The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-12-06

and 10 give IUc ifHNi liH9 l'i ''''''-
and flcfional motives The sole con
sideration should be- 20 see that the
sum total of changes represents the
ruh.ic good. This means that the sub
ie.t cannot with wisdom be- dealt with
n the year preceding a presidential
election. because as matter OF Tact
experience has concIusively shown that
at such a time it is impossible 90 get
men to treat it from the standpoint Of
the public good. In my Judgment the
wise time 10 deal with the matter is
Immediately after such election.
INCOME TAN AND INHERITANCE |
TAN
When our tax laws are revised the |
question Of an income tax aud am in-
berltance tax should receive the care
ml attention Of our legislators. In |
ms Judgment. both Of these taxes
should Dee part of our system OF fed
eral taxation. / speak diilldently about
the income tax because one scheme for
am income tax was declared unconsu'
tufional by the supreme court while I'D
addition IL is a difficult tax to admin
ister n its practical working. and great
care would have 90 bee exercised to see
fhat # was not eyaded by the very
men whom il was most desirable To
have taxed. Nevertheless a graduated
income tax of the proper type Would
Ice "a desirable feature of federal taxa
uon. and lt is To be- hoped that one
may Dee devised which the supreme
court will declare constitutional
The inheritance tax. however is
a far better method of taxation. The
Government has the absolute right To
decide as to the terius upon which
man shall receive a bequest from am
other. and this point I'm the devoluiion
Of property is especially appropriate
for the imposition Of a tax. Laws I'M
nosine such taxes have repeatedly been
placed upon the national statute books
and as repeatedly declared constItu-
Noual bv the courts. and these laws
contained the progressive principle
fhat is. after certain amount is reach
ed the bequest or gift in life or death
is increasingly hurdcned and the rate
of taxation is increased in proportion
fo the remoteness of blood of the man
receiving the bequest These principles
are recognized already n ihc leading
| civilized nations of the world.
GERMANY's INHERITANCE TAX
The German law is especially inter
e~iue to ms because 70 makes the I'M
heritance tax an imperial measure
while aHoiing 10 the individual states
of the empire q portion OF the pro
.crds and permitting them 90 impose
taxes m addition to those imposed hy
the imperial government Sinai. inher-
ianccs are exempt. but the tax is so
sharply progressive that when the in-
herItance Is still not very large. pro
ylded it IS not an agricultural or for
est land. lt is taxed no the rate oi -
.er cent lf 70 goes to distant relatives.
There IS no reason why in the United
STATES the national government should
not impose Inheritance taxes in addi-
tlon To- those imposed by the states,
and when we last had on Inheritance
fax about one-haIf Of the states levied
such taxes concurrcntly With the ma.
tlonal government. making combined
maximum rate in some cases as high
as - per cent
] . ..t. - ,srnrr-trrtrsNrrrg HIGHER
The tax should If possible be- made
to bear more heavily upon those resid
! ing without the country than within IL
A heavy progressive tax upon very
, large fortune is in no way such a iaA
. upon thrift or industry as ike taN
would be ON small fortune. 80 adj
- vantage comes either 10 the country
AS whole or 10 the individuals inner
itine the money by permitting the
transmission i'm their entirety Of th'
s enormous fortunes which would be af
s fectcd los such n tax. and ms an Incl
" dent 10 IT'S function of revenue raisin;
o such q tax would help 10 preserve
p measurable equality of opportunity fo
the people Of the generations growing
b 10 manhood
y We have not the slightest sympaih.
h with that sociallstic idea which woul'
f. try 10 put lazlness. thriftlessness an'
ineniclency on a par with Industry
thrift and efficiency. which wouI
strive 10 break up not merely priyai
, property, but. what is far more impo
tant the home the chief prop upo
which our whole civilization stands.
i, such a theory if ever adopted wouI
mean the ruin Of the entire countr
but proposals for legislation such
, this herein advocated are directly o.
-, posed 10 this class Of socialisiic th
Orics.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW
,r 4 few years ago there was loud con
o.. plaint that the law could not be ]
yokcd against wealthy offenders The
is mo- such complaint now. The cour
nj Of Inc department Of justice during Il
b. last few years has been such as
ir make it evident that no man stan'
BY above the law. that no corporation
ID. so wealthy that # cannot be- held 10
a. count. Everything that can be dol
d. under the existing law and with q
of existing state of public opinion, whl
al so profoundly Influences both the coui
o- and iuries. has been done but the la'
au themselves need strengthening. Ih
.h should De made more definite. SO Oh
er no honest man can bee led unwilling
ss 10 break them and So that the r'
boz wroncdoer can be- readily punished.
ze Moreover. there must Dee the pub
u- opinion back Of the laws or the la'
@. themselves will be- Of no avail i
81 two great evils in the execution OF d
s. criminal laws today are sentimental
and tecmicality For the latter
ed remedy must come from the hands
If. the legislatures, the courts and the ia
,-crs Tho other must drueuu Tor