Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04

the DeSl results, because, among other
reasons. the attempt to impose them in one
particular State too often results merely
in driving the corporation individual af-
fected to some other locality or other State
The National Government has long derived
its chief revenue from tariff on imports
and from an internal or excise tax. In ad-
dition to these there is every reason why,
when next our system of taxation is re-
vised. the National Government should i'm
pose a graduated Inheritance tax and, II
possible, graduated income tax. The man
of great wealth owes peculiar obligation
to the State, because he derives special ad-
vantages from the mere existence of gov
eminent Not only should he recognize this
obligation In the way he leads his daily
life and In the way he earns and spends
his money. but 1t should also be recog-
nized by the way in which he pays for the
protection the State gives him. On the one
hand, 1t Is desirable that he should assume
his full and proper share Of the burden of
taxation; on the other hand, 1t Is quite
necessary that in this kind of taxation.
where the men who vote the tax pay but
| little of it., there should be clear recogni-
ton of the danger of inaugurating any
such system save. in a spirit of entire JUS
tice and moderation. Whenever we, as a
people, undertake to remodel our taxation
system along the lines suggested, we must
make it clear beyond peradventure that
our aim is to distribute the burden Of sup
porting the Government more equtably
than at present; that we intend to treat
rich man and poor man on basis of abso-
lutte equality, and that we regard 1t as
equally fatal to true democracy to do or
permit injustice to the one as to do or per-
nit injustice to the other.
l am well aware that such q subject as
this needs long and careful study In order
that the people may become familiar with
what is proposed to be done. may clearly
| see the necessity of proceeding with wis
| dom and self-restraint, and may make up
| their minds just how far they are willing
| to go in the matter; while only trained
| legislators can work out the project in
| necessary detail. But l feel that in the
| near future national legislators should
enact a law providing for a graduated in
/ heritance tax by which STEADILY increas-
| ing rate of duty should be put upon all
| moneys or other valuables coming by gift,
| bequest, or devise to any Individual or
| corporation. 1t may be we'll to make the
| tax heavy in proportion as 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 in
| crease of the amount left to any one indi-
| vidual after a certain point has been
| reached. 1t is most desirable to encourage
| thrift and ambition, and a potent source
| of thrift and ambition is the desire on the
| part of the breadwinner to leave his child
| rem well Off This object can be attained
| by making the tax very small on moderate
| amounts of property left; because the
| prime object should be to put a constantly
| increasing burden on the Inheritance of
! those swollen fortunes which 1t is certainly