Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-12-05

| tAC bualtCl, Willie Olly tcSlSld-
tors can work out the project in neces-
sary detail. But feel that in the near
future our national Legislators 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
| gift or Inheritance should be received.
AS the law now stands it is undoubt-
eddy difficult to devise 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
| by one majority. 1t Is the law Of the
| land and of course is accepted as such
and loyalty obeyed by all good citizens
| Nevertheless the hesitation evidently
| felt by the court as whole in coming
to a conclusion, when considered to
| gether with previous decisions on the
| subject, may perhaps indicate the pos
sibility Of devsing a 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 legls-
lation which without such action shall
attain the desired end, but if this fails
there will ultimately be no alternative
to 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, a 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
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 good building or me-
chanical trades school, a 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
constantly increasing measure) also
toll with his brain. Under the constitu-
ton the national legislature can do but
little of direct Importance for his well
fare save where he is engaged in work
which permits 1t to act under the in
terstate commerce clause of the consti-
tuition, and this Is one reason why I
SO earnestly hope that both the legis-
lative and judicial branches Of the gov
eminent will construe this clause Of
the constitution in the broadcast posi-
BILE manner
The Farmer.
The only other persons whose well
70 fc vital 70 hn Of thu
whole country as Is the welfare Of the
wageworkers are the tillers Of the soil.
the 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 in
view the intimate relationship between
the theory Of education and the facts
Of life
Organization has become necessary
In the business world, and 1t has ac-
complished much for good in the world
Of labor. 1t Is no less necessary for
farmers. Such movement as the
grange movement is good in itself and
is capable Of well nigh infinite fur
ther extension for good so long as 1t is
kept to its own legitimate business.
The benefits to be derived by the as
ISOLATION Of farmers for mutual adj
vantage are partly economic and part
ly sociological.
Irrigation and Forest Preservation.
Much Is now being done for the
states of the Rocky mountains and
great plains through the development
of the national policy Of irrigation and
forest preservation. No government
policy for the betterment Of our inter-
nal conditions has been more fruitful
of good than this.
Divorce LegislatiOn.
am well aware of how difficult 1t Is
to pass a constitutional amendment.
Nevertheless, in my judgment, the
whole question of marriage and d.
vorce should be relegated to the au-
thorlty of the national congress. The
change would be good from every
standpoint. In particular it would be
good because 1T would confer on the
congress the power at once to deal
radically and efficiently with polygamy,
and this should be done whether or
not marriage and divorce are dealt
with. 1t Is neither safe nor proper to
leave the question of polygamy to be