New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-11

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Now as to the matter Of taxation Most
great civilized countries have an income tax
and an inheritance tax. In my judgment both
should be part of our system of federal taxa
tlon speak dLadently about the income tax
because one scheme for income tax was de-
clared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
by q five TO four vote; and In addition 10 is a
difficult tax TO administer in it's practical work
ingS. and great would have to be exercised
TO see that II was not evaded by the very man
whom il Is most desirable TO have taxed. for IL
so eVaded 1t would of course be worse than no
tax at all, the least desirable of all taxes -
the tax which bears heavily upon the honest a5
compared with the dishonest man. Neverthe-
less a graduated income tax OF the proper type
would be desirable permanent feature OF led
eral taxation. and still hope that one may %
devised which the Supreme Court Will declare
constitutional
PROGRESSIVE INHERITANCE TAX
In my judgment however. the inheritance tax
is both far better method Of taxation, and far
more important for the purpose have IN view
tho purpose of having the swollen fortunes OF
the country bear IN proportion 10 their size a.
constant increasing burden Of taxation These
fortunes exist solely because Of the protection
given the owners by the public They are con-
slant source of care and anxiety 10 the public
and 1t is eminently just that they should %
forced pay heavily for the protection given
them. II IS Of course, elementary that the IA
ton has the absolute right 70 decide as 10 ina
terms upon which any man shall receive be-
quest devise from another We have re-
peated,v placed such laws on our own statute
books, and they have repeatedly been declared
constitutional by the courts l believe That tne'
tax should contain the progressive principle
Whatever any individual receives. whether by
gift, bequest or devise. in life or death, shouIa"
after a certain amount is reached, be increSS-
ingly burdened and the rate OF taxation should
be increased IN proportion 70 tle reiio'eIleSS o.
blood OF the man receiving from the man gIVlnS
or devIsing. The principle or this proSresslFS
taxation OF inheritance has not only DeeA StI-t
thoritattvey recognized by the legislation or
Congress but it is UneQulvOcally adopted
In the leading civilized nations OF the world
in or Instance n,
many. Switzerland led on with the tmposf%
ton OF high progressive rates treat Br4uAil|
was the first OF the great nations to follow SUIT
and within the last few years both France anu
Germany have adopted the principle n
Great Britain all estates worth nye thousand
dollars or less are practically exempt from death
duties, while the increase is such that When an
estate exceeds 100000 IN value and passes
TO a distant kinsInan or stranger n o-oo" 80
government receives nearly Is per cent IA
France. under the progressive system, 80 80 Ilo
OF Inheritance as exceeds SAVOoo''VV pays
over 20 per cent to the state II II passes 20 4
distant relative. and per cent II II PASSES %
a direct heir. In Germany very small N
herttances are exempt but the tax Is so sharply
progressive that Inheritance not IN aSrl-
Cultural forest lands which exceeds S25pUHa
II N goes TO distant relatives. is taxed at tho
rate OF about % per cent. The German law IS OF
special interest, because II makes tIe N
haritancs tax an imperial measure, while allOt-
ting TO the individual states or the empire d
portion OF the proceeds and permitting mem 20
impose taxes IN addition 70 those imposed oy
the imperial government. In the United states
the national government has more imam oAc9
irpOsed inheritance taxes IN addition 20 IluSS
imposed by the states, and IN the last llstd4ICo
about one-haIf OF the states levied such taxes
concurrently with the national government,
making combined maximum rate, IN sona
cases as high % per cent; and as a Iualter
OF fact several states adopted inheritance Tx
laws for the first time while the n3tOnl4 L1w
was stIu IN force and unrepealed- The Frenc8
law has one feature which Is 10 be heartily COM
r1ended The progressive principle Is applied
that each higher rate is imposed only on inc
excess above the amount subject 70 the next
lower rate. This plan is peculiarly adapted 70
NT, Of sin
herttance tax for the purpose or AI'lISI-iS 80
size OF Unbeatable fortunes, since the pro
gressive increase in the rates, according 70 ms
mode. may he carried 70 IT'S IoslcaI collc..St -
IN a maximum rate OF nearly 100 per cent Ior
the amount in excess OF specified sum. wiz u
out being ConfscatOry as 10 the rest or tt7 -.
heritanCe: for each increase in rate would Apply
only TO the amount above a certain maximum
l do not believe that any advantage comes etlIlTL
to the country as a whole 70 the individuals
inheriting the money by permitting the trans
mission in their entirety OF such enormous I2.t-
unes as have been accumulated in America ms
tax could be made to bear more heavily upoIi
persons residing out Of the country than upon
those residing within it. Such q heavy pro-
gressive tax is OF course in no shape or way
tax on thrift industry, for thrift and inuUs.[y
would have ceased to possess any measuIAu.'
Importance In the acquisition Of the swollen loI
unes Of which speak long before the tax WOulL
In any way seriously AFFECT them Such q -
would be one OF the methods by which we wot-A
try TO preserve a measurable equality or oPpot
tunity for the people of the generation sro"- Is
10 manhood. AS Lincoln pointed out thet -
some respects in which men are obviously no
equal: but there IS reason why there Suoua1
not be an equality OF self-respect and OF InutuaA
respect, an equality OF rights before the NV
and at least approximate equality N the 0. ~.
dItions under which each man OBTAINS ~.
chance 20 show the stuff that is IN him WHsH
compared with his fellows.
The sessions Of the convention opened WIZ
several addresses. among which was that %
W. s. Copeland. president Of the Virginia h1
toriaI Association. TO which Walter Williams
Columbia, Mo, a past president OF the nations
association. responded.
Many papers and addresses are TO be pre
sented and various committee reports subUitteu-
Among those who are on the programme TO con-
tribute papers are Jacob RiIs. OF New 4erA'
Joseph MedIu Mccormick OF Chicago; Goveruo'
r. B. Glenn OF North Carolina Barton Meyers
governor of the exploitation Of the Jaues'oWN
exposition; John Temple Graves. Of CSeorsi%
and Crosby s. Noyes. OF Washington. Luz
presidents address. by John E Junkin' u
Sterling. Kan. will be delivered tomorrow. En-
cursions 10 historic places have been arranseu-
the last trip being to Richmond on Saturday
POWDER HOUSES BLOW UP.