The southerner., 1864-04-02
From the Petersburg Express.


! THE TAX BILL.
The new Confederate Tax bill is SC
important a document, coming home
heavily, as it does, to the business and
bosoms of the people, that explauato tory
notice of it will be serviceable at the
present time to every body. 1t is not
an easy matter to understand it thor
oughly without repeated and careful
perusals, and even then there are parts
of it that require elucidation which
minds experienced in the examination
and solution of iatr;cate points that are
frequently to be found in such docu-
mcn's, can best give. The present law
is not free from antiquities. Already
doubts have arisen as to the construc-
ton to be put upon the first paragraph
OF section 3rd, in which a tax of FIVE
per cent. upon the amohnt of all gold
and silver coin, gold dust, gold or sill
YER bullion, &c. The question turns
upon the sense Of the word, "an,ount"
as used in its connection here, the
word "Da(ue" being previously used
throughout the oher sections. This
particular point is briefly discussed by
the Richmond Enquirer of Saturday,
and we are incInel to concur in the
opinion of that journal for its reasons
in support of it, that srhis section takes
D per cent of the oneount-not of the
value of the amount, out of the kind
that is, 8 per cent. in gold and silver
of the gold and silver"
The lst section imposes a tax of s
per cent upon the value of all kinds of
property, real, personal and mixed
and on the value of gold and silver
wares and plate, jewels, jewelry aud
watches, a tax of 10 per cent. The
tax on the value of property employed
in agriculture is to be credited with the
value of the tax in kind, provided that
such credit shall not exceed 5 per cent.
The value of the property taxed in
this section is to be, according to the
assessment of 1860, except in cases
where land, slaves, cotton or tobacco |
have been purchased since the lst of
January, 1862, in which cases said
property is to be assessed at the prices
actually paid for the Same by the owner.
scctioa I'd lays tax of 5 per cent
upon the value of all shares or interests
held in any bank, banking company or
association, canal navigafion, importing
md exporting, insurance, manufac,ar-
ag, telegraph, express, rail road and
Try dock companies, and all other joint
stock companies of every kind-the
value to be assessed on the basis of
heir present market value in the neigh
oorhood where assessed, in such cur
:ency as may be in general use then.
Section 3rd imposes a. tax of 5 per
cent. upon the anaouut of all gold and
silver coin, gvld dust, gold aud silver
'ullion, whether held by banks or
heir corporations or individuals, an d
lpon all monies held abroad, or upon
he amount of all bills of exchange
irawn therefor-upon all solvent cred
is, all bank bills and all other papers
ssued as currency, exclusive of non,
interest bearing Confederate Treasury
notes, and not employed in registered
business, the income derived from
which is taxed 5 per cent.
Section 4th lays tax of 10 per
cent. upon all profits made in buvinp
md selling the various articles ennme.
:ated thereon at any time between the
lst January, 1868, and the LIST Janna
~ 1868, an addition to the tax upon
'uoh profits as income under the tax
olll Of April oath, ls6a--ana on tho |
excess of profits beyond 25 Der cent
made during the years lS63L64 bv
any bank OF joint stock company. ot
description, whether incorn,
'a'eo or not, tax of 25 per cent.
oe'tlon 9th, exempts from t,.at;on
s'' OF the Value of $500 for eve
y mead Of a family, and also for eaeh
n'net child the further value Of sid, 1'
ND Tor each son engaged in the mil;
oe naVai service, Or who las died