The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-11

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 The proposal to revise the tariff made in such an authoritative way as to 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. It is imperatively neces- sary, therefore, that tariff bill be drawn in good faith in accordance with promises made before the cleo tion by the party in power, and as promptly passed as due consideration will permit. It 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, 1t would seem wise to at tempt. no other legislation at the ex- tra session. l venture this as sug- gestion only, for the course to be talk en by congress, upon the call of the executive, Is wholly within it's discre- ton.
 For Graduated inheritance Tax.
 Tn the making of a tariff bill, the prime motive Is taxation, and the se- 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 s100,000,000 It is impera- tive that such a deficit shall not con tinue, and the framers 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 1t be impossible to do So by import du- ties, new kinds of taxation must be adopted, and among these I recon 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 theexpenditure 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 of of expenditures really needed to make the government effective, and to en- able 1t to accomplish it's proper ob- jects, the result Is as much to De 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 it's people has been widened far beyond the principles laid down by the old laissez faire school of political writers, 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 im- provement of general agriculture, must go on.
 The importance of supervising busi- 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 century ago.
 Necessary Expenditures.
 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 ernmept, 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. It may well be submitted to the seri- ous consideration of congress whether the deepening and control of the chan nel of great river system, like that of the Ohio or of the Mississippi, when definite ard 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. and is to exercise it's proper influence in defense of its own trade interests. in the maintenance of traditional American policy against the coloniza- ton of European monarchies in this hemisphere. and in the promotion of peace and International morality. I refer to the cost of maintaining a proper army, proper navy and suit able Notifications upon the mainland of the United States and in its depend encies.