The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-03
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

| Taxes on inheritances as well as on
| incomes will be made a part of the
new tariff law if some of the progress
sive Democrats can have their way
The only reason why the Inheritance
tax is not considered sure is because
some men in congress think that the
states should not be deprived Of this
source of revenue But. in view Of the
fact that it is intended to start the
income tax upon incomes of $1,000 and
tax only incomes over that amount, it
is quite likely that an inheritance tax
may also be added to the bill.
Senator Gore, a member of the
finance committee and one who will
have much to say about the new tariff
bill, believes that the income tax should
apply only to unearned incomes in the
lower grades; that the incomes of the
professional men and Others who work
for them should not be taxed unless
the incomes are much higher than
those ordinarily paid.
Can't Lose What You Don't Have.
Senator Gore gives as one reason for
taxing inheritances that it does not
take any money from any person.
1.-THE money does not belong to the
man until the inheritance is complete"
he said. at is not taken from the dead
man, because he has gone, and it is not
taken from his heirs, because they new
er had it.
81 recollect when I was first candi-
date for the senate one Of my friends
remarked that If were elected it
would be splendid triumph, while if
1 were not elected I would not lose
anything, because l had nothing to
lose. That is the way with an inheri
lance Tux The man can't lose it, be
cause he never had it."
Due to the Typewriter.
Twenty years ago only those sena
tors who were chairmen of commit
tees had clerks the year around. The
others. and large majority, too. had
session clerks, men who received Sc a
day while the senate was in session.
Then there grew up a system Of in
creasing the number of committees
until every member of the majority
was provided with place which gave
him q clerk.
Then followed the system which
made the clerks to senators annual
employees permanently on the pay
roll. Soon followed the more advanc-
ed system by which each senator was
given a clerk and a messenger and
each chairman Of a committee had
clerk, an assistant clerk and messen-
ger. That is why all the useless COM
mittees are maintained. 1t means
more patronage.
increased Correspondence.
Now it is asserted that much of this
increased clerical force Is due to the
typewriter; that because more letters
are written the senators have larger
correspondence and need more EN-
ployees to take care Of it. Perhaps
there is something in that claim.
There is no doubt about the increas-
ed correspondence. Every man writes
dozen letters now to one written
twenty years ago. For the most part
the clerks and messengers of the diff
ferent committees are kept busy while
congress Is in session. And some SEN
ators are obliged to hire extra help to
take care of the work which piles up
day after dey. The people seem to
have the letter writing habit, and
whenever an opportunity offers they
write to their senators.
Was a Nebraska Politician.
James A. Edgerton. who has been
made purchasing agent of the post
Office department, first came to the
front in politics in 1896, when he was
secretary of the Populist national com
mittee He was from Nebraska and
great admirer Of William ]. Bryan.
Edgerton has always remained in close
touch with politics. For years he has
been resident of New Jersey.
Newlands Will Be Busy.
Senator Newlands is; the new chair
man Of the interstate commerce COM
mittee, and 1t is expected that he will
be very busy man with all matters
that can be considered by that com
mittee.
He has many ideas In regard to the
manner in which transportation should |
be regulated and controlled, and it is be- |
lieved that he will also bring forward |
some measure regulating the control of
corporations under interstate com
merce. Senator Newlands retired from
the commerce committee, very de- |
sirable place, in order to give more
time to his new craftsmanship.
Better Facilities.
Better facilities, more deliveries in
business sections and the handling of |
mails SO that a letter will 60 as quick |
y as an express package or anything
sent over a mail route will do more to
make the postoffice department popu-
AR than II It were made money max
ing machine and returned q surplus
lach year rather than . deficit