The Washington herald., 1909-07-19


the vexed problem OF taxation has there
been measure enacted which has met
such widespread opposition from rich
and poor alike as that which is now in
the hands Of the conference committee.
Whatever the result Of this legislation
may be upon the party in power and upon
the nation generally the deliberations
Of our statesmen have brought out two
important facts-namely. that the tariff is
local issue, pure and simple, and that
4 the poor as well as the rich object to any
kind of a new tax
Cannot Be Blamed
Now. the poor and middle classes can
scarcely be blamed for opposing an up
ward revision Of the tariff on the neces-
stiles Of life with the cost Of living al
ready beyond their earning capacity; but
the rich and well to do should logically
be ready and willing TO tender to the
state what it needs for It's legitimate
business and the protection Of their own
special interests. Unfortunately, the rich
and powerful who in the very nature
OF things are looking to the government
for a larger measure Of protection than
DO the poor ard needy. and who should
therefore willingly assume the larger
snare Of the burden OF taxation. do not
seem 70 be ruled by common sense when
they resist the proposed income tax. in
heritance tax, or corporation tax.
And yet no one VIII charge the Ameri-
can capitalist with a lack Of public spirit
% or national patriotism where the business
interest is the controlling factor. It Is
private capital which in great measure
ver0T fna1 Co. - A..
table institutions. Ii is the American
millionaire who foUnds universities and
libraries, and supports hospitals and
churches, 1t Is our mOneyed class which
contributes fabClous sums TO the promo
non OF intellectual and moral life.
Federal Tax Hurts.
But what the wealthy class objects to
IN the proposed new tax law is not the
amount OF cash outlay II involves. but
the claim Of Congress Of the right 10 i'm
pose such a tax-it objects 10 a Federal
q tax upon its wealth. The real problem.
therefore. is 10 lay the burden Of tax
ARtion upon the rich in such way as
pt 20 invite their active opposition. This
an easily be done by gratifying the most
EenSitive and yearning desire OF our
wealthy and Idle classes.
In Great Britain taxation IS mainly lev
led on the rich. who in return enjov the
title OF nobility. Our government has
made mistake jr1 not comforting dec
oratons upon our captains of Industry
and our generals OF trusts and u is high
time that this defect be rernedied by our
statesmen, and the remedy be made
plentiful source Of revenue
NJ. plan is Tor the United States to
create classified schedule of comfortable
titles Of nobility. modelled after the Eu-
ropean system-perhaps the Italian would
meet our conditions best-tO be offered
in exchange FOR a specific yearly tax A
title would be a desirable acquisition to
many Of our mOneyed aristocrats. and
would I'll a lOng-felt want. There are
many people who desire to be considered
Of more Importance than they actually
are; Jet the government crafty their
vanity, and make them pay for it. There
are many and 20 spare among our very
rich whose means enable them 70 vie
with the effete nobility Of Europe. but
who cannot lay claim 20 like distinc-
tion because they lack the patent OF
nobility. They would cheerfully open
their purses for the privilege Of being
called Baron Lord" or Duke"
Titles 10 Sell.
These certificates Of distinction should
be made to correspond with the occupa-
ton or business Of the applicant as far
as possible. Special provision should.
however. be made for the large number
of our wealthy citizens whose only oc-
cupatiOn is to live well. For example,
for business men there should be the
title, 'Privy Councillor Of Commerce" >"
with the rank Of baron, arranged into
three classes and sold at the nominal
rtrfrn ~ Nf O00 Qp
mum, respectively.
Those among our milliOnaires who give
evidence OF taste for art and literature
by their activity IN securing collections
Of paintings, books. &c. per fas et nefas.
should be enabled 10 purchase a national
certificate entitled ''P~ivy Councillor of
Culture" with the title OF lord. also
graduated in three classes, at the rate OF
5000. $4,000. and S15,0C0 per annum. ac-
cording 20 class. Our millionaire brewers
and packers should be looked after with
certificates Of "Prlvy Councillor of the
Nations Diet" with the title Of Lord Of
the Household" at a reasonable annual
tox. not TO exceed S290o0OOO. Land mine,
and railroad owners should be provided
with diplomas emitting them to "Privy
Councillor Of the Nations Resources. q"
with the title Of Masters Of the People -
The ladies should, Of course. not be
slighted in this matter, for who is there
in the wide world who loves a title more
than the American heiress and her
mother?
Now, what has been said Is merely TO
serve as an index OF the vast posslbiil-
ties In the way Of revenue from such a
measure. a commission, consisting OF our
most celebrated social leaders preferably
from among the -Four Hundred OF New
York; and some noted expert aristocrats
Of Europe, should be appointed by Con-
gress and given the task OF framing a
schedule Of patent nobility for our mon
eyed classes.
To those who may entertain doubts as
10 whether the aspirations OF our wealthy
classes may be depended on to produce
the necessary revenue. I need only point
20 the spirit Of the time. with the uni
versa! reaching out after superficlalIties,
empty honors, and vainglorious ostenta-
tion-to the Unsuitable greed after distinc-
tion. The aping OF fashions follies and
absurdities are looked upon as proper and
as a mark Of respectabillty; the possess
sion of a title can be made equally popu-
lar. il not more so. with a turn OF the
legislative hand c. W. PAFFL0W.
An AII-bIack Dining Room.
From NJ A. P.
Lord and Lady Drogheda have returned
20 Wilton Crescent at the conclusion Of