St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-11-02
oPELoUsAs, La, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER >, 1912
CATHOLICS OPPOSE
INHERITANCE PLAN.

%ClklAIS u y Y II LA4@ )&&NAAS
clergy of Louisiana to use every
influence at their command te
defeat the proposed inheritance
tax amendment, a feature of the
general tax revision scheme,
Archbishop James H. Blenk and
Bishop Cornelius Van De Ven, OF
Alexandria, issued a circular let
ter which was read at all masses
in Catholic churches Sunday and
again on next Sunday. The let
ter follows:
Archbishop's House, New Or
leans.
Oct. "a, 1912.
Rev. Dear Father0ur pres
ent inheritance tax Law does not
concern itself at all with dona-
tions inter viyos. It deals ex-
clusively with inheritances and
legacies or donations mortis
causa.
And it provides that the in
heritance tax shall not be i'm
posed on any legacy or donation
mortis causa in favor of an edu-
cational, religious or charitable
institution.
The proposed tax amendment
contemplates a new inheritance
tax law, leveled at all donations
inter vivos, generally; and which
will also strike at donations in
ter viyos, and legacies to educa-
tional, religious or charitable II
stitutions or to trustees to educa-
tional, religious or charitable
purposes, where such donations
inter vivos or legacies amount to
more than half Of the disposable
portion of the donors or testa-
tors estate. And in that case,
the tax shall be imposed, not
upon the excess only, but upon
the entire donation or legacy;
and the donees or legatees shall
be considered to be within the
third class (of benefic ficiaries)
established by the proposed tax
amendment; that is to say, those
who must pay not more than
3 3-4 per cent, and who may be
called upon to pay as much as
16 per centas the Legislature
will decide.
Thus, under the present law,
all donations, by the. living or by
the dead, to educational religious
or charitable institutions or for
educational. religious or chari-
table purposes, are exempt from
any tax. The law encourages
such donations, as being to the
highest credit of the donors or
testators, and to the greatest ad-
vantage of the people.
The proposed new inheritance
law, on the contrary, discour-
ages public spirit, benevolence,
piety and charity.
Why an inheritance tax should
be levied on donations inter yivos
(betWeen the living) tis difficult
to understand. This provision
in the tax amendment is an alb
in terms, for a donation
during life can never be aptly
called an inheritance.
It is bad enough that dona-
tionS, generally, should be taxed.
BUT it is most deplorable, from
every standpoint, that donations
and legacies for educational, re-
ligious or charitable purposes
sholId be subjected to the pay
ment Of a tax, when the donor
or testator has been, in the opin-
ion Of the legislator, too gener-
Gus or too charitable. It is a
short-sighted and mischievous
policy.
This question is one of the
moment to every uni
versity or college, to every church
or religious establishment, of any
denomination, and to every asy-
lun or charitable institution.
Every friend of education, every
every friend of religion, every
friend of the poor should vote
against such a law. You will,
therefore, use all the influence
at your command to avert from
our beloved State a disaster OF
such magnitude as the adoption
Of this inheritance tax law would
certainly inflict on interests that
are among the most useful, lofty
and sacred in any State or nation.
With blessings on yourself and
your respective f1ocks, We are,
faithfully in Christ,
JAMES II. BLENK, S. NJ,
Archbishop of New Orleans.
CORNELIUS VAN DE VEN,
Bishop Of Alexandra.
IT, 20 a1oo4r,.l