Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-02
The Confederate Tax Bill of 1884.

The COnfederaLo lax Dill VI loof.
A, Congress win assemble in May, this bill can then
IA revised and Ia errors corrected The difficulty
of framing perfect bill constitutes no argument in
favor Of scquesc ng in and adherpg to serious errors
We viii not discuss the general provisions Of the bill,
but content ourselves with referring at present. to two
Of s defects. The bill imposes tax OF Ave per cent
upon all solvent credits without allowing the tax
payer to deduct the amour. of his debts from the ag-
gregats Of his credit. This Is palpsbly unjust II q
man holds credits to the amount Of $4,000 and owes
debts amounting to ss 900. he should be taxed not
upon the oO0 but upon SIS 900. The other IS 900
s debt and ought not therefore, TO be taxed part
of the property Of the debtor. Nearly every man, no
natter how wealthy he may be, owes money, more or
ls.s and should be allowed to deduct the amount Of
his debts from the aggregate Of his credits. If the
oath Of the xpayer canno. be relied upon to prove
the amount Of his debts, his oath Is equally unreliable
10 prove the amount Of his credits. As the tax bill
passed Congress- every holder of credits is liable to
Just taxation unless he is fortunate to nothing
Further comment upon this clause Of the bill is unne'
eessary.
The bill imposes q tax of FIVE per cent "upon
the value Of pro party, real, personal and mixed, OF
svsry kind aud description not hereinafter exempted
taxed at different ratio" These terms are very com.
prehsnsve. The subjects exempted from taxation by
the bill or taxed at different rate than Ave per cent,
are not numerous and it appears that the new Con-
federate AZ bill imposes tax upon great many sub
iects which have never before been taxed in
try. Unless Congress does, in Nay next, amend the
bill and specify particularly what kinds Of prep
srty should be taxed and what shall be exempted from
taxation, We apprshend that the people will be much
Dyed in preparing lists of property Of eTery kind
and description" Isnd, slaves. horses, and other
plantation slock including cattle, sheep and hogs
bank stocks and other public securities, bonds and
credits carriages, bugges 10 clocks, watches, panos
plate furniture H., the usual subjects Of taxation,
and tax Of 6vs per cent on the ordinary subjects
would bring probably not less than eco millions Of
revenue. We know not tee views and expectations OF
the las: Congress- but doutt whether Congress in
tended by It's tax bill, to impose tar upon many SUBJ
jects embraced property of every Kind and des-
cfiptiOn."
All Libraries, public and private-an paintings and
portraits pencils and peIknives scissors and specaces
and all wearing apparel, are embraced by the word
property but such kinds OF property to be taxed
under the tax bill Of 1854 Are the ladies Of cities
TO be taxed upon their little canary birds and cages
their books OF musichsir minerals and sheilsto be
found in their pArlorsS Are the country physicians to
be faxed on account Of their medicines and saddle
bags as well as Their books and their incomesf Is the
farmer to pay taxes upon his axes and hoes his carts
and wagons, his brooms and beehives? Is his wfeto
pay taxes upon eggs, chickens, ducks, &s, well as
upon the dog who protects them against the thes Is
the carpenter to pay taxes upon his and plane; the
shoemaker upon his avis, his lasts aud thread; the
shos-black upon his blackng and brushes If these
and other kindred subjects to be taxed then the
tax payers will have long cateehsm to answer when
the assessors call for the lists Of ell taxable property
Is it necessary to pay the eight dollars per
day foE listing such property We have jus. enumera
ted and causing much petty annoyance aud trouble
TO the COED people Of our Conlederscys We think
not We have not heard what Interpretation has been
given to the Tax Bill BY the Secretary Of the Treasury
but we trust that he viii enghtGn us and inform
the public as TO the meaning Of the bill
By the way, Mr.. Commissioner Allen, In his nstruc-
lions TO the assessors directed that in ascertnng the
value Of bank shares &c. the assessors should value
them according to their value .at the time of their
ssssmsnt; that IS, tie l7h Of RsSrSary, 1854" We
imagine that there il here on the part of
the printer Of Ne. Allen. The TI Bill passed
on the l7b of February 1884, and the could
not make the assessment on that day. Bank shares,
TO- are to be taxed according their market value in
the neg lborhood where sold and in the currency gen.
orally used at the time of assessmsnt Bank shares,
80 have yet been assessed and We should like to
What authority Mr. Allen has for saying that they
shall be assessed at their market value on the
l7h February, 1854. The Tax Bill does not, in our
opinion authoriEs such according to prices
prevailing thAtday, when all kinds Of property we're
nAAted by 9 deprecated currency.