The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-12-04

WfinHE TO ufra-n 81.
more acathing condemnation could be
visited uron law than is contained IN
the words OF the interstate commerce
commission when in commenting upon
assOciatious do tee hnically violate tae
law thov sny. The decision of the
un!ted states supreme court In the
Trausinississiprt case ana the Joint
Tranic association cuse has prOjuCed no
practical effect upon the railway opera
tiona Of the country such associauons
IN fact. exist now as they did before
these decisions, ANA with the same gene
cral effect Ia jukQce 70 aa paFuea, we
ought probably Ga add that u is diiHCult
TO see how our Interstate railways could
be operated with due regard 70 the inter-
GET OF the shipper and the railway
without concerted action of the kind az
fOrded thru these associations"
This means that the law as construed
by the supreme court is such that the
business OF the country caunOt be c0n-
dnctcd without breaking it rocomnend
that you give careful and Vrly outsider
alton TO This subject, and " yQu hnd the
opinion Of the Interstate commerce con-
law 30 aa to obvlato the evl disclosed
inheritance and Income Tax.
It was expected that the president
in TIE necessity for the crrblng OF enor-
nous fortunes. and he has done SO by
recommending legislation for both in
come and an in+utihnce tax lie be-
licyes tile government should impose
graduated Inheritance tax, and, II posh-
bic, graduated income tax. Tic says
II am Well aware that such subject
as this needs long and careful study ~
order that the people may become ttiilh-
tar with what Is proposed 70 ne Ho4s'
may clearly see the necessity OF pfoceeA,
Ing with wisdom and self-restralnt. and
may make up their minds jnst how ler
they are willing % 20 IN the mater.
while only trained legislators can work
out the project in necessary detail But
l feel that ln the near future our nation
al legislators should enact a law proHd-
ing for q graduated Inheritance tax ~
which "a steadily increasing rate OF DUTY
should be pat upon all moneys or otheF
yaluahleH coming. by gift, bequest or
It may be well 10 make the tax heavy
In proportion as the individual benehted
Judgment the pro rata Of the tax should
Increase very heavily with the increase
OF the amount loqt 70 any one indlNdu9i
after "a ccrtayl point has been reacuei,
It is most f.dltable 10 encourage ihrit
and amhtluA, and 3 potent source or
thrift and ambition rs the desire on the
part Of the breadwinner 10 leave his chill
iren well or. This object can pc htltiheA
by making the tax very small on modef-
ate amounts of property laiti because
the prime object should be 70 put q con
stanily ucrea sing burden on the inher-
ituuee OF those swollen fortunes Whleh
q is certainly of no benent TO this coun-
There can bo no question Of the eth
icul prOprlety OF the government tnls ue-
termiuing the conditions upon Whllh any
gilt or Inheritance Should he receiEea.
Exactly how far the inhef tancr TAX
would, as an incident, have the enect 81
limiting the transmission by devise or
7 Gift of the enormous fortunes In question
! II is not necessary 40 present 20 Discus,
ia is Wise that pr0ErCss ln this direction
should be gradual ~ uFst letiAAiieA
/ national inheritance tax. while t nlkht
] be more substantial than any such TAX
has hitherto ben need not AlpioAiili 4 ,1f
either I'M e.stount or IN ihe extent Of The
Increase ~ graduation, 20 what such
j tax should ultimately be-
Inheritance Tax Constitutional.
'srhls species OF tax has again ana again
I been Imposed, altho only temporarily. py
/ the national government II was niat
/ Inrosed by tbs act OF July 8. l'sl, when
Z ths makers Of the Constitution We're
aliva and at the head OF Affairs. u was
] "a graduated tax tho sinAu N amount
the rate was increased with thn amount
\ ieit 10 any individual, exceptions being
nade iu the case OF certain close KIN.
/ similar tax Wae aHaln imposed hy me
act OF July 1, 1862 minimum sum ot
I $1,000 in personal property being excepted
: from taxation, the tax then pecomlns
progressive according 10 the remoteness
! 0f Kin. The war-revenue agt OF lEne ls,
{ 1875. provided for an Inheritance tax on
I any sum eNcce3ing tce value or NAtig.
! the rate OF tax increasing ooth in accord
anro with tile amounts LETT and IN ac-
I cordauce with the legateo's remotcnesa
/ of Kim THE supreme court has held that
] the succesaion tax imposed at tle tlAle
I Of the ciyn var was nol q direct TAX net
I efituticnal and valid More recently The
] cnnrt in an opininn delivered by Air.
/ Justice White, which contained am OK
ceedineiy able and elaborate discussion
aaafh dnua1 snstal ped TIE constltuunn-