, 1925-01-12

900 ,oG6 EymuAAlum NAz p<
rlvaIIing ancient Rome, or many
other Of tho extravagnnces Of that
institution. Tho tax levy that we
pay to u the state government Is
now IA per cent OF the total amount
raised by taxation and % per cent
goes to the schools.
Freak Legislation TO reach some
Individual that is still solvent is
continually devised. One year per-
haps some rich man with accumu-
lnfed fortune Of several generations
moves irto tho state, buys up some
ranch that come sturdy ranchman
who has been taxed into bank
ruptcy has to sell, owing TO the
fact that In his good years 5 to so
per cent Of his income went to h
government and local taxes, leav-
ing him nothing for the inevitable
lean years but to go to his local
banker with his neighbore for
money to buy feed and pay his taxes.
until the next lean year when, 10
and behold. he goes to the banker
again. he sees a little sign on the
door reading, closed, in the hands
of q. receiver When this new man
IN with the outside money.
he is an immediate mark for freak
legislation, such as the excessive
Inheritance tax. He. like all the
rest must pay taxes on everything
he buys, builds or acquires. and in
addition to that must part with
everything he has left when he dies
A reasonable inheritance tax Is all
right, but when It is 5 or 10 per
cent of q large fortune, Il Is a very
serious matter TO Immediately raise
hat amount without sacrificing or
very seriously Gripping that mans
fortune
I'VE have never. to my knowl-
edge, had but one very rich man
who ever came into the state TO
gain a residence. to live. and remain
one of US. This man was OF great
value to his state and country from
a purely business standpoint as vel.
as from every other view. He was
a scholar with the highest ideals.
and a philanthropist. who 1 am in
formed and believe CAV away al
most his entire income; a man who
almost unsolicited. gave to this
county for its Memorial hospital
$780, 900. AZ soon as he heard Of n
move for THE hospital construction.
no came here, satisfied himself that
II was e necessary institution that
required, In addition to the tax bur
den on our local people. outside
help, and Immediately put up this
liberal contribution. This man has
contributed large sums to various
charitable institutions. schools and
churches all over the state, yet he
was driven out of the state by
demagoeue legislation aimed obso-
lutely at him through tho excessive
Inheritance tax upon largo fortunes.
'"The fallacy OF trying TO take
away too large an mount rom a
big estate. thereby driving such
men into other states where laws
are fairer. or into states where
there is no inheritance tax law AT
all, such as Florida, ia SO obviously
foolish az to require no further
comment The further fallacy OF
taking away IN taxes too large ar
amount from the reward Of indus
try and enterprise when we all
know that two thirds OF II Will be
wasted anyway. instead OF lettins
1t 20 into the upbuilding OF the
state in good years, or used &c
fortify a man from bankruptcy In
bad years. Is absolutely ruinous-
The federal government has taken
nearly 100000 in IL In one
year out of Wyoming. There arc
only about II 900 people out of our
$500 population and about $50
corporations who have to pay this
tax. The burdens laid upon cor
porations by adverse legislation
both governmental and state, are
so great that many Of them have
been forced into bankruptcy. All
the political demagogue thinks or
talks about is Corporations az
though a corporation was some In
tangible mint OF money to be plum
dered. instead OF the corporate saw
ings of your thrifty. saving citi-
zen. 1t il not appalling that $40
900 per day is used by the citizens
Of Wyoming in taxes for state,
county and school expense. exclu-
sivs of bonded indebtedness, exclu-
sive of city tax, and exclusive of
81. 100000 paid by the federal gov
eminent toward u roads. Is II
any surprise that half of our banks
and most of our people are broke?
The taxes as they r today,
with people roaring for more. big