The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-12-05


bites and sore throat, and can cheer
fully recommend it to any one who
suffers from any of the ills which |
have mentioned"
be to see that the sum total Of changes
represents the public good This means
that the subject cannot with wisdom be
dealt with in the year preceding presi-
dental election, because as a matter OF
fact experience has conclusively shown
that at such time Ii is impossible to
get men to treat it from the standpoint
of the public good In my judgment the
wise time to deal with the matter is
Immediately after such election.
income Tax--lnherlfance Tax
When our tax laws are revised the
question of an income tax and an in
herltance tax should receive the careful
attention of our legislators. In my
judgment. both of these taxes should
be part of our system OF federal taxa
ton \ graduated income tax of the
proper type would be desirable fea-
ture of federal taxation, and 1t is to be
hoped that one may be devised which
the supreme court will declare consttu-
tional
The inheritance tax, however. is
far better method of taxation The
government has the absolute right to
decide as TO The terms upon which a
man shnl receive a bequest from an
other, and this point In the devolution
of property is especially appropriate
for the imposition Of tax. There Is
no reason why in the United States the
nationa. government should not impose
inheritance taxes in addition TO those
imposed by the states.
The tax should If possible be made
TO bear more heavily upon those resid-
Ing without the country than within 1t
A heavy progressive tax upon very
large tortune in in no way such tax
upon thrift or industry as like tax
would be on small fortune.
Enforcement of M. Law
A few years ago there was loud com
vok ed against wealthy offenders. There
Is no such complaint now. The course
of the department of justice during the
last few years has been such MS to make
it evident that no man stands above
the law. that no corporation IS SO veal
thy that 1t cannot be held TO account.
But the laws themselves need strength
ening They should be made more def
mite, so that no honest man can be led
unwttingly to break them and so that
the real wrongdoer can be readily pun
ished. Moreover, there must be the
public opinion back of the laws or the
laws themselves will be of no avail.
The two great evils in the execution OF
our criminal laws today are senti-
mentality and technicality.
Regarding tnjunctions
Instances of abuse in the granting
of injunctions in labor disputes con.
tinue to occur. and the resentment in
the minds of those who feel that theil
rights are being invaded and their lib
erty of action and speech unwar-
rantably restrained continues likewise
to grow. ! earnestly commend to the
attention of the congress this matter,
so that some way may be devised
which will limit the abuse of injunc-
tons and protect those rights which
from time TO time it warrantably in
vades
The president urges the passage OF a
model employers liability act for the
District of Columbia and the territories
to encourage corporations to treat in
jured wageworkers better He EN-.
phatically endorses the eight-hour day
and urges the states to fight the child
and woman labor evil.
Presidential Campa on EXPENSES
1t is well to provide that corporation s
shall not contribute to presidential or
national campaigns and, furthermore,
to provide for the publication Of both
contributions and expenditures. The
need for collecting large campa.gn
funds would vanish If congress pro
vided an appropriation for the proper
anu itS tApSiStS Vi tuCh VI tIt
great national parties, an appropria-
ton ample enough to meet the neces-
slty for thorough organization and ma
ehinery. which requires a large expendi-
ture of money Then the stipulation
should be made that no party receiving
campaign funds from the treasury
should accent more than fixed
amount from any individual subscr Der
or donor. and the necessary publicity
for receipts and expenditures could
without difficulty be provided.
t. ARMY "a Navy
The prey'den recommends leglsla-
tion to increase the number of officers
in the army. especially in the medical
corps. The rate Of pay of officers
should be greatly increased. he de
clares. There should he relatively
even greater increase in the rate Of
pay of enlisted men If we are to keep
the army in shape to be effective in
time Of need
Concerning the navy the president
says
IN my Judgment. we should this year
prov de for four battleships But it is
idle TO bnihl battleships unless in
addition to providing the men and the
REAT xynEDERI AMI