Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-04-24
The u. $. Income Tax.


Much complaint was made at the time Of
the collection Of the first assessments of this
tax, by farmers and others, Of the manner
in which it was assessed in certain portions
OF our State. For instance, it was said, that
the country Assessor would visit farmer,
to assess him, md, after ascertaining the
amount of his sales Of wheat, rye, corn,
pork, beef, &C., this Assessor would next
inquire Of the farmer how many children
have you in family? what do they cost YOU
per week for boarding? &c. &c. and in this
way an income considerably over 100000
was made up, because the Assessor would
add the expenses Of maintaining the family,
clothing, education, &C., to the income from
the amount Of products of the farm sold.
The amount Of income not taxable now,
is 100000, instead of 100000, which latter
sum was exempt year ago. But the same
offensive, and, what we consider illegal pro-
cess Of asccrtaining farmer income, may
possibly continue to prevail in certain por-
tions of the State. 10 show how unfair
this method of procedure is, let us take Il
case-such an one as may be only an in
stance of thousands in the country!
A farmer is called upon by the United
States Revenue Assessor to render an nc
count, on blank form, of the products of
his farm, for the preceding year. This farm
or honestly puts down his wheat sold, say at
$4,000; his rye at $1,000; his corn at
$500; his other products, pork, beef, but
ter, eggs, grass seeds, &C., &C., at $4,000.
This will make total Of, say, $4,000 of
farm products sold. All this he hands in to
the United States Assessor The Assessor
then makes the inquiries we have mention
ed, that is to say: How much is the sup
port of your family worth? The farmer re.
plies, II have five children, which, with
the cost Of living of my wife and myself,
and the costs of educating these children in
accordance with the requirements of the age,
clothing them and my wife in decent man
ner, &c. &c, will be about, on an average.
two dollars week, each; which will make
the expenses of my family, say $72S.Oo.
Now says the farmer, 'thc total pro-
duets Of my farm are about the above
amount, but, as you will see, Mr.. Assessor,
have nothing left from which to pay my
tax on $l2S.00, 1.-THE difference between
100000 and the amount of my total in
come, III have nothing left to pay the tax
with, for the plain reason that the nhole
amount Of ny income has been expended,
ana properly, too, in the support, education,
&C., Of my family" But the inexorahlc
Assessor replies, this is no business Of
mine, you have shown that you have an in.
come of $l2s.0O in excess of the amount
exempt by law, and although you may
not have penny left, you must pay the
tax on this amount" The unhappy farmer
will necessarily reflect, shall l beg, borrow
or. steal enough to satisfy this unreasonine
cormorant, for | will have to give all my Ia
Dor another year, as ! have done the last
year, to the support of those who are de-
pendent upon me-
In these remarks We make no reflections
upon any particular Assessors; these mis-
takes, or, to give them harshcr name
wrongs, may have occurred through i'm
perfect knowledge of new and complicated
law; but it can surely be reasonably hopet
that such errors will not occur again.