davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03

about one-half Of the States levied such
taxes ooncurrently with the national gov
eminent. making a combined maximum
rate. III some cases as high as 25 per cent.
THE Esenehala Law has one feakure wAiefs
Is 70 be heartily commended. The progress
sive principle Is so applied that each high
er rate is imposed only on the excess above
the amount subject to the next lower rate:
so that each increase of rate will apply
only to a certain amount above a certain
maximum. The tax should, Ii possible.
be m lde to bear more heavily upon those
residing without the country than within
1t. A heavy progressive tax upon n very
large fortune is in 10 way such a tax upon
thrift or industry as a like tax would be
on q small fortune.
NO advantage comes either to the coun-
try as a whole or TO the individuals in
heriting the money by permitting the
transmission in their entirety OF the enor-
NOUS fortunes which would be affected by
such a tax, and as an incident to its func-
ton of revenue raising. such a tux would
help to preserve a measurable equality Of
opportunity for the people OF the genera
tions growing to manhood,
w have not the slightest sympathy
with that socialistic idea which wo I'D try
to put l~aziness. thriftlessness and incf-
ficiency ON a par with industry, thrift ana
efficiency: which would strive to break
up not merely private property. but what
Is far more important, he home, the chief
prop upon which our whole civilization
stands. Such a theory, If ever Adopted,
would mean the ruin Of the entire country
"a ruin which would bear heaviest upon
the AXE upon those neast able to
shift for themselves. But proposals for
legislation such as this herein advocated
are directly opposed to this class Of So
cialistlc theories.
'Onr aim is to recognize what Lincoln
pointed out: TIL fact that there are some
respects In which men are obviously not
equal, but also to insist that there should
be an equality Of self-respect and OF mn-
tual respect, an equality of rights before
the law, and at least an approximate
equality in the conditions under which
each man obtains the chance to show the
stuff hat is In him when compared to
his fellows,
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03
IN THE HOUSE,.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The House OF
Representatives assembled today with but
one object in view. which was to listen to
the reading Of the Presidents message and
adjourn. The galleries showed that the in
terest of the public in the proceedings of
the House was almost as great as or the
opening day.
When the Speaker had called the House
to order and Mr.. Couden, the blind chap
lain. had invoked the divine blessing, sew
eral Republican members presented them
selves before the Speakers desk to say
that they had voted for Mr.. Cannon as
Speaker and hat their names were not
recorded. They were in each case per-
mltted to make the record correct.
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03
INLAND WATERWAYS, FOR
EST PRESERVATION AND
THE LUMBER FAMINE.

The value of the Department of Agri
culture to the farmers and wa ge-workerp
Is set forth at length. The inland water
US are given considerable attention
Irrigation and reclamation of public land
are advocated. The prosecution of publ,
land thieves is discussed. Forest preservn
ton also Is the subject of d chapter from
which this Is taken:
"Optlmism Is n good characterIs-
tic. but If carried TO nm excess II
becomes foolishness. We arc prone
to speak of the of this
country as in~exhaustible; this is not
so. The mineral wealth of the coun-
try. the coal, iron, oil, gas, and the like,
does not reproduce itself, and there
fore is certain TO be exhausted ulti-
mately; and wastefulness in dealing
with 1t today ean that our descend
ants will feel he exhaustion a genera
ton or two before they otherwise
would. But there are certain other
forms of waste which could be entirely
stopped-the waste of soil by washing,
for instance, which is among the most
dangerous of all wastes now In progress
in the United States. is easily pre-
ventable, so that this present enormous
loss of fertility is entirely unnecessary.
THE preservation or replacement Of
the forests is n of the most i'm
portant means of preventing this loss.
We have made a beginning in forest
preservation, but 1t is only a beginning.
At present numbering Is the fourth
greatest industry In the United
states; and yet, so rapid has been
the rate OF exhaustion of timber In
the United States in the past, and
so rapidly is the remainder being
exhausted, that the country IL un-
n ~ ~
timber famine which Will be felt
In every household In the land.
There has already been a rise in the
price of lumber. but there Is certain
70 be a more rapid and heavier rise in
the future.
The present annual consumption of
lumber Is certainly three times as great
as the annual growth. and If the con-
sumption and growth continue UNI
changed, practically all our lumber
will be exhausted in another genera
ton, while long before the limit 10
complete exhaustion Is reached the
growing scarcity will make itself felt
IN many .blighting ways upon our ma
tional welfare.
about 20 per cent of our forested
territory is now reserved in national
forests; but these do not include the
most valuable timber lands. and in
any event the proportion is too small
to expect that the reserves can aG-
complish more than a mitigation of the
trouble which is ahead for the nation.
Far more drastic action is needed.
Forests can be numbered so as to
give TO the public the full use of their
mercantile timber without tie slight
est detriment to the forest, any more
than 1t Is a detriment to a farm to
furnish a harvest, so that there is no
parallel between forests and mines.
which can only be completely used by
exhaustion.
"Of course to check the waste Of
timber means that there must be on the
part of the public the acceptance of a
temporary restriction IN the lavish use
of the timber. in order to prevent the
total loss of this use in the future.
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03

