Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-10
DECLARES PEOPLE
J WANT ESTATE TAX
La Toilette Pictures Proposed
J. Repeal as Measure to
& Help Wealthy.

Picturing the proposed repeal Of the
Federal estate tax as step merely
in the interest of the wealthy. Senator
Robert NJ La Toilette. il. of Wis
consin in the Senate today predicted
that a day OF reckoning would come
on which those now in power would
feel the weight Of the displeasure of
the people.
The Wisconsin Senator was speak
ing to the Senate finance committee
amendment. wiping out the estate tax
provisions in the tan bill. which under
unanimous consent agreement is 10
be voted on at O'Clock this afternoon
1t has been predicted that the repeal
will be successful so far as the Sen
ate is concerned, hui that when the
bill goes to conference the House will
insist upon the rest Grafton Of tax and
will be successful in the end
Not in Party Platforms.
After referring to the fact that nei-
Their the Republican nor the Demo
cratic platforms of 1924 made any ref
erenCe 10 repeal Of the estate taxes.
Senator La Toilette said that Fresi-
dent Coolidge soon after his election.
had assailed the estate tax as socialiS.
tic nd urged its repeal. He quoted the
President as Sa wing Il do not believe
that the Government should seek
social legislation in the guise of tax
alton" and also IF we are 10 adopt
socialism it should he presented to
the people of this country as socialism
and not under the Cuise of law to
collect revenue.
Senator La Toilette declared that
the estate tax could not properly he
termed socialism" He quoted econo-
miStS in Supprt Of his contention
among them Prof. Patterson and Prof.
f. R 4. Seligman, the latter of Co
lumbia University.
"Obsession of Coolidge"
1T seems To he an ohsession with
President Coolidge said Senator "a
Toilette, that prosperity is dependent
on the favor and good will of or
ganized wealth. and that. moneyed in
terests must not he disturbed or of
Tended. He feels no menace to our
institutions in great fortunes properly
managed His worship Of business,
his fear of the effect of interference
with the workings of the monopoly
system. cause him to 60 great
lengths"
Senator La Toilette called attention
to the fact that in 1912 the Progress
sive party platform declared for a
graduation inheritance tax. The
Democratic textbook of 1915 ap-
proved the estate tax.
IF the Federal inheritance tax is
socialiStic,' said Senator La Toilette,
then ii had its origin early in the
history of this Republic. There was
the first Revolutionary War tax from
1877 to 1902. 1t was again inauEu-
rated during the Civil War and also
In the Spanish-American War. II is
not. however, a war plan of taxation
The present tax was enacted on Sep
TENDER s. 1915. 1t was not enacted
at this time s A means of providing
revenue for war purposes. The funda-
mental purpose underlying the enact
ment of the estate tax was to re-
strain in some mea sure the growth Of
estates and the ever-increa sing con
centration of wealth in the United
States. 1t was upon this broad ground
of social justice that the progressive
Democrats and progressive Repuh-
hcans Joined hands in securing the
original enactment of this tax in 1916
The estate tax. Senator La Toilette
pointed out, provides a means of
reaching fortunes swollen through
war protiteering. He predicted that
If the estate tax was repealed. the
States would soon follow suit. in an
effort to draw wealthy residents just
az Florida has done. H quoted sew
eral State governors in support Of
this contention.