OF Its laws. He
adds:
The succession tax is founded on the
brOadest principles of equity. l maintain
that the wealth possessed by every indiyid-
ual has been created directly or Indirectly
by the help Of others, and therefore he
owes 10 others, or generally speaking, to
tho public, obligations which ne ought 70
repay.
This is particularly true in the United
States. Every citizen, whether ne be rich
or poor, is equal in the eye Of the law and
has behind him for the protection of his
rights the entire power Of the nation. II
is therefore no more than Just that every
person who uCcumulates property should
pay for the protection Jhatthe State secures
70 him and his possessions.
If each State were TO establish q tax on
legacles aud i-uheritanCes such as Just pro-.
posed and devote the money SO obtained
70 the construction and maintenance OF
roads In O few years the elder and more
pOpUlOus States would be provided
with rOods equal 70 those or England,
France and Switzerland, and good roads,
when rightly constructed, can be main
tained at comparatively small cost; and as
the wealth Of the States increased the
succession tax would furnish sufficient
revenue 20 meet all the expenses Of the
State after paying for the maintenance OF
roads, thus relieving the people from all
direct taxation for State purposes.
The advantages Of the succession tax
are now being brought very prominently
before the people. In Massachusetts the
recently adopted platforms OF both the
Republican and the Democratic parties
have planks recommending the adoption of
the direct succession tax on inheritances
and legacies.
Mr.. PORES proposition is reasonable,
just and practicable and and vi submit
it to the careful consideration Of West
Virgiuia's lawmakers. There is not a
state in the Union that needs good roads
more than West Virginia.
THEIR ACTION Is REVOLUTIONARY.
If the silver Senators Had Prevented
Liquidation BY Force of Arms 1t Would
Be the same.
DETROIT, MICH, October 16.-In a
special from Anu Arbor, Mich, to the
Nous, has the following interview with
Judge Thomas NJ. Cooley, with refer
enCe 20 his recent statement to eX-MayOr
Hodges, Of Baltimore, that the action Of
the Senate in permitting the minority to
defeat the silver repeal bill By avOwedly
dilatory tactics was subverSive of the
constitution.
ut is a fundamental principle of
representative government" said he.
''that the majority shall rule. II was
the intention Of the founders of our
constitution, and embodied in the con-
stitutiOn that the majority in each
house OF Congress should control the
deliberations of that house, and eXCep-
ton to this general rule being speci-
fcally stated. Now for a majority of
the Senate to cOncede for any reason,
that a rule OF practice in
debate out of courtesy makes il posi-
BILE for a minority to prevent legislation
by indefinitely protracting debate is
equivalent to revolution. Its as much
revolutionary as though accomplished
with arms and violence.
II the minority can postpone legisla-
ton for one session they may for a Sec
ond and so on. The majority cannot
constitutionally cOnceda the existence
of a rule OF custom which is su6versive
of their right and duty of legislation"
Thinks His Pocket Was Pioke
ZANESvILLE, O., October 16.-Georse
Carr, better known as link" Carr, was