The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-10-18
THE rUUoNBrAX

III -
Mn. EDIroa nm not sbla TO Apbreciate the
enterprise Of the elkor the Portland SUR
IL his collection OF tile ipcou,p returns OF York
county, as published IN your last paper. The
oiiect uf the press Is, surely, TO communicate
knowledge TO the people, and at the same time
toiucu.catc Isount morality and true pat
riotism. OF what benefit il II that the public
should bgy iniOgmel thst = sUalI nnpear OF
persons in heesseral tbwhs IN tliA couutypay
a tax on income derived from other sources
than stocks!
Now, don0t hesitate 10 say that the publi-
cation of such an exhibit rs this, claiming to
bead account of the ircpIhs rsiurusof this
county ,Scs dnbi ffl to buul tin. public, To! All
in deirauding the government, aud To excite
md give currency 10 SANDER of many o; your
sutscribrrs:-ftcan have no -cuuntcnarcc on
the part OF Mr.. Marshall, the United States
Assessor. '''' '' ri'F'' 100 '' ,'
The law requires every ono to return his in
cnmc. under oath that his statement Is true.
The man who RENTERS false uec,,unt IN this
matter, is nat only DISHONEST, but is guilty VI
perjury. No one who has any proper. sense 81
/ lis manhood, or any reasonable understanding
oi his obligations, can, for n moment. have
auy other julginspt VI SUE! proceeding than
I this. I cannot hut feel that my own character,
with many persdiis who are not fully appraised
OF the mpdus ope,sRli ia, carrying out the
! provisions Of the Law, rs well as that Of many
Others, nay suier by a judgment based on such
INSTRUMENTATION as " facts. The people ganer-
ally have some idea Of the income OF their
! tuNnsmcn F.; and where II Is known that ones
/ income Ear exceeds that Necessary for the par
/ pose pt taxation, aud No such income is re-
tdrneliby him, II may well be presumed that
his neral principals sre not OF a very credit
abs s;amp; and this fact, that mon, yhcse
reputation may be Otherwise unlmpeachab'e,
and who are known to have received more than
tue amount exempted from taxation have made
/ no return Of n taxable Income, is laid hold ui
10 Justify or rallihte tire guilt ofa large 'elnss
! in the community, who'csiima,c 80 logly TIP
Value of integrity aud patriotism rs tn make
even n merit or dcfr,uiinS the government by
any esasion to which they Cal, resort, Proba-
bly, not one half ut the income OF the State Is
returned to the assessors, and the publication,
svtryuy ear, ut, inch u mcisrc statement VI
what has been Ictugnsl, is Vpc Of tho principal
causes Of 1t. Because one may not ap-
pear 10 hhve ecl;nowledcelauy taxable mcouc,
oihsrs in tps neigh iarhool arercaiy to excn'a
Themselves for Ike neglect,
Now Tie editor at the Portland Star must
know, IL he has gale. shst hS has publishel
irUm Tic asspssOr's Office, that he has extract
Ell ,ait sntlFNorticn OF the income returns
Income OF oil kinds ~ required tO be rendered
10 the assessor. y large proportion Of II is
derived from stocks Our merchants who have
been rcft OF thor navigation by tho war, have
inyeg,el their funds in this way, apd the ex-
cess OF income FROM these sources over the
sums exempted. =, all ltsxeJI Our Banks,
railroads, and other corporations pay the taxes
OF the stockholders, only, however, because
they vote TO do so. The hollers'arc liable, and
are reQnirqi to return iheir dividends. =. .yii
Look Of the returns. as published, Of ,thcsin-
Gle town OF I<enncbnnk. There arc but few
Ilcn in this vicinity, of oornucrc,si experience
aud necessarily extensive intercourse, who arc
Internationally well acquainttd with the pecu-
mary standing oi ,lle t0wnantn Of that town,
ito have some ,ppiniou oi their property, mud of
the annual increase OF it. Such men cannot
utfccithat either great injust'co IA done TO
them, or else they have very materialiy COM
promised their ehafnters'As honest citizens.
There are. "a least Thirty persons thcre, who
pay, or ought to pay, this tax, and yet only
thirteen are. represented a. doing 50. 49,,
Now we knOw'tliatthis representation Is not
true, and VIC feel that 1t is the duty of the cdr
tor of the Star TO rectiiy, an error so gross, "
Publishing ruch mn account tithe returns
made as will give hOpublic somo material In
formation ON the subject We can then judge
who have made honest reports, and who are
dCinquents. that all shall not saitrer In their
reputation BY tho dishonesty OF u few.