Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-15
TALK ABOUT TAXATION
Sessions of National Confer
ence at Columbus, Ohio.
SLAP AT INHERITANCE TAX
Speaker Demurs to Plan to Cut
Swollen Fortunes.
PRESIDENTS WAY FAULTY
SLAP AT INHERITANCE TAX
PRESIDENTS WAY FAULTY
Address by Prof. Willis of George
Washington niversity-Many
Papers Read and Discussed.

COLUMBUS. Ohio, November 15.-Prof.
Charles ]. Bullock of Harvard Univer-
sity at Wednesday nights session of the
national conference on taxation opposed
the Presidents plan for an inheritance
tax as federal Instrument to reduce
swollen fortunes. His remarks pleased
most of the delegates.
ITO Americans of the last generation"
ne said. the inheritance tax was a fiscal
curiosity, but today IT is found in no
fewer than thirty-four states, and must
be accepted as an accomplished fact of
American finance. The present inherit
ance taxes employ ed by the several states
are levied clearly TO raise revenue. But
1t is now proposed that we should intro
duce a federal Inheritance tax to reduce
swollen fortunes. The proposal assumes
that there Is in the United States un-
due concentration of wealth and power in
a few hands and il cannot br denied that
many thoughtful men have come to such L
conclusion. But if the existence OF such L
tendency be admitted. the inheritance tax
is no remedy therefor.
IF our federal government needs adj
dtional revenue, 1t can at any mint
raise an additional hundred millions by re-
storing the tax on beer and tobacco 20
the figures enforced during the Spanish
war. Our state and local governments
financial reasons, therefore. an inherit
ance tax should be reserved to the several
states. For economic and social reasons
its functions should be to raise revenue.
and not to reform the distribution of
wealth.
Prof. Willis Address.
Prof. II. Parker Willis of George Wash
ington University delivered an address on
The Relation of Federal TO State and
Local Taxation" at the afternoon ses-
sion He thought that experience die
tated the retention as permanent sources
of federal revenue of the present tariff
and excise taxes readjusted on the best
basis, but continued in principle as at
present He predicted. however, the APP
proach of d time when present federal
revenues would be inadequate
Among the factors tending in this di-
rection he mentioned possible tariff re-
vision, the extension of the industrial
functions of the federal government. and
the growth Of police functions. He there
fore regarded 1t as cassity that there
be an elastic source of federal taxation
In addition to the sources now employed.
This he found in the idea of federal tax
on corporations engaged in Interstate
commerce.
Other Papers Read
The following papers were read and
discussed:
Home Rule in Taxation" by Solomon
Wolff. member of the louisiana state
tax commission; Limitations of tn,
Purposes for Which Taxes May Be
Levied" by Prof Loos of the University
| of Iowa; "Habitation Tax" by Prof.
John B. Phillips of the University of
Colorado; Methods of Assessment as
| Applied to Several Glasses of Subjects
by Prof. Boyle of the University of North
Dakota The Mortgage Tax" by Prof
George Corey of the University of Salt
Lake: Taxation of Inheritances" Dr.
Max West. bureau of corporations, Wash
ington. d. c.: Taxation of Inheritances"
Joseph II. Underwood of University Of
Montana.