Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-12-16

il. either in the form of commehda- tion or criticism; the most that leading senators of the president party would say for publication was that il was a complicated question that would have to be worked out very carefully What some of them said, not for publication, didn't au- gur well for lishtning-like lc&i1Ia-
 ton along those lines. Senators and others who ddn care for the pres
 idcnt's friendly feeling and dis
 agreed with his scheme, character
 iZed him as Socialist, d Populist
 and q radical of the radicals
 In the time that has elapsed since
 the sensation was sprung il is ap=
 parent that quiet argument has been
 carried on between public men and
 interests that are to be effected hA
 a radical step such as the president proposes. There is no doubt lie
 country meaning the hiassos of
 thc people has taken to=tbe= ida
 enthusiastically. So much more the
 need. declare some Of our statesmen.
 that able. deliberative men sit on
 the lid and prevent this alleged
 growing tendency 10 legislation by
 hysteria
 Within the last few days I have
 heard from congressional leaders
 who are especially prominent in
 financial legislation suggestions in- dicating in some degree the line of attack against the presidents $ wealth tax program that may be ex- pected.
 Several states now have inheri- tance tax laws and the federal gov ernment would be trespassing on state. revenueS-revenues that prop erly belong to the states--if the presidents plan is carried out, said one of the Republican leaders of the house The scheme would ill no way relieve the burdens of the poor or those in moderate circum- stances" was another declaration. Where the poor and moderately well-to-do are hit hardest is in con- nection with local taxation. No one feels any burden through the reve nues raised by the general govern ment.'
 When it was pointed out in refer ence to the argument that the presi- dents aim is not to supply revenue. but 10 hit at the evil of immense pri- vate fortunes and keep them from piling up until practically all the wealth of the country is in the hands of comparatively a few men, there came this reply with somewhat fiery emphasis
 What power has the government ] to destroy wealth? It amounts to the l same thing as destroying it if the gov ernment steps in and takes away a portion of mans property, not be- cause it is needed to help pay the ex- penses of the government, but simply because it is thought man has more than he needs Have ethe power to arbitrarily confiscate property honest 1 Iy acouird under the laws of the coun- try
 Tt is Populism, pure and simple. The Populists advanced the inherit ance tax theory ten years ago, and now the president is taking up popu- |istic thunder.
 All of which goes to show that there will be music in the air before the ending of the coming contest over a question that promises to dwarf com pletely the bitter fights of the recent past over rate regulation and control of corporate industries.
 It may be stated here that the presi- dent has not gone as far as he has de- termined to go in the matter of tax ing wealth to keep it within bounds without having felt his ground He has deliberated long and earnestly. Some of his cabinet advisers rank the leading lawyers of the country. He has consulted constltu- tonal lawyers among members of the senate and house. He feels that con- gress-that the gOvernment-has the power to meet great national issues and evils as they arise He has con- sidered the objections and obstacles that will be raised against the radical action demanded and he is preparing ta meet them.
 The president further realizes that there will be mustered for the fray perhaps the most powerful lobby ever assembled to meet a threatened scheme of legislation that will hit the