The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-09-24

medium of stock-ownership, shared in
part with others; but they are none
invisible industrial principalities are
greater menace to the welfare of
the nation, than would be equal pow
er consolidated into numerous petty
kingdoms in different parts of the
country. They might then be visual
lied and guarded against,-now their
influence invisibly permeates and con
trolls every phase of life and industry.
1.-The king can do no wrong not
only because he is above the law, but
because every function is either per-
| formed or responsibility assumed by
his ministers and agents. Similarly
our Rockefellers, Morgans, Tricks,
Vanderbilts and Astors can do no in
dustrial wrong, because all effective
action and direct responsibility is
shifted from them to the executive Of
cials who manage American industry
QUOTES ROCKEFELLER
The smilitude, indeed, runs even
to mental attitude and phase. Com
pare these two statements:
John d. Rockefeller, Jr.-'My ap
probation of the conditions sur
rounding wage-earners and my sym
pathy with every endeavor to bet
ter these conditions are as strong
as those of any man
Louis XVI-There is none but
you and me that has the peoples in
terest at heart (Il ny a que vous
ct moi qui aimions lie peuple.O
'The families of these industrial
princes are already we'll established
and are knit together not only by com
mercial alliances, but by a network of
inter-marriages which assure har
mOnious action whenever their com
mon interest is threatened.
effective action by congress is re
quired, therefore, not only to readjust
on a basis commensurate in some
measure to the service performed, the
existing inequalities in the distribu-
ton of wealth and income, but also
to check the growth of an hereditary
aristocracy, which is not only foreign
to every conception of American gov
eminent, but menacing to the welfare
of the people and the existence of the
nation as a democracy.
THE objects to be attained in max
| ing this readjustment are: to reduce
the swollen, unearned fortunes of
those who have a superfluity; to raise
| the underpaid masses to a level of de-
cent and comfortable living; and at
! the same time to accomplish this on a
basis which will, in some measure,
approximate the just standard of in
come proportional to service"
INHERITANCE TAX A REMEDY
As a remedy for the unequal distri-
button of wealth and income, the re-
port urges ''the enactment of an in
heritance tax so graded that while
making generous provision for the
support of dependents ana the educa-
ton of minor children, it shall leave
: no large accumulation of wealth to
pass into hands which had no share in
its production" The report suggests
that limit of one million dollars be
fixed on the amount that shall pass
to the heirs. 1t recommends that the
revenue from this tax be reserved by
the federal government for three prin.
, cipal purposes:
l. The extension of education.
2 The development of other i'm.
portant social services which should
properly be performed by the nation
which are discussed in detail else
where.
!, 3. Development in cooperation with
states and municipalities of great con
structive works, such as road build
ing, irrigation and reforestation, which
would materially increase the eff
cheney and welfare of the entire ma
ton.
There is no legislation says the
report, which could be passed by con
gress, the immediate and ultimate eff
fects of which would be more salutary
or would more greatly assist in TEN.
pering the existing spirit of unrest"