New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-27
"Conscription of Wealth
A Principle Recognized and Now
Being Carried Out By Law
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Like Rose Pastor Stokes, am radi-
cal. and 50 do not look upon wealth and its
privileges as sacrosanct But also am
stickler for a simple, clear and definite use
of words, and hence / must protest against
this loose. indefinite and, to the ear of the
common man, misleading use OF the phrase
Transcription of wealth"
What Mrs. Stokes has in mind by its en-
ployment can surmise, but her meaning is
not set forth by her language All taxation
is CONSUMPTION of property. The laws OF all
states recognize the rightfulness of taking
property by CONSUMPTION. SO the principle
il admitted but reading Mrs. Stokes's appeal
and the appeals of many others the unin-
itiated would suppose that the principle Is
denied in theory and practice the world over
Graduated inheritance, income and excess
or war-profit taxes carry the admission
with added emphasis into the domains OF
great wealth. The principle aid practice OF
consumption by taxation being recognized by
state and federal Legislation and admins
tration, why keep on talking and writing as
though it were not, thus still further con-
fusing the uninstructed and stimulating in
them a discomfort and rebellion based on
cultivated Misunderstanding?
The principle of the CONSUMPTION of prop
erty and the principle of its graduated in
crease in the ratio of wealth increase al
ready being grounded in the law, why not
devote ourselves to a scientific study Of the
application of these principles instead of
appealing to uniformed passion by talking
as though what is so is not so, as though
these principles are not now imbedded in
statutes and put into effect in administra-
ticn? The one question now is, How FAR
shall the CONSUMPTION of wealth be carried
so that it shall be an aid in the prosecution
of the war, and with the least injustice to
all?
This question is to be answered not by
denunciation and appeals to class feeling,
but by painstaking study of conditions in
all industries, from farming to munition
making Taxation does not end with this
levy, so we must always try to know before
we clap it on whether this tax or that tax
of day will or will not annihiate the bust
ness we shall want to tax next year or the
year after. This is the issue, a practical
one, which only reason and experience can
solve. The issue is not shall we conscript
wealth-that is beyond question and has
been for Thousands of years-but how much
shall we conscript and in what way or ways
Does not Mrs. Stokes realize that do
not have unlimited conscription of men;
that we select leaving at home many classes
who can better serve the state in their ac-
customed vocations than they could serve it
in the trenches; that to send them to the
front would be a frghtful extravaganza, a
most foolish waste? In like manner we
must have selective CONSUMPTION of wealth.,
and tc make that selection wisely an ear
nest and careful study of facts is requisite.
That will raise taxes, while mere emo
tional outcry for transcription OF wealth"
will raise more hades than taxes.
EDWIN C. WALKER.
New York, Oct. %, 1917.