Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-10-17

acre is from twelve to forty tons-forty
tons being a large crop, and twelve a
small one. The beets would be worth
about $3.50 ton. and the cost of raising
them is nearly $50 an acre A farmer rais-
ing twenty tons to the acre would realize
from $50 to $780, By improved processes the
amount of sugar produced from the beets
has been increased from per cent to near
ly 16 per cent. If Mr. Bryan was so much
interested for the farmers Of his state,
why did he not let wool and beet sugar
alone? He voted to reduce the tariff on
brandy, on liquors, on kid gloves, on feath-
ers. on marble statuary, and pictures. This
is not the Mckinley policy. Talk about sill
yer. There has been more done by con-
gress since 1873 to enrich the silver mine
owners than has been done for the farmers
of the Mississippi valley since the govern
ment was founded. The value of the eggs
produced in this country last year is twice
as great as the production of silver. but
the hens have not made any fuss. They
ought to hold a convention, resolve that
six eggs shall be a dozen, and run some
young rooster for president
"There is another proposition to which
your consideration is invited, which pos
sibly may come before the legislature at
its next session This may not be a new
one to many of you. 1t is what is known as
a collateral Inheritance or legacy tax,
which has been in force in the state of
New York for ten years, and Maine and
Illinois have recently adopted it. This is
a tax upon descendants estates. After the
debts are paid certain percentage on all
estates is paid into the state treasury. re-
ducing state taxation The tax could be
graded, small estates being exempted, and
the percentage increased according to the
size of the estate. This inheritance tax
brought into the state treasury of New York
in 1856 (the first year,. sS4l2s. And in 1924
the amount was sl,6Ss.954; and the total
for nine years being $l1, 90. .4S3. an average
of sl.2ss5, 495 a year. The year 1895 Is not
included, but probably will not fall below
the average. The taxable wealth of the
state of Missouri is 1890. .65S,o 900; actual value
probably $1,000, 0oO, 900. And this vast sum
must sooner or later pass through our pro-
bate courts. When our assessed valuation
reaches 81, 900. 100000, we will not be permit
ted to levy more than Is cents on the hun
dred for state purposes. And as our ap-
preparations for 1895 and 1896 were s., 2,7is,-
AIS. and the demands upon the state treas
ury are increasing. 1t is time to see if we
can not get some money from other sources
without increasing taxation upon the peo-
pie. A law was passed at the last session
of the legislature, providing for an inher-
itance tax where property descended out
Of the regular line; and the fund so aris-
ing is for the benefit of the state univer-
sity. If We should go little further, and
provide for the tax the same as in New
York, the money might go also to the uni
versity. Jay Gould's estate paid into the
treasury of New York over $4,000 after
contesting the law in the courts for sew
eral years. In one year in which other lit
igation in opposition to the law was decid-