The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-01-10
THE INCOME TAX.
BryAn's Commoner.

some ten years after the adverse de-
cislon OF she supreme court is again
= subject for discussion. The presi-
lent's recognition has brought out
the fact shat quite a change has
gone on In public sentiment favor
able to the tax, but it has also
brought out the fact equally inter-
asting that the republican leaders
ire not going to favor the tax. The
St. Louis Globe Democrat, which
eau generally be relied upon to take
the side of predatory wealth, calls a
halt on the income tax. ls Is afraid
that so much money would be raised
by the income tax that no import
duties would be necessary. This sug-
geetion alone will bring all the bene-
ticlarles oil a high tariff into oppo-
sition. They have been collecting
incomes through the tariff law, and
OFT OF pure gratitude ought to be
willing to pay an income tax, but
gratitude is not prominent quality
among those who enjoy special privi,
leges. They come to regard them az
vested rights. II the president I'm
dertakes to push the income tax, he
will have to rely for his support up.
on the democrats and upon those
republicans who are In a position to
give expression to their sense Of jus,
sice. The Globe-Democrat editorial
may be accepted as evidence that
there will be strong plutocratlc op,
position TO the income tax.
The discussion, however, has
brought out the fact that some Of
the rich men have come over to the
side OF those who believe In the just.
ness OF she income tax. Mr.. M. E.
Ingalls,, former president OF the Big
Four railroad and an active oppo.
nent OF the democratic party in 1896,
declares that he is In favor OF an In.
come tax, but he is also In favor OF
an income tax, but does not want Il
levied upon punitive principles, but
as matter OF revenue. Mr.. Carnegie
Is opposed to the income tax, but is
in favor OF an inheritance tax. He
believes that rich men ought to be
compelled to turn over some Of their
surplus wealth at death. At the
Civic Federation meeting In New
York the other day he said: "Our
country fails in its duty II 1t does
not exact q share, q tremendous
share OF the estate OF the enormous
ly wealthy man upon his death. The
money belongs to the community.
Do not mistake me. do not advo.
cate the making of a man a psupsr
or the pauperizing OF his children,
but 1t is not the millionaire who
made the wealth. He did not make
the ore or the coal or the gold that
he dug out OF the ground. The Mon.
tana copper mine owner did not
make his wealth; 1t belongs in the
abstract to the people who use 1t
and who produce the use which
makes it valuable. l am with the
president, then, to tax heavily by
graduated taxation every man who
dies leaving behind him his millions,
for | think that excessive wealth left
to a child is an injury to the child"
Mr.. Carnegie might give other
reasons In defense OF an inheritance
tax. Many OF the large fortunes
have been acquired by the monopo-
lizing Of markets and by the bank.
ruptcy OF rivals. The money collect.
ed has In many cases been collected
by means which are immoral II not
illegal, and society could justify q
claim to part as a fine.
But, after all, there is q better
remedy than the inheritance tax II
the real purpose Of the tax is to be
levied as q punishment. Instead Of
allowing the government to grant
privileges, to create iavors and to
sell immunity to great highwaymen,
why not restore the government to