Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-12-06

should forbid all combinations instead
of sharply discriminating between
those combinations which do good and
those combinations 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 big shipper
from maintaining improper advantages
at the expense of small shippers and
of the general public Such combina-
tion, instead of being forbidden by law.
should be favored. In other words, IL
should he permitted TO railroads 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 lis chief revenue from tariff
on imports and from an internal or eX-
else tax. In addition to these. there Is
every rea SON why. when next our sys-
tenn of taxation is revised, the national
government should impose graduated
inheritance tax and. if possible, q grad
udtel income tax.
am Well aware that such u subject
as This needs long and careful study In
order that the people may become IA
mil.Ir with what is proposed to be
done, mas clear,y see the necessity OF
lroCec ing With wisdom and self re-
SRA nj and Eay 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 Dut | feel that In the near
future or national legislators should
enact law providing for graduated
inheritance tx by which steadily in
creasing rate OF duty should be put
upon al moneys or other valuables
coming by gift, bequeSt or devise to
any indivi lual or corporation. There
can he no question of the ethical pro-
priety of the government thus deter
mining the conditions upon which any
gift or Inheritance should be received.
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 desirable. 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
Dy one majority. 1T IS Ine idw OF tuv
land and of course IS accepted as such
and loyalty obeyed by all good citizens.
Nevertheless the hesitation evidently
felt by the court as Il whole in coming
to a conclusion, when considered to-
gether with previous decisions on the
subject, may perhaps indicate the pos
siblity Of devising Il constitutional In
come tax law which shall substantially
accomplish the results aimed at. The
difficulty of amending the constitution
Is so great that only real necessity can
justify resort thereto. Every effort
should be made In dealing with this
subject. as with the subject of the
proper control by the national govern
ment 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
10 constitutional amendment.
Industrial Training.
Our Industrial development depends
largely upon technical education. in
cluding in this term all industrial sdu-
cation, from that which fits man to
be a good mechanic, q good carpenter
or blacksmith TO that which its man
to do the greatest engineering feat
The skilled mechanic, the skilled work
man, can best become such by tech
nical industrial education. The far
reaching usefulness Of Institutes Of
technology and schools of mines or of
engineering IS now universally ac-
knowledged, and no less far reaching
Is the effect of a good building or me-
chanical trades school, textile or
matchmaking or engraving school.
In every possible way we should help
the wageworker who tolls with his
hands and who must 1--WE hope In a
constantly increasing measure) also
toll with his brain. Under the oOnstitu-
tion the national legislature can do but
little Of direct importance for his well
fare save where he is engaged in work
which permits it to act under the In
terstate commerce clause of the consti-
tuition, and this is one reason why !
so earnestly hope that both the legis-
lative and judicial branches Of the gov
ernment will construe this clause Of
the constitution in the brosdest posi-
BILE manner
The Farmer.
The only other persons whose wei
fare is as vital to the welfare of the
whole country as Is the welfare of the
wageworkers are the tillers Of the soil,
tDe farmers.
Several factors must cooperate IN
the improvement Of the farmers con-
dition He must have the chance to
be educated IN the widest possible
sense, in the sense which keeps ever Ia
view the intimate relationship between
the theory Of education and the facts
Of life.
Organization has become necessary
in the business world. and II has ac-
complished much for good in the world
of labor. 1t is no less necessary for
farmers. Such Il movement as the
grange movement is good in itself and
is capable Of a well nigh Infinite fur
ther extension for good so long as II Is
kept to its own legitimate business.
The benefits TO he derived by the as