The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-03-05
NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OUTLINES POLICIES
Definite Announcement That Extra Session of
Congress Will Be Called to Consider Tariff
Revision---Postal Savings Bank Is to Be
Pushed---Other Recommendations.

or rates in certain and Will
require the advancement of few, II
any.
The proposal to revise the tariff
made in such an authoritative way as
10 lead the business community to
count upon it, necessarily halts all
those branches of business directly af-
fected, and as these are most impor-
tant, it disturbs the whole business of
the country. 1t is imperatively neces-
sary, therefore, that a tariff bill be
drawn in good faith in accordance
with promises made before the cleo
ton by the party in power, and as
promptly passed as due consideration
will permit. 1t is not that the tariff
is more important in the long run than
the perfecting of the reforms in re-
spect to antitrust legislation and 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 of the
tariff bill, it would seem wise to at
tempt no other legislation at the ex-
ira session. l 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.
For Graduated Inheritance Tax.
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 500, 000, 900. 1t is impera-
tive that such a 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
be impossible to do so by import du-
: ties, new kinds Of taxation must be
adopted, and among these l econ
mend a graduated Inheritance tax, as
correct in principle and as 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 1t 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 it 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 6
large scale, and the spread of informa
provement Of general agriculture, mus
go IN.
The importance of supervising bust
ness of great railways and indus
trial combinations, and the necessar,
!. investigation and prosecution Of un
lawful business methods, are anothe,
necessary tax upon government which
did not exist half a century ago.
: Necessary Expenditures.
The putting into force of laws which
shall secure the conservation of on
resources, so far as they may be with
in the jurisdiction Of the federal gov
a eminent, including the most impol
tant work of saving and restoring GU
forests, and the general improvement
of waterways, are all proper govern
: ment functions which must inyoly
n large expenditure If properly pei
@ formed. While some of them, like tn
reclamation of arid lands, are mad
to pay for themselves, others are c
such an indirect benefit that this car
It not be, expected Of them. A perm,
nent Improvement, like the Panam
canal, should be treated as a distint
n enterprise. and should be paid for b
II the proceeds of bonds. the issue {
which will distribute its cost betwee
the present and future generations |
T. accordance with the benefits deriveI
c. 1t may well be submitted to the ser
n GUS consideration of congress whethe
h the deepening and control of the cha
mel of a great river system, like Thu
h. of the Ohio or Of the Mississippi, whe
10 definite and practical plans for I'll
d enterprise have been approved ar
f. determined upon, should not be pr
vided for in the same way.
Then, too, there are expenditure
t, of government absolutely necessary
a. our country is to maintain its prop'
n place among the nations of the worl