MESSAGE
fooptInuea from rlr.t pnne.A

-
Congress- and the administration of the law
by the Department of Justice.
Inc most vital need is in connec-
ton with the railroads. As to these,
N my Judgment there should now be
either q national Incorporation act or
= law licensing railway companies to
enEdSe IN interstate upon
esttdin conditions. The law should be
80 framed as to give to the Interstate
commerce Commission power TO pass
upon the future issue of securities,
while ample means should be provided
to enable the Commission. whenever In
ITS Judgment ii is necessary, to make
q physical valuation of any railroad.
AS stated in my message to the Congress
year ago, railroads should be given
power to enter into agreements, subject TO
lhese agreements being made public III
minute detail and to the consent of the In
tefstate commerce Commission being first
obtained.
Until the national government assumes
proper control of interstate in
the exercise OF the authority it already
possesses, It will be impossible either TO
give to or TO get from the railroads full
Justice. The railroads AND all other great
corporations will do we'll to recognize that
ms control must come; the only question
Is as TO what governmental body caa most
wisely exercise 1t. The courts will deter
mine the limits with which the Federal
~hlithorit can exercise 1t, and there VIII
sui remain ample work within each State
Tor the railway commission of that State.
and the National Interstate Commerce
commission will work in harmony with the
several state commissions. each within its
own province, to achieve the desired end.
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03
FAV0RS INCOME TAX AMI IN
HERlTANCE TAX ON THE
PROGRESSIVE PLAN.

