The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-03-30
of Wool Growers
Association.

of Wool Growers
Association.
At meeting Of the Wool Growers Asso.
citation of South Eastern Iowa, held at the
city of Ottumwa on the 23d day Of March
1865, the meeting was called to order by the
President.
Proceedings Of various meetings read.
Subject proposed for discussion, ScAB in
sheep. After free expression OF views on
the subject by the President, Mr.. Langin,
Mr.. Carver, Mr.. Wilson and others. it was
on motion of Mr.. Langin,
Resolced, That this Association publish
some of the remedies used for curing Scab
in sheep, and also an Abstract Of the laws
on the subject Of diseased sheep running at
large
FooT ROT was next proposed, for discus.
sion by Mr. Dudley. Remarks were made
on this subject by the President at some
length, ard also by Mr.. Dudley, Mr.. Wilson
and others.
Docs and the dog laws next claimed the
consideration Of the meeting, and after a
very general expression Of views on the sub
ject by the members it was on motion.
Resolped, That this Association use its
influence to procure the passag, Of law
that will be more effcctual in protecting
sheep against dogs. On motion, meeting
adjourned to meet again at the city Of o.
tumwa. on the Goth day of May 1865, at
O'Clock p. m.
TnoxAs McGIFrIN. Pres't
Income Tax Returns.
Commissioners Lewis forwarded the fol
lowing letter to an Assessor Of Internal
Revenue in Buffalo. 1t is as applicable 10
other districts as tl.at, and will be found of
general interest. IF the course therein LAID
down were faithfully followed by Assessors,
there is not doubt that the frauds would
be materially lessened and the revenue
largely increased:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
OrriSE VI INTERNAL REVENUE, ,
WAsHINaToN. March, 8, 1865.
SIR: Complaints have been made to this
office as to the manner in which income re.
turns have been made in many collection
districts in the United States, and concern.
ing yours among others. 1t is in the pow.
er of the Assessor, and it is also his duty,
to require all persons who may have filed
af6davits hat they were not in possession
of $500 income for 1862 and ls63--where
he supposes the statement to be fraudulent
Ito appear before him and explain or recti
fly their returns or affidayits.
1t is reasonable that persons whose hmi-
iy expenses were over $4,000 per year
must have taxable income, and vet it is
known that persons who have lived at a rate
requiring an expenditure of from 1000 to
IS 900, have made affidavits that their in
comes did not amount to 5000 for years re
ferred to. All such returns are presump.
tivelv erroneous, and in many instances are
probably fraudulent
Other persons engaged in trade of various
kinds have assumed their income to have
been some certain sum. without taking an
inventory. Others have made greater re-
ductions than is allowed by law, such asex.
ES.''>'' WI AoStiuCiy
Where such returns are made under circurn
stances which show that there was DELHI.
crate intent to mislead the assessor, or evade
the payment of this proper tax, they ough,
to he re-assessed by the assessor. For
though mere mistaken return after 1t has
been examined and the tax paid, may not
be re .ex9fnined, any fraudulent return may
be inquired into at any time. no man can
benehtfby his own wrong. and no time can
cure " nat is void or voidable by reason or
fraud
Where tax payer comes forward and
makes voluntary amendment of his former
return, with the staten nj that he made an
improper return under an honest misappre.
hension of the law, and you are satisfied
that he was not melted 10 this course by fear
of detection. you can receive his return, if
You are fully satisfied of its correctness,
without the addition of any penalty. But
when, upon investigation, you find person
clearly guilty of having purposely made
short returns. you should. If the return was
made since July, 1864, assess the hundred
per cent. penalty for fraud, and in addition
should report the case to the Collector for
such action as he deems fit.
Very respectfully.
JOSEPH LEWIS, Commissioner.
O. F. PREsBY, Assessor Goth District,
p,,f IL NJ "