The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-02-19

4
advancement of few, If any.
IT is imparatiyely necessary that
tariff bill be drawn in good faith in
accordance with promises made be-
fore the election BY party in power,
and as promptly passed as due consid-
Grafton will permit, 1t is not that the
tariff is more important in the long
run than the perfecting Of the re-
forms in respect to antitrust legis-
lation and interstate commerce regu-
lation, but the need for action when
the revision Of the tariff has been
determined upon is more immediate
to avoid embarrassment of business.
Graduated Inheritance Tax.
II is imperative that the deficit of the
past year, of $10O,O00,0O0 shall not
continue, and the trainers Of the
tariff bill must of course have in
mind the total revenues likely to be
produced by it, and so arrange the
duties as to secure an adequate in
come. Should it be impossible to do
SO by import duties, new kinds Of
taxation must be adopted, and among
these / recommend a graduated in
heritance tax, as correct in principle
and as certain and easy of collec-
ton
The obligation on the part Of those
responsible for the expenditures
made to carry on the government, to
be as economical as possible, and to
bake the burden of taxation as light
as possible, is plain and should be
affirmed in every declaration of gov
eminent policy This is especially
true when we are face to face with
heavy deficit. But when the desire
to win the popular approval leads to
the cutting off Of expenditures
really needed to make the govern
ment effective, and to enable it to
accomplish its proper objects, the re-
suit is as much to be condemned as
the waste Of government funds in un-
necessary expenditure. The scope Of
modern government in what it can
and ought to accomplish for its peo-
pie has widened far beyond the prin-
ciples laid down by the old laissez
faire school of political writer's, and
this widening has met popular
approval.
In the Department of Agriculture,
the use of scientific experiments
on large scale, and the spread of
information derived from them for
the improvement Of general agricul-
ture, must go on.
The Importance of supervising
business of great railways and indus
trial combinations, and the necessary
investigation and prosecution Of
unlawful business methods, are an
other necessary tax upon government
which did not exist half century
ago.
Conservation of Our Resources.
The putting into force of, laws
which shall secure the conservation
Of our resources, so far as they may
be within the jurisdiction of the
Federal Government, including the
most important work of saving and
restoring our forests, and the great
Improvement of waterways, are all
proper government functions which
must involve large expenditures if
properly performed. While some Of
them, like the reclamation of arid
lands, are made to pay for them
selves, others are of such an indirect
benefit that this cannot be expect
ed of them. A permanent improve
ment, like the Panama Canal, should
be treated as a distinct enterprise,
and should be paid for by the pro-
ceeds of bonds, the issue of which
| will distribute its cost between the
present and future generations in
accordance with the benefits derived.
The Army and Navy.
The maintenance of the army and
navy is necessary to the perpetuation
] of well established American policies.
Our coast defenses need to be ex-
tended. A strong navy is our most
efficient conservator of peace.
The Maintenance of Peace.
Our international policy is always
to promote peace. In the international
controversies that are likely to arise
in the Orient, growing out of the
question of the open door and other
issues, the United States can main
tain her interests intact and can Sc
cure respect for her just demands.
Our government is able to
afford suitable army and a suit
able navy. It may maintain them
without the slightest danger to the
Republic or the cause Of free insti-
buttons, and fear Of additional tax