when our tax laws are revised the
question of an income tax and an in
herltanee tax should receive the careful
ment both of these taxes should be mart
of our system of Federal taxation. l speak
diftidently about the income tax because
one scheme for an income tax was de-
clared unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court; while In addition It is a difficult
tax to administer in its practical working.
and great care would have to be exercised
TO see that 1t was not evaded by the very
men whom 1t was most desirable TO have
taxed. for If so evaded it would, of course,
he worse than no tax at all; as the least
desirable of all taxes is the tax which
bears heavily upon the honest as compared
with the dishonest man.
Nevertheless, n graduated income tax
of the proper type would be a desirable
feature of Federal taxation, and il is to be
hoped that one may be devised which the
Supreme Court will declare constitutional
The Inheritance tax, however. IL both a far
better method or taxation, anu far more
important for the purpose of having the
fortunes of the country bear In proportion
to their increase in size a correspondents
increase and burden of taxation.
THE government has the absolute right
to decide as to tbe terms upon which a
man shall receive a bequest or devise
from another, and this point In the devo-
luton of property Is especially appropriate
for the imposition OF a tax. Laws inn
posing such taxes nave repeatedly been
placed upon he national statute books
and as repeatedly declared constitutional
by the courts: and these laws contained
the progressive principle, that is, after 81
certain amount Is reached the bequest or
gift, in life or death, is increasingly bur-
dened and the rate of ~taxation Is In
creased in proportion to the remoteness
OF blood Of the man receiving the be-
quest.
''Fhese principles are recognized already
in the leading civilized nations Of the
world. In Great Britain all the estates
worth 5000 or less are practically exempt
from death duties, while the increase is
such that when an estate exceeds five
a distant kinsman or stranger in blood
.he government receives all told an amount
equivalent TO nearly a fifth Of the whole
estate.
In France so much of an Inheritance as
exceeds $4,000, 600 pays over a fifth TO the
state If It passes TO II distant relative.
"The German law Is especially Interest,"
ing to us because il makes the Inheritance
tax an imperial measure while alloting to
the individual States OF the empire 81 nor
ton of the proceeds and permitting them
to impose taxes In addition to those i'm
posed by the imperial government. Small
inheritances are exempt, but the tax is 50
sharply progressive that when the inherit
ance Is still not very large. provided It is
not an agricultural or a forest land, 1t is
at the rate OF % per cent. il It goes
to distant relatives.
"There Is no reason why in the United
states the national government should
not Impose inherItanee taxes in addi-
tion TO those Imposed by the states,
and when we last had an inheritance tax
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03
CAPITAL AND LABOR AS AZ
FECTED BY THE PRESENT
FEDERAL LAWS.

The President devotes a great deal of
attention to the relations of capital and
labor. He repeats his views as given
in previous messages and recent
speeches. Some Of his observations
follow:
''The relations of the capitalist and
wage-worker to one another, and of each
to the general public, are not always easy
to adjust; and TO put them and keep them
ON Il satisfactory basis is one OF the most
important and one of the most delicate
tasks before our whole civilization.
Much of the work for the accomplish
ment of this end must be done by the in
! d%ividuals concerned themselves, whether
singly or in combinations; and the one fun
damental fact that must never be lost
track of is that the character of the aver
age man, whether he be Il man OF means or
a man who works with his hands, is the
most important factor IN solving the prob
lem Alright.
but It is almost equally important to re-
member that without good laws il Is also
impossible to reach the proper solution.
1T is idle to hold that without good laws
evils sUcn as child labor, as the over
working of women. as the failure TO pro-
tect employees from loss of life or limo,
can be effectively reached, any more man
the evils of rebates and watering
can be reached without good laws.
ITO fail to stop these practises by
legislation means to force honest men into
them, because otherwise the dishonest
who surely will take advantage of them
will have everything their own way. II
the Sta ,es will correct these evils, well
and good; but the nation must stand
ready to aid them.
THE INV ,stigation into the condition Of
women and children wage-earners recently
authorized and directed by the Congress
is now being carried on in the various
States. and | recommend that the appro-
priation made last year for beginning this
work be renewed. In order that we may
have the thorough and comprehensive in
Vestigation which the subject demands.
THE National Government has as an
ultimate resort for control of child labor
the use Of the Interstate commerce clause
TO prevent the products Of child labor
from entering into interstate
But before using this it ought certainly
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03

