New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-05
Would Divide Gains More
Evenly and Alleviate
Present Injustice.
CHARITY AND CRIME
BOTH SOUL KILLING
Government Insurance. Better
Schools and Road Building
Part of His Plan.


children Another man. who never did
a stroke OF productive work in his life.
idles in Injuries all week while his in
heried income piles up so fast he can't
dissipate it.
/, is this picture Of human contrasts
that Frank p Walsh. chairman Of the
Industrial Relations Commission. who
gave his views on the commissions rec
concentrations here to-day. had always
IN mind when he Endorsed the plan for
conhscating huge fortunes and applying
them TO public welfare.
The rich. who compose about per
cent Of the population, Mr.. Walsh said,
have so per cent of the country's
wealth The middle class. or 80 per
cent Of the people. have about 35 per
cent. while the poor. who make up IS
per cent of the inhabitants, have only
about 3 per cent Of the wealth.
These figures show" he said. that
with a reasonably equitable division Of
wealth the entire population should
occupy the position of comfort and Sc
curity which we characterize as middle
class. Even these figures do not show
the extent TO which the actual concen-
tration has gone The largest private
fortune in the United States estimated
at Sl.OOO,OOO,OO0. is equivalent TO the
aggregate wealth of 100000 of the
people classed as poor"
Plan Would Go Far
Whether his plan would bring about
he needed result. Mr.. Walsh could not
70 positive. Bat he is convinced that
the commissions main plan would 80
far toward distributing the wealth of
the country among those VINO should
participate in the proceeds OF their
work.
"The highest priced skilled workers.
he said. "such as railroad engineers, get
from 81 800 70 $4,000 a year, but out
side Of these few well paid occupations
wages are very low. Between a third
and fourth Of the male factory workers
get less than $40 a week, and about
half the women workers get less
than So.
AT the other end are massed for
tunes piling up so fast their owners,
who never earned them, cannot spend
them This, with unemployment and
the denial Of opportunity 70 earn
living. is a primo cause OF the burning
-esentment and the rising feeling or
Unrest among the workers.
"But while unjust distribution OF
cealth is a matter Of degree, unem-
llovment is an absolute actually from
HIGH there is no relief but soul-killinP
rime and STORYTELLING charity. 70 be
orccd 70 accept employment on condi-
6ns prohibitive Of decent livelihood
indeed hardship. but TO be unable
get work on any terms whatever, is
position Of black despair"
Even during d normal year, he con-
nucd. hundreds Of thoNSands Of men
&c unable TO get work largely because
the unequal distribution Of income.
at leaves the great masses Of the
opulation unable 10 purchase products
hich they create, while a few have
.lch a superhuity they cannot nor
llv consume IT," he said. THE basic
ustries supply work only four-ffths
nc time, and then the people are
Die TO provide for themselves the
y products Of those industries.
MANY basic industries. for instance
bi1inc and steel corporations, operate
flores, pay in scrip. provide tenement
Houses for their employees, and when
he companys price for all this IS de-
lucted from the workers pay little or
tothing remains.
Unrest Is Widespread.
"The conviction that the wealth OF
he country and the income produced
through toll is distributed without re-
ard 10 Justice is as widespread as It
deep seated II is found among all
taeses Of workers The day laborer
no at the end Of the weeks back
leaking toll finds that he has less
an enough 20 feed his family IS
bublv resentful that others who have
bne nothing live in ease.
NJ AT the bottom, though. there IS the
a,e fundamental controlling ideal that
ncomc should be received FOR service
I'd for service only. In fact, there is
such relation, and he who serves
I'D Il or not at all may receive most"
mother great cause OF unrest. Mr..
hlsh declared. lies in the denial Of
tess 10 land and natural resources
In when they are unused or nOn-pro-
ktive except al a price and under
Editions which are practically pro
Gtive. The land laws are a fnilure,
{ lsaid; they lead 70 nothing but lies,
fling and stealing. while the people
left.
In. Walsh said that the commission
been advised by counsel that the
70 confscate by an inheritance tax
OF an estate above a million dollars
perfectly legal.
During the Civil War and in 1895"
asserted, "such graded inheritance
rs were enacted. and were sustained
The Supreme Court, which held that
\ inheritance tax was not direct
within the meaning Of the Con-
.1tion.
Inheritance Tax a Remedy.
am aware that similar taxes are
I'd in various states, but the con
with such state taxes seems 20
presented little difficulty during
terod in which the tax Of 1898
I'm ! effect. Under any circum-
the matter could he readily
"a by having the Federal gov
nj collect the entire tax and
part 10 the states on an
Die basis There is no legisla-
hich could be passed by Con-
he immediate and ultimate ef-
4 which would be more salu-
would more greatly assist in
NJ the existing spirit Of un-
card 20 using the money for
welfare, such as the extension
cation. Mr. Walsh had in mind
where tuition and textbooks
be free. whore students could
heir own living and learn trades
as professions. and where PEG