The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-06-21
inheritance Tax.

In my Judgment however the in
heritance tax Is both u far better meth
cd OF taxation. and far more important
for the purpose 1 have in view-ths
purpose OF having the swollen fortunes
OF the country bear in proportion TO
their size a constantly increasing bur-
den OF taxation. These fortunes exist
solely because OF the protection given
the owners by the public. They are a
constant source OF care and anxiety
10 the public and IL Is eminently just
that they should be forced to pay heav-
lily for the protection given them II
is OF course. elementary that the ma
ton has the absolute right TO decide as
to the terms upon which any man
shall receive a bequest or devise from
another We have repeatedly placed
such la ws on our own statute books.
and they have repeatedly been declared
constitutional by the courts ! believe
that the tax should contain the pro-
gressive principle. Whatever any in
dividual receives. whether by gift be-
quest. or devise. in life or in death,
should. after a certain amount is
reached be Increasingly burdened; and
the rate OF taxa tion should be in
creased in proportion to the remote
ness OF blood OF che man receiving
from the man giving or devising The
principle OF this progressive taxation
thoriatiyely recognized by the lcgisla-
ton OF congress but IL Is now un-
equlvocally adopted in the leading civ
ilized nations OF the world-in. for in
stance. Great Britain. France and Ger
many Switzerland led OF with the
imposition OF hiEh progressive rates.
Great Britain was the first Of the great
nations TO follow suit, and within the
last few years both France and Ger
army have adopted the principle. In
Great Britain an estates worth 81. coo
or less are practically exempt from
death duties. while the Increase is
such that when estate exceeds
So. 600. 600 in value and passes to dis
tant kinsman or stranger in blood the
government receives nearly IS per
cent In France. under the progressive
system. so much OF an Inheritance as
exceeds 10000 900 pays over 20 per
cent TO the state IL IL passes to a dis
tant relative. and Ave per cent. II IL
passes TO a direct heir. In Germany
very small inheritance are exempt. but
the tax is so sharply progressive that
an inheritance not in agricultural or
forest lands which exceeds $4,000
II IL goes TO distant relatives. is
taxed at the rate OF about 70 per cent.
The German law Is OF special interest,
because IL makes the Inheritance tax
an imperial measure. while allotting
10 the individual states OF the empire
a portion Of the proceeds and permit
ting them to impose taxes in addition
TO those imposed by the imperial gov
eminent In the United states the ma
tional government has more than once
imposed Inheritance taxes in addition
TO those Imposed by the states. and
in the last instance about one half OF
the states levied such taxes concur
| rently with the national government.
| making o combined maximum rate, In
! some canes as high as IS per cent;
| and. as O. matter OF fact several states
| adopted Inheritance tax laws for the
| first tire while the national law was
| still in force and unrepealed. The
| French law has ore feature which is to
| be heartily commended. The progress
| sive principle Is 50 applied that each
| higher rate is imposed only on the sx-
| cess above the amount subject to
the next lower rate. This plain 10
| peculiarly adapted to the working out
/ Of this theory OF using the Inherit
ance tax for tho purpose OF limiting
the nze OF Unbeatable fortunes since
the progressive increase in the rates.
accoriing to this mode. may be car
ried TO its logical conclusion in .
maxi mum rate OF nearly 100 pei
| cent for the amount in excess OF
specified sum. without being con-
! ascatory as to the rest OF the Inherit.
3 ance. for each increase IN rate would
/ apply only 70 the amount tbove = cor
49,. ~