erai Ian ean be enacfed under the pro-
Visions of which existing corporations
could take ont Federal charters and
neW Federal conaaraflenz contI be ere
nted. An essential provision Of such
mining by some Federal board or COM
mission whether the applicant for a
Federal charter was an association or
computation within the restrictions Of
Provision should also be made for
complete publicity in all matters af-
Iecting the. public and complete pro-
lection to the investing public n the
shareholders in the matter of issuing
corporate securities. If an incorpora-
tion law is not deemed advisable, a
license act for big Interstate corpora
lions might be enacted; or a combina-
tion Of the two might be tried. The
supervision established might be anal
ogous to that now exercised over ma
tiOnal banks.
"A least, the antitrust act should be
supplemented by specific prohibitions "
the methods which exDprienre has shown
have been of most service In enabling mo-
nopOlistic combinations to crush out conn
petition. The real owners If a cornorntion
should be compelled to do business in their
own name. The right to held stock in other
corporations should hereafter be denied to
Interstate corporations, unless on approval
by the proper government officials. and Il
prerequisite to such approval should be
the listing with the government of all own-
ers and stockholders. both blythe cornora-
ton owning such stock and by the corpo-
ration in which such stock is owned. /.
To confer upon the national govern
ment, IN connection with the amend
ment | advocate In the anti-trust
law. W of supervision over big bust
ness concerns engaged in interstate
commerce would benefit them as 1t has
benefited the national banks. In
the recent business crisis IT is note
worthy that the institutions vhich,
failed were institutions which were
not under the supervision and com
troll of the national yernme
Those which were under national
control stood the test.
National control of the kind above adj
Focated would be to the benefit of every
wen managed railway. From the stand
point OF the public there is need for addi-
tional tracks, additional terminals. and
improvements in the actual hnndling of
the railroads, and all this as rapidly as
possible. Ample, safe. and speedy trans
PortatlQn faculties are even more neces-
sary than cheap transportation. There
lore, there is need for the investment of
money which will provide for all these
things while at the same time securing as
far as is possible better wages and shorter
hours for their employees. Therefore,
while there must be just and reasonable
regulation of rates, we Should be the
ilrst to protest asainst any arbitrary and
~unthinking movement to cut them down
without the fullest and most careful con-
sideration of all interests concerned and
or the actual needs Of the situation. Only
Q special body of men acting from the
National Government under authority
conferred upon 1t by the Congress is COM
petent to pass judgment on such a mat
ter.
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03

ism. such q plan would tend to pre-
vent the spasms OF high money aud
speculation which now obtain in the
New York market: for at present there
sons OF the year, ard its accumulation
at New York fenlpts bankers to lend
It Mt low rates for speculative pur-
poses; whereas at other times when
the crops are being moved there is
urgent need for a large but temporary
increase in the currency supply.
" Tt must be forgotten that
this question concerns business men
generally quite as much rs bankers;
especially II this true of stockmen,
farmers, and business men in the
West; for at present at certain sea
sons of the year the difference In
interest rates between the East and
the West is from 6 to 10 per cent,
whereas In Canada the corresponding
difference is but 2 per cent.
the interests Of Western and Southern
bankers as carefully as it guards the
interests of New York or Chicago
bankers, and must be drawn from the
~standpoints Of the farmer and the MGR
chant no less than from the stand
points of the city banker and the
country banker
of immediate attention to this matter
need a greater elasticity in our cur
rency, provided, of course, that W.
recognize the even greater need of 8
safe and secure currency. There mus
always be the most rigid examination
by the national authorities. Provision
should be made for an cur
rency.
THE emergency issue should, of course
be made awitn an ei1ective guaranty, am
rnon conditions carefully prescribed By
the government. Such emergency ISSUE
must be based on adequate securities ap
proved by the government, and must b'
issued under a heavy tax. This woult
nerniit currency being issued when thi
for it was urgent while securing
its retirement as the demand fell off.
1T is worth investigating to determine
whether officers and directors of n~ationa
banks should ever be allowed to loan 4
themselves. Trust companies should b.
subject to the same supervision rs banks
legislation to this effect should be enactei
for tue District Of Columbia and the Ter
%ritories.
Yet we must also remember that ever
the wisest legislation on the subject cai
only accomplish n certain amount. M
legislation can by any possibility guaran
tee the business community against thl
results of speculative folly any more hal
it can guarantee M individual aRains
the results of his extravaganza. Whei
an individual mortgages his house to bu.
an automobile he invites disaster, am
when wealthy men, or men who pose a
such. or are unscrupulously or fOolishll
eager to become such, indulge in reckless
speculation-especially If it is accompanie.
their own future. but the future of al
their innocent fellow-citizens. for they ex
pose the whole business community Il
panic and distress"
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03
ABUSES IN THE GRANTING
OF INJUNCTI0NS IN LABOR
DISPUTES.

