The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-17
Mr., ROOSEVELT WAS SERIOUS
rAREFTLLY CONSIDERED HIS
PROPOSED TAN on WEALTH.

Nc hid Not Incorporate the Progressive
Tax idea In His "Muck Rake Speech
on Spur OF the Moment, but Has Had
idea in Mind for Two or Three Years.
WASHINGTON, April 18.-President Roose-
eel, was entirely serious in his suggestion,
rpt forth in his muck rake" speech of last
saturday. that great fortunes should be
r,rtailed by some such method as placing
a national progressive inheritance tax
upon all inheritances or life requests above
certain amount. From an unimpeachable
,,urce Of authority the information was
obtained to-day that the President believes
that the seed he has sown will take rooS,
and that ultimately, whether through hin
effort as President or as a less important
officer of the Government, or through the
efforts of others after he has ceased to hold
nublic office, the Government will enact
laus 10 prevent vast wealth to be con-
c~entratei in the hands of a few individuals.
Enough was learned to-day to justify
the statement that the Presidents proposal
d a progressive tax on the transfer of
fortunes was the immediate outgrowth
NJ the opposition N his W party to his
railway rate regulation policy. Natura ly
the President has been somewhat vexed,
to put il mildly, over the refusal OF most
Of the Republican Senators, including
some Of his best political and personal
friends, to support the kind Of rate legis-
htion that he desired.
While it would be going far beyond the
truth to say that Mr.. Roosevelt believed
that all of these Senator's had been in
fuenced by any other than purely creditable
motives, or that any Of them had been
subject to influence Of an improper charac-
ter in declining to follow his lead, there is
reason to assume that he holds the opinion
that regard for great industrial enterprises
has played a part in bringing about some
Of the opposition which tho rate bill has
encountered. In this supposed condition
Of affairs, the President, it is said, believes
that the time has come to make the sug-
qestion that has been in his mind for some
time-that great wealth Is a menace to
the popular will and means should be de-
vised for curtailing it.
II is now known that Mr.. Roosevelt's
unexpected proposal of a progressive tax
on inheritanoas and life gifts was not the
outcome OF a sudden inspiration but had
been given consideration by him, in a more
or lees serious way, for two or three years.
Perhaps a better explanation would be that
the President has from time to time turned
over In his mind the thought that means
might ultimately have to be found of plac-
Ing an embargo on the accumulation OF
enormous fortunes without endeavoring
until recently to put In definite shape, OF
In any shape, his views as to what form
that means should take.
At any rate, Mr.. Roosevelt did not incor-
porate the progressive tax idea in his muck
rake" speech on the spur OF the moment.
That he was bound, however, to put forth
the suggestion at some time, even II he
had not done 80 on Saturday, there is no
ground for doubling. 1t appears probable,
in view Of what Is now known, that there
would have been no announcement Of his
new policy at this early date had it not
been for the rate bill situation.
From those who know something OF the
Presidents position on this momentous
question the understanding Is obtained
that Mr.. Roosevelt has not mapped out any
r!an Of campaign to secure support for the
progressive tax proposition. He has sown
The seed, t is explained, and will wait for
7 to develop. Should there be any con-
siderable rallving within the next year or
20 to the standard he has raised he may
adopt 1t as an official adm 'nistration policy,
rot necessarily in the belief that his idea
would be enacted INTO law before his term
es President expired, but with the object
nj giving an impetus to the policy so that
he would have a good ground work Tor
further advocacy in some other sphere OF
public service, such as a member oil the
United States Senate from New York State,
The office which the President would pre-
10y 10 ocCnry after he caves the White
House.
II is clear that tho President did not
Put out the suggestion, which prominent
men in his own party are ~denouncing as
tccialstic, with any idea of letting it die
with the mere utterance OF it, or Of simply
throwing a scare, as somebody has sug-
gested, into the multi-milliouaires who
tre supposed to be opposed to his radica ism
Mr.. Roosevelt realizes that he is a radical,
according to what is learned from those
who know something OF his views on social
questions, and he has no objection to being
classed as such, with n full understanding
CT what the term signifies TO many OF his
fellow citizens.
The Presidents suggestion OF q pro-
eressive tax on inheritances was the main
topic Of discussion in the cloak rooms and
committee rooms Of the Capitol to-day.
Apparently forty-eight hours Of considera-
ton did not change the very general opinion
prevailing yesterday, particularly in Repub.
Ican circles, that the President had pro.
posed something that should not be en-
outraged. There was the same ~indispcsitior
manifested by Senators and Repre- senta'
lives to express themselves for publication
on the subject. although a few consented
to have their views quoted.
Senator Dolli~er, the Presidents princi'
pal Republican. supporter in the rate bill
fight in the Senate, was inclined to treat the
suggestion with ,Nome seriousness, although
declining to express arr eorrnionr on rs
merits.
The President, who keeps in the closes