Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-06-20
lnherltanee Tax.

In my judgment. however the in
heritanco tax Is both n far better meth
cd OF taxation. and far more important
for the purpose 1 have In view--the
purpose of having the swollen fortunes
OF the country bear In proportion to
their size n constantly increasing bur-
den OF taxation. These fortunes exist
solely because OF the protection given
the owners by the public. They are n
constant source OF care ana anxiety
TO the public and II Is eminently just
that they should be forced to pay heav-
lily for the protection given them. II
IL, of course. elementary that the ma
ton has the absolute right to decide as
10 the terms upon which any man
shall receive a bequeAt or devise from
another. We have repeatedly placed
such laws on our own statute books,
and they have repeatedly been declared
constitutional by the courts. believe
that the tax should contain the pro-
greEsive principle. Whatever any In
dividual receives, whether by gift, be.
quest. or devise. In life or In death.
should. after n certain amount II
reached. be increasingly burdened: and
the rate OF taxation nhould be In
creased In proportion to the remote
ness OF blood OF the man receiving
from the man giving or devising. The
principle OF this progressive taxation
thoriativeiy recognized by the legisla-
ton OF congress. but IL IL now un-
eduivocally adopted In the leading civ
ilized nations OF the world--ln. for In
stance. Great Britain, France and Ger
many. Switzerland led on with the
imposition OF high progressive rates.
Great Britain was the first OF the great
nations Co follow suit. and within the
last few years both France and Ger
army have adopted the principle. In
Great Britain all estates worth $1,000
or less are practically exempt from
death duties. while the Increase Is
such that when an estate exceeds
IS, O0e. 200 In value and passes 10 dis
tant klnaman or stranger In blood the
government receives nearly ls pei
| cent. In France. under the progressive
system. 80 much OF an inheritance 81
| exceeds tlO.O0o. 900 pays over 90 pei
cent 20 the state II Il passes 10 dis
tant relative. and Ave per cent 70 u
/ passes 10 a direct heir. In Germany
very small inheritance are exempt. but
| the tax IL so sharply progressive thai
i an Inheritance not In agricultural OF
forest lands which exceeds sa50.Ooe
II Il goes Go distant relatives II
1 taxed at the rate OF about 70 per cent
The German law IL OF special interest
because a makes the Inheritance ta'
4 an imperial meaAure. while aeOtttnl
| 10 the INDIVIDUAL atANcrs Oh tut NAPtN'
n portion OF the proceeds and permit
| ting them 60 impose taxes In addition
TO those imposed By the imperial gov
eminent In the Omitted States the ma
tfonaf government has more than ono
imposed inheritance taxes In addition
10 those Imposed by the states. An'
III the last Instance about one-haiE o
the states levied such taxes concur
rently with the national government
making a conbined maximum rate. Y
aOmo caves as high as Is per cent
and. as a matter of fact several state
adopted inheritance tar laws for IN
arst time while the national law wa
atlii "a force and unrepealed, tn
Preach law has one feature which - q
he heartily commended The proEres
alve principle n 20 applied that eael
hiaher rate Is Imposed only on the ex
ccaa above the amount subject :
the next lower rate. This plain
peculiarly adapted 10 the working on
81 the theory Of using the lnhogt'
aRce tax foF tho purpose % unitm
the nlsc AZ iuhrdtRhlo fortunes sine
ino prorfeaniye increase ~ ths rate'
according 10 this lus,de, may De cal
RED 10 la logical couciuaion In
| maximum rate " nearly loe %
I cens for the amount IN ckeHa9 {
x spoclEtd sana, without being car
nscaforg IS % the rent 81 The inhofll
| nnca. Tor each Increase N rate woul
apply only 10 the enount above q eel
tnln 4sInr5ntltn1