The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-03-04
PRESIDENT iTAFT'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE


is more important in the long run than
the perfecting of the reforms in re
spect to antitrust legislation aud in
terstate commerce regulation, but the
need for action when the revision of
the tariff has been determined upon
is more immediate to avoid embar-
rassment Of business. To secure the
needed speed In the passage or Jne
tariff bill, 1t would seem wise to at
tempt no other legislation at the ex-
ira session. ! venture this as a sug-
gestion only, for the course to be TAX
en- by congress, upon the call of the
executive. is wholly within its discre-
ton.
Graduated Inheritance
Tax Is Recommended
In the making of a tariff bill, the
prime motive is taxation, and the Sc
curing thereby of a revenue. Due
largely to the business depression
which followed the financial panic of
1907, the revenue from customs and
other sources has decreased to such an
extent that the expenditures for the
current fiscal year will exceed the re
ceipts by 100000 600 II is impera-
tive that such deficit shall not con
tinue, 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 income Should it
n a n ca hV Inn m
ties, new kinds of taxation must be
adopted, and among these | recon-
mend graduated Inheritance tax, as
correct in principle and IS certain and
easy of collection.
The obligation on the part of those
responsible for the expenditures made to
carry on the government. to be as eco
nomical as possible. and to make the
burden OF taxation as light as possible,
is plain and should be affirmed in
every declaration of government pol
icy. This is especially true when we
are face to face with a heavy deficit.
But when the desire to win the popu-
lar approval leads to the cutting off
OF expenditures really needed to make
the government effective and to en-
able II to accomplish its proper OBJ.
jects, the result is as much to be con.
demned as the waste of government
funds in unnecessary expenditure. The
scope of a modern government In
what II can and ought to accomplish
for its people has been widened far
beyond the principles 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 a
large scale, and the spread of informa-
ton derived from them for the i'm
provement of general agriculture, must
go on
The importance of supervising bust
ness Of great railways and indus
trial combinations, and the necessary
investigation and prosecution OF un-
lawful business methods. are another
necessary tax upon government which
did not exist half a century ago.
Necessary Work Calling
for Large Expenditure.
The putting into force of laws which
shall secure the conservation of our
resources, SO far as they may be with
In the jurisdiction of the federal gov
eminent, including the most impor-
tant work of saving and restoring our
forests, and the general Improvement
of waterways, are all proper govern
ment functions which must involve
large expenditure if properly per-
formed. While some of them, like the
reclamation of arid lands, are made
to pay for themselves, others are of
such an indirect benefit that this can
not be expected of them. A perma-
nent improvement. like the Panama
canal, should be treated as a distinct
enterprise, and should be paid for by
the proceeds of bonds. the issue OF
which will distribute its cost between
the present and future generations in
accordance with the benefits derived
1t may well be submitted to the seri-
GUS consideration of congress whether
the deepening and control of the chan
mel of great river system, like that
Of the Ohio or Of the Mississippi, when
definite and practical plans for the
enterprise have been approved and
determined upon, should not be pro
vided for in the same way
Then. too. there are expenditures
OF government absolutely necessary If
our country Is to maintain its proper
place among the nations OF the world.
aud is to exercise its proper influence
in defense of its own trade interests,
In the maintenance OF traditional
American policy against the COLOMBIA
ZION of European monarchies in this
hemisphere. and in the promotion of
peace and international morality
refer to the cost of maintaining
proper army. proper navy and suit
able Notifications upon the mainland
Of the United States and in its depend
encies.
We should have an army so organ
lied, and so Differed as TO be capable
in time Of emergency in cooperation
with the national militia, and under
the provisions Of a proper national
volunteer law, rapidly to expand into
a force sufficient to resist all probable
Invasion from abroad and to furnish
a respectable expeditionary force, II
necessary in the maintenance of our