Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-04-28
NO. XLVIII.
THE CONFEDERATE TAx.

OF the Confederate tax Bill. The bill in fn,, .,
cupies thirty pages of closely printed matte,
so that it is impossible for us TO nubl;s
the whole bill. The synopsis will;give our read
ers just iGea of its character. and will o;v
] them sufficient assurance that those ,vho e..
been calling for heauy tax will be amply graft
hed. Though this bill might have been improves
and whilst it is not such as will give uniyerss
satisfaction, yet, as it is useless to sscrv owe
split milk we hope the people will prepare +,
meet Its acquisitions with promptness and will
llngness. Those at home shouldlremember that
though they are taxed heavily, the soldiers or
the field are taxed more grievously still--,b.
former pay their taxes with their property. and
the latter with their hearts, blood.
Though the poor,in ordinary times, grieye and
'anelt IN consequence OF their poverty, this bill
enables them to appreciate how fortunate their
condition is; for whilst their wealthy neigbbors
are borne down by the heavy burden of taxation.
they have no burden Of a similar character To
bear. We repeat the expressions of our hone
that the property holders will pay their taxes
willingly and promptly as patriotic duty. The
synopsis is as follows
Section levies tax of eight per cent. on all
naval stores, salt, wines, spirituous liquors, to-
0acco, manufactured Or unmanufactured, cotton.
wool, nour, sugar, molasses, rice, and other ag-
rlcultural products, held or owned On the first of
July next, and not necessary for family consump-
tlon during the year 1868, and grown or produ-
ced prior to 1868. Also, tax of one per cent.
on all moneys, bank notes or other currency on
nano or deposit on the 1st of July next; and all
credits on which the interest has not been paid.
and not employed in business the income of
winch Is Gaxed. Moneys outside the Confeder-
acy are TO De valued according to the current ex-
change in Confederate notes.
Section z requires that all persons engaged or
ABOUT 10 engage IN pursuits named in section
register themselves within sixty days. and on
the lst OF January of each year, paying at the
time their taxes.
Section doubles the specific tax for failure to
register for every thirty days offailure.
Section makes provision for transfer of bus
mess, without additional tax.
Section lays tax of FIVE HUNDRED DOL
LARS on bankers; banks are excepted a tax on
auctioneers of Fifty dollars, and two and a half
per cent. ON gross amount of sales, except for
sales OF stock or securities for money. the tax on
which is one-tourth of one per cent Auction
sales Tor dealers IN business registered and tax
ed, and at their place of business, not taxed
Wholesale dealers in liquor tax of two hundred
dollars and five per cent. On gross sales. Sales
over three gallons considered as wholesale.
Retail dealers in liquors, one hundred dollars
tax, and ten per cent. on gross sales
Other retail dealers (those who sell in less
than whole original piece or package,) pay a
tax of fifty dollars and two and half per cent.
on gross sales A mechanic who sells proceeds
OF labor OF himself and family, exempt from tax.
Wholesale dealers pay two hundred dollars
tax, and two and half per cent on gross sales
Pawnbrokers are taxed two hundred dollars
Distillers pay two hundred dollars, and twenty
per cent. on gross sales. Distilers of fruit for
ninety days pay sixty dollars, &c. Brewers pay
one hundred dollars, and two and talf per
cent. on gross sales.
Hotels, eating houses, &C., whose annual val
ue or rental is $40, 1000 or more, pay an annual
tax OF five hundred dollars; annual value of S.
200 and under $4,000, pays $500; annual value
OF 81 800. pays tax of $500 annual rent of
; 600, pays SlOO; and under ST 200, pays $50.
Boarding houses in which there are six or more
boarders, deemed an eating house.
Brokers pay a tax of $500.
Commission merchants pay two hundred dol
lars and two and half per cent. on gross sales.
Tobacconists fifty dollars and two and half per
cent. on gross sales.
Theatres pay $500, and five per cent. of gross
receipts. Bowling alleys and billiard rooms pay
forty dollars for each alley or table.
Livery stables pay fifty dollars. Cattle brokers
pay fifty dollars and two and half per cent. on
gross sales. Butchers and bakers, fifty dollars.
and one per cent. on gross sales. Peddlers fifty
dollars and two and half per cent on gross
TONER'S fifty dollars and two and half per cent.
On gross sales. Lawyers and Physicians fftv
dollars.
Section requires those taxed on gross sales
to make returns thereof to the assessor on the
5Oth OF June next, and every three months there
after.
Section imposes tax of one per cent. ON
salaries over Thousand and not exceeding tif-
teen hundred dollars and two per cent for ex-
cess over fifteen hundred except persons in mil
ltary or naval service,
Section provides for ascertaining incomes
and profits OF other than saIaried persons. From
the gross incomes thus ascertained are to be de-
aue,eu al the actual costs, expenses in carrying
on tne business the repairs of houses, machin-
cry and the like. The annual value of property
OF every description, occupied, or not hired by
tne owner, Is to be counted as part of his in
come. A nett annual income, not exceeding
SoOO, Is not taxed at all from $500 to $500
pays hve per cent. tax from ST 500 to $4,000
pays i've per cent. for the first ST. 500. and ten
per cent. on the excess ]; from So, 900 to SIS, 1000
pays ten per cent; from So, 900 to ten thousand
pays twelve and half per cent over SIOO OCO
pays fifteen per cent.
JOINT STOCK companies and corporations paw
one tenth OF their annual earnings if their prof
us are over ten and under twenty per cent, then
-elgnth snail De paid as a tax if over twenty
per cent. one-sixth.
Ssction provides for settling disputes as To
annual income =
oection III imposes tax of ten per centum on
all pronts made during 1862, by the sale of -four,
corn, bacon, pork, oats, hay, rice, iron salt,
sugar, molasses, butter, woolen cloths, shoes,
Doots, blankets and cotton cloths, except by per-
sons In the due course of the regular retail bus-
mess.
section III provides that each farmer reserve
nifty ousnels each of sweet and Irish potatoes, a
hundred bushels of the corn and fifty of the
wheat, produced the present year, shall deliver
TO the confederate Government one tenth of the
remaining wheat, rye, corn, oats, buckwheat,
barley, rice, cured hay and fodder, potatoes, su
gar, moiasses, cotton, wool and tobacco. the
prooucts OF the present year. Also, one-tenth
Oh the peas and beans, twenty bushels excepted;
proVioes ior estimating the crops and delivering
ana receiving the Governments one-tenth at
some depot not more than eight miles from the
place OF production. No income tax is levied on
those VINO thus pay tax in kind.
Section IL provides for receiving one-tenth of
the pork raised, in the form of bacon, at sixty
POUNDS lor one hundred of pork. Also, for q
Tax OF one per cent on the value of all cattle,
horses, mules, not Ised in cultivation. The
pr0uts on oeeves shall pay an income tax.
Inc remaining sections of the bill contain pro-
VISIONS Ior giving effect to the preceding. The
act IS to remain in force for two years after the
present session of Congress.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
CAMP WINDER, 1
CAROLINE COUNTY, April 10Th, 1868. {
MR.. EDIroR.-Allow me through your columns
to thank Mrs. SARAH S. CARSON, and Miss ANNE
Il. HARRIS, OF ssOld Providence Aid Society
| of Augusta county, for generous contribution
~ Oi n fnr h.