Instances of abuse In the granting OF in
functions in labor disputes continue to &C.
cur, and the resentment in the minds OF
those who feel that their rights are being
invaded and their liberty of action and of
speech unwarrantably restrained continues
likewise to grow. Much of the attack on
the use of the process of injunction Is
wholly without warrant; but I an con
strained TO express the belief that for some
of 1t there is warrant. This question is be
coming more and more one of prime i'm
p%ortance. and unless the courts will them
selves deal with II In effective manner. il
Is certain ultimately to demand some form,
of legislative action.
ut would be most unfortunate for our so
clal welfare IL we should permit many
honest and law-abiding citizens to feel that
they had just cause for regarding our
courts with hostility. ! earnestly commend
TO the attention of the Congress this mat
ter, SO that some way may be devised
which Will limit the abuse of injunctions
and protect those rights which from lime
to time 1t unwarrantably invades. More
over. discomfort Is often expressed with
the use of the process of Injunction by the
courts. not only in labor disputes. but
where State laws are concerned. | refrain
from discussion of this question. as l am
that IT will soon receive the cen
sideration of the Supreme Court.
THE Federal courts must of course de-
eide ultimately what are the respective
spheres of State and Nation in connection
with any law, State or national. and they
must decide definitely and finally in mat
ters affecting individual citizens, not only
as TO the rights and wrongs of labor but
MS TO the rights and wrongs of capital;
and the National Government must always
see that the decision OF the court is put
into effect.
THE process of injunction is an essen
tial adjunct of the courts doing its work
well; and as preventive measures are
always better than remedial. the wise Use
of this process is from every standpoint
e0pnuanpdablp Rut WbQFp II is rppElpaslX
or unnecessarily used, the abuse should be
censured, above all by the very men vino
are properly anxious to prevent any effort
power.
THE courts decision must be final; the
protest is only against the conduct of III
dlvldua judges in needlessly anticipating
such final decision. or in the tyrannical use
of what Is nominally a temporary iniunc-
ton to accomplish what is In fact a per-
manent decision"
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03
mo- HOMEGROWN
MEnTER & ROSENBLOOM co. WILL
SELL CLOTHING ON EASIER
TERMS THAN EVER BEFORE.
An Open Letter to Gus KOehIeT,
Manager Of the Newark Store
From the Home Office,

Rochester, N. (.
Dear Mr.. Koehler:
For - years we have been in the Credit
Clothing business, n during hat time
our confidence in the honesty and integri-
ty Of the working people has grown from
year to year.
1t has always seemed that the more
confidence we placed in the people the
more our business grew; at any rate. in
q years VIC have grown from one store
10 70. we own our own factory and are
twice over the largest credit clothiers in
tho world.
We believe chat it is generally under
stood in Newark that with our unexcelled
manufacturing facilities we are able 10
sell ON credit at as low a price as any
cash store.
We have just decided to offer more lib-
eral terms than ever TO those who favor
us with their patronage. N we bellows
that the people who want new and stylish
clothes. hats and shoes for men. women
and children will appreciate our very lib
eral no-money-down ierms. For the
benefit of the people who have not YET
purchased their winter clothing you can
make this letter public.
Yours respectfully,
MENTER { ROSENBLOOM co
The Newark store of Menter &
Roscnbloom Co. Is Located at
SCI BROAD STREET,
CNcar Central Ave.)
The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03
FAV0RS THE PAYMENT OF
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES BY
THE GOVERNMENT.

1T IL well to provide that corporations
shall not contribute to Presidential or ma
tional campaigns, and furthermore to pro-
vide for the publication of both contri-
bu<1cns and expenditures.
There is however. always danger in
laws of this kind, which from their very
nature are difficult of enforcement; the
danger being lest they be obeyed only
by the honest, and disobeyed by the I'M
~scrupulous, SO as. to act only as a penalty