The farmer and mechanic., 1915-08-31
90 Correspondence
Washington Post.

\ limit OF Sl.00,O00 on the fortune
that any man may leave to his heirs
is the remedy for the social and in
dustrial unrest in the United States
suggested by Chairman Frank p |
walsh and John Il. Lennon, James |
O'Connell. and John b. Garretson, |
three Of his associates in the Federal |
commission on industrial relations
The five other members of the |
commission do not advocate this spe-
Cidc limitation of inheritance. Nor do
they hold that the present social and
Industrial unrest is primarily due to
the unequal distribution of wealth.
bat rather that it is due to the fail
ure to administer the labor laws and
to the popular distrust of the muni-
cipal state and national government
Would Tax Large Fortunes.
70 remedy the conditions Of social
and industrial unrest the other MEM
hprS of the commission. Mrs Florence
!. Hartman, Prof. Commons and
VI Massrs. Weinstock, Ballard and Ash
ton would establish permanent in
duStrial commission which would be
supported by an inheritance tax on
large fortunes, this tax to be gradual
cd from l per cent on the excess of a
$4,000 fortune left to direct heirs to
> per cent on fortune more than
81 .000,0 900.
Rockefeller. Jr.. Like Louis XVI
The mental attitude of John d.
Rockefeller. Jr., is likened to that of
Louis XVI. King of France. in the re-
port which Chairman Frank p
Walsh and Commissioners Lennon,
O'Connell and Garretson will submit
to Congress.
Elsewhere in the report as illustra-
uons of certain widespread evils in
the industrial world are references to
the conditions in Colorado. where Mr.
-, 81, ,,.Te lar ha into
Refuse to Sign Report.
1t was because of this attack upon
Mr.. Rockefeller that Mrs. Florence J.
Hartman, Prof. John r. Commons
Harris Weinstock, S. Thurston Bal
lard and Richard H. Ashton refused
to sign the report recommended by
Basil NJ. Manly, the commissions di-
rector of research and investigation.
The minority report declares that 6
condition of feudaiSm exists in the
mining regions of Colorado, but i
decries any attempt to hold respon
siblc any single individual. 1t EN-
phaSizes the fact that the whole stu
alton in Colorado, West Virginia an(
other places where industrial warfar'
has existed is due to a system which
cannot be remedied by the publ
abuse of an individual.
Iikcns Rockefeller to King.
The report signed by Chairma
O'Connell and Garretson says directl
of Mr. Rockefeller:
The king can do no wrong nc
only because he is above the law bu
because every function is either per
formed or responsibility assumed
his ministers and agents Sirnilarl
our Rockefeilers Morgans, Frick
Nanderbilts and Astors can do no ir
dustrial wrong because all effectiy
action and direct responsibility al
shifted from them 70 the executiy
officials who manage American IL
duStry.
The similitude indeed runs eve
to mental attitude and phrase. Con
pare these two statements:
John d. Rockefeller, Jr.-'My al
probation of the conditions SurrOunt
ing wage earners and my sympatf
with every endeavor to better the!
conditions are as strong as those
any man.
Louis XVI Also Quoted.
Louis XVl-'There is none but yt
and me that has the peoples intere
al heart I'll ny a que vous ct m
qui aimions lie peupleD.
The families of these industri
princes are already well establish
and are knit together not only
commercial alliances but by ne
work Of intermarriages which assn
harmonious action whever their cor
mon interest is threatened.
Effective action by Congress is +
Quired therefore not only to readjr
on a basis commensurate in sor
measure to the service performed t
existing inequalities in the distrib
tion of wealth and income but also
check the growth of a hereditary 6
iStocracy which is not only foreign
every conception of American COVER
ment but menacing to the welfare
the people and the existence OF t
nation as democracy.
Concentration of Wealth.
Fhe report summarizes eNlder
showing incomes totaling at the lie;
S3o,0oO.000 year, while DetWe
one-fourth and one-third of M
workers in factories and mines eis
teen years of age and over earn i
than so per week and only ab'
one-tenth earn more than $2o