The Morris County chronicle., 1907-12-03
Hahae Co., Broad, New and Halsey Sts, Newark N J..

phenomenal growth as ours 1t is proc.
ably we'll that every dozen years or so
the tariff laws should be carefully scru.
tinized so as to see that no excessive
or improper benefits are conferred
thereby, that proper revenue is provid
ed and that our foreign trade is en-
couraged. There must always be as a
minimum a tariff which will not only
allow for the collection of an ample
revenue. but which will at least make
good the difference in cost of produc-
tion here and abroad-that is. the diff
abroad, for the wen being*of the wage
worker must ever be a cardinal point
of American policy. The question
should be approached purely from a
business standpoint, both the time and
the manner of the change being such
as to arouse the minimum of agitation
and disturbance in the business world
and to give the least play for selfish
and factional motives. The sole con-
sideration should be to see that the
sum total of changes represents the
public good. This means that the sub.
ject cannot with wisdom be dealt with
in the year preceding a presidential
election, because as matter Of fact
experience has conclusiVely shown that
It such time it 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 and Inheritance Tax.
When our tax laws are revised the
question Of an income tax and an in
heritance tax should receive the care
full attention of our legislators. In
my Judgment, both of these taxes
should be part of our system Of fed
eral taxation. | speak ditfidently about
the income tax because one scheme for
an income tax was declared unconsti-
tutional by the supreme court, while in
addition it is difficult tax to admin
lister in its practical working, and great
care would have to be exercised to see
that 1t was not eyaded by the very
men whom it was most desirable to
have taxed. Nevertheless a graduated
income tax Of the proper type would
be desirable feature of federal taxa
tion, and it is to be hoped that one
may be devised which the supreme
court will declare constitutional.
The inheritance tax, however, is
a far better method Of taxation. The
government has the absolute right to
decide as to the terms upon which a
man shall receive bequest from an
other, and this point in the devolutlon
of property is especially appropriate
for the imposition of tax. Laws i'm
posing such taxes have repeatedly. been
placed upon the national statute books
and as repeatedly declared constitu-
tionql by the courts, and these laws
contained the progressive principle
that is, after certain amount is reach
ed the bequest or gift in life or death
is Increasingly burdened and the rate
Of taxation is increased In proportion
to the remoteness of blood of the man
receiving the bequest. These principles
are recognized already in the leading
civilized nations of the world
Germany's Inheritance Tax.
The German law Is especially iAter
esting to us because It makes the in
heritance tax an imperial measure
while alloting to the individual states
OF the empire portion OF the pro-
ceeds and permitting them to impose
taxes in addition to those Imposed BY
the imperial government Small inher,
itances are exempt. but the tax is SO
sharply progressive that when the In
heritance Is still not very large. pro
vided It is not an agricultural or a for