Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-30
The Passage of the Tax Bill.


The tax bill, which has been under considera-
ton for so long time, passed both houses of
Congress, by decisive vote, Monday afternoon
last.
The taxes imposed are of the following differ
ent classes, viz:
First-A tax on persons and corporations en-
gagged in certain pursuits, for licenses
Second-A tax on manufactured articles, pro-
ducts, &C., to be paid by the manufacturer or
producer when he sells such articles OF products.
Third-A duty on incomes Of individuals, rail-
road and steamboat companies. public officers
and others.
Fourth-Duties to be paid for stamps, which
the bill requires to be affixed 10 certain papers,
medicines, documents, &c.
Notwithstanding the publicity which has been
given to the provisions Of the tax bill since it
first introduced in the House of Represen-
tatives, there still seems to be some misunder-
standing in the minds of many concerned relative
to their duties and obligations. For instance, we
have heard it stated that large proportion of
the manufacturers are under the impression that
the tax of three per cent. on the value OF their
fabrics is to be levied only on the amount of
profit arising from the sale thereof. Such, how
ever, is not the fact The duties are to be levied
the entire value of the manufactured articles.
The manufacturers, in addition to this duty, are
required to pay, in common with all other per.
sons who receive over six hundred dollars per
annum, a tax on the amount of income in excess
of that sum, the rate of taxation increasing as
the amount of income increases. The former
duty will not, in reality, be paid entirely by the
manufacturer, but will be derived mostly from
the consumer, who will pay it in the enhanced
price of the article consumed The manufac-
turer will scarcely be able to receive back, under
the present rules of trade, all Of the taxes he
pays on the products of his mills, and will thus
be required TO contribute largely towards the
support of the Government.
Ii is the custom for manufacturers to dispose
OF their goods to customers who agree to make
payment therefor at the expiration of three, six
nine months But the taxes are to be paid to
the Government at the time the goods are sold or
delivered for consumption or sale, and hence the
manufacturer will be deprived of the use of the
money expended for material and Of that paid for
taxes. In this view of the subject it would ap-
pear that the burden OF taxation will bear heavily
on the class of which We have spoken. The ef-
feet of the provision requiring payment OF the
taxes on goods at the time of delivery will be
either 10 increase to the consumer the price TO be
paid by an amount considerable in excess of that
which has been paid for taxes, or to work a revO-
luton in trade by inducing manufacturers to sell
only to cash customers.
The tax bill is to go into effect on the LIST of
August. large portion of the people of the
Northern States will be called on for the income
tax, concerning the payment of which an errone-
Gus impression is prevalent. Ii is not to be paid
Immediately, on the income and profits Of the
year already passed, but will become due on the
lst of May, 1868, and is to be levied on the in
come for the year preceding. A limit is placed
to the time in which the tax shall be in operation,
the date fixed for it to cease being 1866.
In the passage of the bill through the Senate
change was made, important both TO the tax pay
ing community and to those seeking Offices The
amount of compensation fixed for assessors Zone
of the principal classes of oficers) by the House
was three dollars per day, and one dollar for each
hundred names on the tax lists furnished by them
to the collectors. This sum was increased to five
dollars per day. the commission on the names re-
naming the same. The compensation allowed
these officers will amount 10 a large item in the
national expenditures; for if there should be but
$4,000 taxable persons in each assessment district
it weuld reach, for each one, the sum of $4,000
per annum.
The tax -gatherer, from whose presence we
have heretofore been free, will soon be in our
midst Were the object for which the taxes are
levied less patriotic, the people might feel OPP
pressed by the burden. As it is, but few will be
found mean enough to grudge furnishing their
mite towards the support of the Government and
the punishment of traitors.-N Y Herald.