The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-05

4
| affiliated corporations. This will tend
| 10 put a stop to the securing of inor-
| dinate profits by favored individuals at
the expense whether OF the general
| public. the stockholders or the wage
workers Our effort should be not SO
I much TO prevent consolidation as such.
/ but SO to supervise and control it as
/ to see that it results in no harm to the
/ people.
/ Combination of capital, like combina-
| ton of labor, is a necessary element Of
| our present industrial system. 1t is
/ not possible completely to prevent it,
| and If it We're possible such complete
/ prevention would do damage to the
body polite. What we need is not
vainly 10 try to prevent all combina-
ton, but to secure such rigorous and
adequate control and supervision of
the combinations as to prevent their
injuring the public or existing in such
form as inevitably TO threaten injury,
for the mere fact that q com bination
has secured practically complete con-
troll of necessary of life would under
any circumstances show that such
combination was to be presumed TO be
adverse to the public interest. 1t is
unfortunate that our present laws
should forbid all combinations instead
of sharply discriminating between
those com binations which do good and
those combination which do evil Re
bates, for instance, are as often due to
the pressure of big shippers (as was
shown in the investigation of the
Standard Oil company and as has been
shown since by the investigation of
the tobacco and sugar trusts as to the
initiative of big railroads. Often rail-
roads would like to combine for the
purpose of preventing a big shipper
from maintaining improper advantages
at the expense of small shippers and
of the general public. Such IA combina-
ton. instead of being forbidden by law,
should be favored. In other words, 1t
should be permitted to railroa, to
make agreements, provided these agree
ments were sanctioned by the inter
state commerce commission and were
published. With these two conditions
complied with it is impossible to see
what harm such a combination could
do to the public at large.
Inheritance and Income Tax
The national government has long
derived its chief revenue from a tariff
on imports and from an internal or ex-
else tax. In addition to these, there is
every reason why, when next our sys-
tenn of taxation is revised, the national
government should impose a graduated
inheritance tax and, if possible, a grad
uated income tax.
am well aware that such q subject
as this needs long and careful study in
order that the people may become ia
miliar with what is proposed to be
done, may clearly see the necessity of
proceeding with wisdom and self re-
straint and may make up their minds
just how far they are willing to go in
the matter, while only trained legisla-
tors can work out the project in neces-
sary detail. But l feel that in the near
future our national legisla tors should
enact law providing for a graduated
Inheritance tax by which steadily In
creasing rate of duty should be put
upon all moneys or other valuables
coming by gift, bequest or devise to
any individual or corporation. There
can be no question of the ethical pro-
priety Of the government thus deter
mining the conditions upon which any
SuL VI iHDtIIldAlCt bC ltICiStu.
AS the law now stands it is undoubt-
edly difficult to devise a national in
come tax which shall be constitutional.
But whether it is absolutely impossible
is another question. and if possible it
is most certainly desira bic. The first
purely income tax law was passed by
the congress in 1861, but the most i'm
portant law dealing with the subject
was that of 1894 This the court held
to be unconstitutional
The question is undoubtedly very in
tricate delicate and troublesome. The (
decision of the court was only reached /
by one majority. 1t is the law of the
land and of course is accepted as such
and Loyalty obeyed by all good citizens. I
Nevertheless the hesitation evidently /
felt by the court as a whole in coming /
to a conclusion, when considered to- /
gether with previous decisions on the
subject. may perhaps indicate the pos I
sibility of devising a constitutional in !
come tax law which shall substantially
accomplish the results aimed at. The I
difficulty of amending the constitution I
Is so great that only real necessity can
justify resort thereto. Every effort
subject, as with the subject Of the
proper control by the national govern
nlent over the use of corporate wealth
In interstate business. TO devise legis-
lation which without such action shall
attain the desired end. but if this fails
there will ultimately be no alternative
to a constitutional amendment.
Industrial Training.
Our Industrial development depends
largely upon technical education, in
GLIDING in this term all industrial edu
cation, from that which fits a man to
be good mechanic q good carpenter
Or blacksmith to that which fits a man
TO do the greatest engineering feat.
The skilled mechanic. the skilled work
man, can best become such by tech
meal industrial education. The far
usefulness of institutes of
and schools of mines or of
is now universally &C
Snowledged, and no less far reaching
IS the effect of a good huiIdInp or me-