The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-09-15

all transfers of property, incident to
death. Acquisition of property by
will OF inheritance, under our govern.
ment, is neither natural, nor con-
stitutional right, but is a privilege, /
crested and controlled, by law.
"All property, or interests in prop
erty, transferred by death, or in con-
temptation of death, is subject to tax
alton. If tangible property, then in
the state where situated and if in
tangible property, such as money on |
hand or deposit, notes, stock or |
bonds, in the state containing the
domicile of the decedent, or in which |
such property may have been techni-
cal local situs, for instance, as to cor
porate securities, stock and bonds, the
state granting the charter, and in
which record transfers are to be made.
The tax laws of different states,
/ both as to classes of property and of
beneficiaries taxed are widely variant,
resulting in occasional hardships,
through double taxation. All bene-
ficiaries taxed in % states and only
those that are collateral in 16 states.
Among the states, as to charges
AID exemptions, there are wide di-
vergencies. Thirteen states, Della
ware. Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Mis-
,ouli. New Hampshire, New Jersey,
North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
exas, Vermont and Virginia. exempt,
wholly, lineal benefciaries. In some
of the other states this exemption ap-
u plies solely to husband and wife. In
the state that tax lineals, their tax,
10th minimum and maximum, Is gen
orally much less than that imposed on
collateral benefciaries for instance,
} in Wyoming, the lineal tax, in excess
of exemption, is per cent and the
collateral per cent. In those states
having taxation, grades as to the de-
gree VI hiuSnip ahu Pio6iS 40 ~
amounts, similar proportion prevails,
In California, which has the highest
= both methods considered, the maxi.
mum charges against liAeals range
from / per cent to 5 per cent, and col
laterals, from to 25 per cent.
THE maximum in a few othez
i states is as high as 5 per cent fol
lineal and 10 per cent for collateral
beneficiaries, only Kansas has both
A few states have fixed charges, a
to collateral beneficiaries. Utah ant
II Minnesota have the same exemption
$4,000 and the same charges to bot
classes of benefciaries, that OF Utal
being per cent, fixed, and Minnesota
progressing from l IL per cent to
per cent The usual progressiv'
charge is from l per cent to pc
cent for lineal, with scarcely fou
l. agreeing on collateral, beneficiaries
e With varying minimums, six of tn
latter, collateral, have a maximum o
4 Is per cent, two IL per cent and tire
10 per cent the largest minimum b.
ing Z IL per cent, in North Carolina.
III Hard Pressed For Revenue.
- THE states and their subdivision
are hard pressed for available source
of revenue, prevalent methods of il
~ heritance taxation being welcomed :
God-send. This burden begins {
the living expenses of the decease
owned ends; and, usually, not direc
ly upon the estate but upon certa
beneficiaries, who, considering t
. exemption, are making but reasC
so able contribution to. government f
"a access of unearned wealth. The Il
Sc is simple, easily understood and col
I'D puted, difficult to evade, collect
ce with small outlay and supervision, a
OF in the course of administration
Ter estate in local courts. According
circumstances, division of procee
can be made between state anc col
Of ty treasures. The state governme
ms which gave direct protection to
decedent and his property, during
Inc period of its acquisition, is the logi'
all beneficiary of the tax on its transf
or AID valorem taxation, as a source
Tho state revenue, through It's temp
ici- lions to local officials to escape Dc
YER o., AZ. q shs stsss hrresn. by und
'or- assessment, Is becomirk largely
of pere1t11 !.