Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-12-06

was shown in the Investigation e ~
anaar Sin Oh hx 4bs and az b:
alive Of big railroads. Often .atkeeds
would like to combine for the pu1poss ot
preventing a big shipper from maintain
Ing improper advantages at the s1ps1fs
ct small shippers and of the general pub
ue. Such combinatiens instead Of being
ether words. it should be permitted to
railroads to make agreements. provided
these agreements were sanctioned ~ the
were published. With these tive eoaN-
tons complied with it is Impossible to
see what harm such a combina ten could
evil to have on the statute books I law
Incapable of full enforcement because
both judges and juries realize that it's
full enforcement would destroy the bust
make decent railroad men violators Of
the law against their will, and to put q
su s 2s50t Of thu tine
to throw the decent man and the wilful
wrongdoer into close association, and in
the end to drag down the former to the
latter's level: for the man who becomes
lawbreaker in one way unhappily tends
to lose all respect for law and to be
willing to break it in many ways. Ne
the words of the Interstate commerce
commission when, in commenting upon
associations do technically violate the
United STATES supreme oe court IN the
Trac case has produeed mt
practical effect upon the railway opera
tons Of the country. Such associations.
nH vi With 5h sSe ss e.!sn.
ought probably to add that it is dinicult
W d1lA ard To thn infA
est OF the shipper and the railway
without concerted action Of the kind AZ
fo 1,l e; thru these associations" :.
This means that the law as construed
by tho supreme court is such that the
business Of the country cannot be con-
Quoted without breaking it. I recommend
alton to this subject, and if you find tho
opinion Of the interstate commerce COM
mission justified, that you amend the
Ia" SO as to obviate the evil disclosed.
Inheritance and Income Tax.
would refer in some way to his belief
in the necessity for the curbing of enor-
recommending legislation for both in
come and an inheritance tax. He be-
lieVes the government should impose
graduated inheritance tax, and, if posi-
BILE, graduated income tax. He says:
Il am we'll aware that such a subject
as this needs long and careful study in
order that the people may become famil-
may clearly see the necessity Of proceed
ins with wisdom ana self-restraint, and
may make up their minds just how far
they are willing to so. in the matter;
while only trained legislators can work
ont the project in necessary detail. But
I feel that in the near future our nation
II legislators should enact a law provid-
ing for graduated inheritance tax by
Wnlch a steadily increasing rate Of duty
should be put upon ell moneys or other
yaluables coming by gift, bequest, or
devise to any individual or corporation.
in proportion the individual benefited
is remote of kin. In any event, in my
Judgment the pro rata of the tax should
increase very heavily with the increase
after a certain point has been reached:
1t is most desirable to encourage thrift
md ambition, and a potent source o., OF
part of the breadwinner to leave his chill
lren we'll off This object can be attained
by making the TAX very small on mOder-
ste amounts Of property Left; because aos
stantly increa sing burden on the inner
itance Of those swollen fortunes which
it is certainly Of no benefit to this coun-
try to perpetuate.
There can be no question OF the eth
ical propriety Of the government thus de-
termining the conditions upon which any
gift or inheritance should be received
would as an incident have the effect of
limiting the transmission by devise or
gift of the enormous fortunes In question
it is not necessary at present to discuss
1t Is wise that progress in this direction
should be gradual. At first permanent
national inheritance tax, while it might
be more substantial than any such tax
has hitherto been, need not approximate,
tax should ultimately be.