Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1907-12-05

such is the case, for people to hoard
money instead of keeping it in sound
banks, for it is such boarding that is
the immediate occasion of money strin-
gency. Moreover, as q rule, the business
of our people is conducted with honesty
and probity, and this applies alike to
farms and factories, to railroads and
banks, to all our legitimate commercial
enterprises.
In any large body of men, however,
there are certain to be some who are dis
honest, and If the conditions are such
that these men prosper or commit their
misdeeds with impunity their example Is
a very evil thing for the community
Where these men are business men OF
great sagacity and of temperament both
INSCRIPTIONS and reckless and where
the conditions are such that they act
without supervision or control and at
first without effective check from public
opinion, they delude many innocent peo-
pie into making investments or embark.
ing in kinds of business that are really
unsound. When the misdeeds of these
successfully dishonest men are discov.
cred suffering comes not only upon them,
but upon the innocent men whom they
have nisled- 1t Is a painful awakening
whenever 1T occurs, and naturally when
1t does occur those who suffer are apt to
forget that the longer it was deferred
the more painful 1t would be. In the eff
fort to punish the guilty 1t is both wise
and proper to endeavor so far as posi-
BILE to minimize the distress of those who
have been misled by the guilty. Yet 1t Is
not possible to refrain because of such
distress from striving to put an end to
the misdeeds that are the ultimate causes
of the suffering and as means to this
end where possible to punish those re-
sponsible for them. There may be hon
est differences of opinion as to many
governmental policies, but surely there
can be no such differences as to the need
! of unf1inching perseverance in the war
| against successful dishonesty.
Income and Inheritance Tax.
| On these points Mr.. Roosevelt says:
When our tax laws are revised the
| question of an income tax and an in
| heritance tax should receive the careful
| attention Of our legislators. In my judg-
ment both of these taxes should be part
| of our system of federal taxation.
! speak diffidently about the income tax,
] because one scheme for an income tax
was declared unconstitutional by the SUI
preme court, while in addition 1t Is a diff
! ficult tax to administer in it's practical
| working, and great care would have to
| be exercised to see that it was not evad-
| ed by the very men whom 1T was most
/ desirable to have taxed, for II so evad-
| ed it would of course be worse than no
/ tax at all. AS the least desirable of all
| taxes is the tax which bears heavily up
| on the honest as compared with the dis
| honest man. Nevertheless a graduated
income tax of the proper type would be a
/ desirable feature of federal taxation. and
| 1T is to be hoped that one may be de-
| vfsed which the supreme court will de-
/ clare constitutional The Inheritance tax
! however, is both far better method of
| taxation and far more important for the
| purpose of having the fortunes of the
| country bear In proportion to their in
crease in size a corresponding increase
or.6 hsfr dnr. 0f 10
ment has the absolute right to decide as
| to the terms upon which man shall re-
| ceiye bequest or devise from another
and this point in the devolution of prop
erty is especially appropriate for the i'm
position of tax. Laws imposing such
| the national statute books and as re-
4 peatedly declared constitutional by the
courts, and these laws contained the pro-
gressive principle-that is after certain
amount is reached 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.
Minor Recommendations are: A ma
tional art gallery, national board OF
health, increased forest reserves, par
ticipatfon in the Japanese exposition
at Tokyo In 1912, better treatment Of
Chinese students coming to the United
States, return of the Boxer indemnity
to China and improved government FOL
Alaska.
The Democratic senators held a con
ference and elected Senator Culbersor
(Tex) chairman of the Democratic eau
Gus, This position carries the nomina
leadership Of the minority on the foo
of the senate.
Senator McCreary Ky.) was chosen
vice chairman, and Mr.. Owen, the sen
ator to be from Oklahoma, was mad,
secretary Of the caucus. Both of tn,
coming Oklahoma senators ATTENDED
the meeting, they being virtually rec
ogniZed as senators, although thei
formal election by the Oklahoma legis
lature is yet short time off.