The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-16

a I#" L f" LNHV "HNNta E
and-calied attention to. the platform of the
Socialist party, adopted at Chicago in
NAV. 100, in which the PARTY was pledged
to worl; for the graduated taxation Of in
comes, inheritanccs. franchises and land
values Debs was nominated upon this
platform.
H. lnO the SiouS Falls convention Of the
Peoples rarty adopted a platform de-
handing "a graduated income and in
heritance tax, TO the end that aggregated
wealth shall bear its inst proportion Of
tayatlor,"
The Socialist Labor party, a minority
faction of the Socialists, adopted a series
Of resolutions in New York city in July,
1895, demanding "a progressive income
tax md tax ON in~heritanoes, the small
incomes to he exempt 1t was maintained
by some of those who criticized the Presi-
dents suggestion that this was exactly
what Mr.. Roosevelt had proposed in yes
terday's speech,
The middle of the road Populists, at the
convention held by them in Cincinnati in
May, 1900, adopted a platform demanding
'the levy and collection of a graduated tax
on incomes and inheritances and a con-
s%titutional amendment to secure the same
II necessary"
Some Republican Senator'S who recalled.
that Debs had been nominated on a plat
form which advocated practically what the
President suggested in. his muck rake
address we're very bitter over Mr.. Roose-
velt's. course and made comments which
will undoubtedly be greatly toned down II
these Senator'S should undertake to utter
them publicly, -
Although there has not been time enough
for Senators. Representatives and o.hers
to give any ca reful consideration 10 whit
has been tentatively proposed by the Presi-
dent as a means OF curtaIling the accumu
lation Of enormous fortunes, 1t is very
evident that his plan has not any sympathy
worthy Of the term among public men in
Washington. Some of those who were
asked for expressions of opinion to-day
faeetiorsly decla red that asany ia on large
i~nheritanoes would not affect them =, they
would not object to a law e~mhodying the
suggestion made by Mr.. Roosevelt. Blu
1t was evident that these statements were
made moro for the purpose Of evading
comment on the subject than for any other
reason. One noted constitutional lawyer
said that to carry ont The Presidents scheme
would probably require an amendment
to the Constitution, and in this several
others OF lesser note concurred,
1t must not be supposed, however. that
there is no pu bic man in Washington who
believes that a progressive tax on inheri-
tances cannot be levied without a Constitu-
tional amendment. Some Republican men,
bers Of the House recalled that there had
been a tax on requests levied under the
Spanish war tariff, and a few others main
tanned that it might he entirely feasible to
provide some method by which the Gov
eminent should derive an income from
transfers Of property.
jus how the President came TO decide
10 naakr n public decla ration Of his balief
that I'VE sh1ll Ultimately have to consider
the adoption Of some slch scheme as that
of q progressive tax on all fortunes be-
yond a certain amount has not been dis
closed. II is understood that his muck
ra Ike" speech. in which this proposition
was put forth, was very carefully gone
over and revised by at least one member
of the Cabinet. Whether any attempt was
MADE by some Of those in his official family
to persuade hin not to advocate a doctrine
which was sure to be denounced as socialis-
tic is not known. 1t is apparently the belief
In Cabinet circles, however. that the Presi-
dent does not intend to press the inheri-.
tance tax suggestion upon Congress or
upon the country.