The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-18
president TO CUT
BIG FIGURE IN '08
Inheritance Tax Utterance and
Covert Suggestions May Cause
Denial of Retirement.
BY w. w. Jermane.

= p /
Washington, April lS.-The presi
dent s statement in favor of an inner
itance tax in his speech last Saturday
continues to be the leading subject Of
conversation among politicians in both
the great parties here. Said one, of
them today:
A few more utterances of that kind
and it will be useless to continue to
believe that the president is not to cut
a tremendous figure in 1908. =
The presidents declaration has
chilled the atmosphere in the vicinity
Of nearly all Of the republican presi-
Dental aspirants. The president is not
candidate for another term, and has
said he would not accept again. But
| what might happen to the president 8
position if the people were solidly to
array themselves against it9 That is
the question just now concerning poll
| ticians most. "a
Democrats Take Credit.
How the Inheritance tax proposition
| has sounded in the ears of the politi-
clans is indicated by what a certain
republican senator said to another re-
publican senator this morning while dis
cussing the address,. ~ -. .
"Another democratic plank stolen,
were. his words, and to this all hands
readily agreed. ..z$.
Of course, such a radical proposal
has excited a great variety of comment.
Democrats in general have pointed out
| that the president is edging up close
to their income tax doctrine. Their
most serious criticism of his suggestion
is that it is not 50 good as the income
tax. But so far as it goes they gen
orally like it. :. a-... !.
Eastern republicans express convic-
tion that it is very dangerous, and So
do some others. But apparently, judg-
ing by the aggregate of suggestions
thus far heard, the president would be
able to carry his party with him.
Rate Regulation Only Start. -.
Yet this, tho the most striking thing
by way Of proposed innovation, was
not nearly all of it that was contained
in the '@nuckrake' speech. The presi-
dent indicated his opinion that the rate
legislation of this session is "begin-
ning'' toward that class Of reforms.
He doesn't assume that transporta-
ton millennium is to be precipitated by
the enactment of the Hepburn bill. In
this he is fully agreed with the great
majority of advocates Of regulation.
They thing the Hepburn bill only a.
step. r. ~. =
What the next step is that the presi-
dent has in mind can only be guessed.
Representative Martin, with his fed
eral licensing proposition, and. Senator
incorporation of interstate railroads,
are both able to find most satisfying
evidence in the speech that the presi-
dent sympathizes with their views. In
fact, the two proposals, are not so differ
ent in essence; it is rather difference
] in degree. =. .-.@- -. 49,: >...,.
May Insist on Roosevelt. - =.
But, rs these are to show what the
president wants public thought directed
with a view to ultimately making them
4 into law, when does he expect the ae-
tual legislation done!9 This Msession
has more than its hands full.@ Next
session may have the tariff on it's hands.
It IS plain enough that if the series of
l new issues that the president has sug'
gested is to be made, definite legisla.
4 tive program, or the basis of one, that
4 program cannot, be carried out until
after presidential election. The next
4 house will be closer; partizan feeling
q will be stronger: unanimous action
! such as the rate bill has brought at this
session: will be unlikely. : :.
a Big legislative business will have te
a go over till after the. next presiden
tial election, in all likelihood. And il
A there comes a presidential election
4 while such set of issues is pending
II what more natural than that the PEG
pie insist that the man who proposed
n them continue as leader till they be en-
y acted. s... 3D.. ...r r.
D That is the reasoning of some politi
a clans. There are others who see it {
d little differently. These declare tina
D the president has merely supplied some
talking ground which his party =
speakers may occupy in the coming con
gressional campaign. It will help then
avoid the tariff; it will be radica
enough to suit the radical; it will roll
the democrats Of their claim to being
. the only folks with the interests of tn,
plain people at heart. This is the as
pect which, perhaps more than any
other, appeals to republican congress
men who have troubles at home.