Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-06

and spends his money, but Il should
also be recognized by the way In
which he pays for the protection the
state gives him. On the one hand, II
Is desirable that he should assume his
full and proper share Of the burden of
taxation; on the other hand, II is quite
as necessary that in this kind of taxa.
tion, where the men who vote the tax
pay but little OF It, there should be
clchr recognition OF the danger Of in
augurating any such system save In a
spirit Of entire justice and moderation
| Whenever we as a people undertake TO
remodel our taxation system along the
| lines suggested we must make It clear
beyond perndyenturc that our aim is TO
distribute the burden Of supporting the
government more equltably than at
present. that we intend 10 treat rich
man and poor man on a basis Of abso-
lutte equality and that we regard It as
equally fatal to true democracy 20 do
or permit injustice to the one as to do
or permit injustice TO the other.
am well aware that such a subject
as this needs long and careful study In
order that the people may become IA
mlllar with what Is proposed TO be
done. may clearly see the necessity Of
proceeding with wisdom and self re-
straInt and may make up their minds
Just how far they are willing to go In
the matter, while only trained legls-
iators can work out the project In
necessary detail. But feel that In the
near future our national Legislators
should enact a law providing for a
graduated inheritance tax 10y which n
steadily increasing rate of duty should
be put upon all moneys or other val.
uables coming by gift, bequest or de-
wise to any individual or corporation.
II may be well TO make the tax heavy
In proportion as the individual bene-
flted Is remote Of kin. In any event, In
my judgment, the pro rata Of the tax
should Increase very heavily with the
increase OF the amount left to any one
individual after certain point has
been reached. II Is most desirable to
encourage thrift and ambition. and a
potent source Of thrift and ambition
Ii the desire on the part OF the bread |
winner to leave his children well OF.
This object can be attained by making |
the tax very small on moderate amounts |
OF property left. because the prime OBJ
ject should be 10 put constantly In |
creaslng burden on the inheritance OF
those swollen fortunes which Il IL Ger,
talnly OF 40 benent 10 this country to
perpetuate.
Ethical Proprlsty unqusstlonOd.
There can be no question OF the eth.
leal proprlety OF the government thus
determining the conditions upon which
any gift or Inheritance should be re-
ceiyed. Exactly how TAR the inher-
itance tax would, as an incident have
the effect OF limiting the transmission
by devise or gift OF the enormous for
tunes In question Il 10 not necessary at
present 10 discuss. II IL wise that
progress In this direction should be
gradual At first a permanent ma
tlonal Inheritance tar. while Il might
De more substantial than any such tax
has hitherto been. need not approx
mate either In amount or IN the ex-
tent OF the Increase by graduation. 10
what such tax should ultimately BE-.
This species OF tax has again and
again been Imposed. although only
temporarily. by the national govern.
nent II was nrst imposed by the act
u July q 1877. when the makers OF the
were alive and az the head
" affairA II was a graduated tax. I
Though email Ga amount the rate was
increased with TIE amount left 20 any
Individual. exceptions being made Ia
he case Of certain close Kin. A sim.
lar tax was again imposed by the act I
,f July I. 1850. a minimum sum %
1900 In personal property being cx'
,epted from taxation. the tax then Be. 1
'omlng progressive according 20 the I
emotcness % Kin. The war revenue Z
Ict OF June i9 iSGS. provided for an {
Inheritance tax on any sum excecdlng Z
ne value 90 $1,000 tho rate ~ the !
AZ Increasing both IN accordance with q
De amounts LETT aud On accordance Z
yllh the legatee's Felno,eaess o. lin. 2
ne saprenle court hss held that the =
occcssion tax Imposed az the time Of '
be civil war Was cot q direct tax. bat 4
n lmposi az excise which was both e
onsi,iutionsl and valid More recent. a
J the court On an opinion delivered ~ =
ir Justice White. which coutained IN d
xceodlngly ahle aud elaborate discus Z
lon 90 the powers OF the eoogfcas o. :
npose death dates anstlined The \
oi the taheEllance tax =
,sf,r. - th. 49, resen.e art ~ fseR 7.