The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-05-26
AaAIasT uLLIoIAmEa.
A Jersey Legislator Wants Superduoui
| Wealth Divided.

There are many interesting bills
among the several hundred now on
the calendar in the New Jersey leg
islature, says . Trenton dispatch
to the New York Times, but none
invites so much comment as that
| introduced during the week by As
semblyman Watson, of Camden,
which is aimed against the multi
plication of millionaires. It is the
same bill that was introduced by
Senator DAILY last year, and it is q
bill with a history.
The bill originated in the mind of
Judge David J. Pancoast, of Cam
den. He believes that the institu-
tions of this republic are threatened
by the concentration of wealth in
the hands of q few, and by the dis
position of people of wealth to drift
into idleness and indulgences. His
bill never got out out of the com.
mittee because it was introduced
too late and was lost in the confu-
sion of the last days of the session.
This year the bill is introduced
into the House by Assemblyman
Watson, who represents the district
of Camden county in which Judge
Pancoast lives. The bill provides
as follows:
That hereafter no person imam,
woman or child) shall have the
right or power at his or her death,
by descent, will or otherwise, to
transmit, transfer, or give to his or
her next kin, heirs-at-law, or others,
property or estate of any kind above
the value of 100000, and that
the property or estate of any per-
son man, woman or child which
he or she may leave, or be possessed
of at his or her death. in this state,
above the value of 81 ,OO0, 900, shall
escheat and 60 to, and become, the
absolute property and estate of this
state.
That upon the death of any per-
son Imam, woman or child leaving
property or estate in this state of
the value of over 81 900, 900, it shall
be the duty of the Attorney General
to represent and act for the state in
the matter of securing the proper
share of such estate, and if he shall
fail to act in the premises, then it
shall be the duty of the Orphans
Court in the county where such
person died, or his estate or the
principal part thereof be situated,
in case of his or her death out of this
state, to appoint an attorney and
act for the state in the premises.
That the moneys so realized shall
be paid to the State Treasurer, and
by him distributed among and paid
to different counties in the State in
proportion to the population ae-
cording to the last census before the
date of such distribution and pay
ment, and each county's share
be distributed among and paid to
the different townships thereof in
proportion to their population &C.
cording of the last census before
such distribution and payment, and
the money so received by the town.
ships shall be applied to the sup
port Of the public schools, the poor
and the insane, and the construction
and maintenance of public roads
in said townships, and to no other
use or purpose.
That any person who shall will.
fully conceal any part of the estate
of any deceased person in this
State, for the purpose of defeating
the purpose of this act shall be
guilty of criminal misdemeanor
and on conviction thereof shall be
punished by fine not exceeding
imprisonment not exceed
ing five years or both.
Judge .Pancoast contends that
most estates above 81 ,0OO,OO0 are
accumulated by illegal means, such
as stock gambling, trusts to control
the sale and prices of the necessa-
ries of life and other monopolies
contrary to law. He thinks that no
family can have any reasonable
want or use for more than 81 ,OOO,-
600.
Another urgent reason given is
that the accumulations, both in
and money, of million
aires, have often to be defended by
the laws at the expense of the peo-
pie generally, and much public
money is so expended. 1t is, there
fore, not unjust to require them to
share their millions with the State
and the people at their death:
Judge Panooast has, since he in.
PRODUCED this anti-millionaire's bill
this year, received a number Of let
ters indorsing its provisions, but
predicting that it would be neces-
sary to have active agitation before
such legislation could be secured.
Daniel K. Young, of New York,
three years ago formulated SINH
lar bill, and Mr.. Young has written
a letter to the Judge in which he
oives a nnmher 0f urgent reasons