Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-12-08
INHERITANCE TAX.
PRESIDENT WILL TAKE UP ISSUE
IN FORTHCOMING MESSAGE.
Quite Likely the Question viii Come
Before the Approaching Session of
Congress.

Before the Approaching Session OF
Congress.
Special Correspondence.
Washington, ID, c., Nov. 30,--In his
forthcoming annual message to the
congress, President Roosevelt will
take strong ground IL favor of fed
eral inheritance tax. He already has
Indicated his views on the subject. In
the statement OF mis- position made
last spring In his now famous muck
rake speech" at the laying Of the cor
ner stone of the house OF representa-
tives attracting wide attention. 1t is
well known that the president present.
ed the subject of an Inheritance tax in
that address for the purpose OF feeling
the public pulse on that question He
did not care formally to recommend TO
congress the enactment OF legislation
levying such a tax unless II was rea-
sonably certain to meet with the ap-
prevail OF the American people. The
comment on that phase OF his adj
dress was comprehensive and. for tho
most part, favorable. He has discuss
ed the matter with many people since
he announced his own views, the con-
crete result of the conferences being
that he win recommend the enactment
of measure which will enable the
government to profit to the extent of
a graduated tax on the passing Of for
tunes from one person to others.
It Is quite likely the question may
be projected into the approaching
session of congress, although II is
thought to be improbable that definite
action will be taken at short session
n subject of so great Importance.
On this matter, as on some others, the
president has advanced, the democrats
are likely TO stand with him practi-
cally to a man. The opposition to the
proposition will come. for the most
part, from the ranks of the republi-
cans. Many republican congressman,
however, are committed to the propos-
ed Inheritance tax and will advocate it's
adoption, not only as a proper means
OF increasing national revenues, but as
ONE measure of control which II Is
urged the government ought to exer-
else over vast fortunes.
The presidents accommodation win
be followed Immediately by the intro
duction I'm both the senate and the
house of representatives of bills To
carry his ideas into legislative effect.
1t is regarded as probable that con-
test, similar to that over the proposed
income tax measure, will be precipi-
tated but that 1t eventually will be
adopted by Congress nobody who has
sounded the opinion Of the legislators
on the question seriously doubts. Such
a tax appeals strongly to the people
and their representatives in congress-,
because Ii win enable the government
to raise easily part, at least, OF the
great sums which Will be necessary to
carry to success the enormous projects
on which 1t already has entered. The
opposition to the proposition will come
principally from representatives OF the
highly protected industries and their
friends, because they maintain that
the government ought to raise its rev.
enues practically entirely--with the
exception of the internal taxes ON
whiskey and tobacco-from custom
duties. Even among the high protec-
tionists, however, there are many ad-
yocates OF an inheritance tax and they
will stand for such a tax notwithstand-
ing the fact that it squints toward an
ultimate reduction of tariff rates. 1t
has been estimated that such law
eventually would yield the government
a revenue approximately $4,000, 900 "a
year. Indeed the revenue is likely to
be rather more than l. IS that amount.
In several European countries an
Inheritance tax is levied and 1t has
been found TO work sdmirabiy. BY the
advocates OF the proposition in this
country it is believed to be solution
to many economic and social problems
President Roosevelt Las indicated his
intention to advocate the enactment OF
the law with all of the personal and
official force at his command.
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