New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-04
TIE INCOME TAX.
AN oDIoUs TAX oDIoUsLY EXECUTED.


To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: | am glad to read your attacks on the
Income Tax and will contribute few stones TO throw at
IT, nv way Of showing how the Commissioner and his dep
ues continue to make IT oncros than Is necessary
In the printed form which the taxpayer - caed upon. W
al ND and return OATH he Is required To incude IN 7
income all profits realized by sales OF real estate pi
chased since December 81, 1866 This Is he8a' ana
perhaps owing to the fact that the form OF the printed
orn hos not bcon altered since its adoption TO meet
the reouirements OF the statute which reads as follows:
"Profts realized within tho year IRON Iaes wi ieal rs
sg 10 he near FOR which Income is esated"
Again the statute expressly PROVIDES that .oSs per
sons who have less than $1,000 shall be pernteu W uo
clare under oath" that they have not 1000 OF income.
II thus exempts them from going through lo ioih VI
return in detail of all such income as tey aceuay M
have during the year The Commissioner Ignores thls
provision of tho statute and under the atherlty
him 10 prescribe the form Of the above oaIn "a
sources of income be set forth In the same manner anu
with the same inquiries in regard 10 Wives ~ @
other relations as II the allaht had al hoo'"o VI
Thirdly The statute expressly and with reason per,
mits 10 be deducted from ones income 1.-THE amount pd
Tor by any person who rents lands or hires labor
to cultivate land, or who conducts any 9,neT rr The
from which income is actually derived" onu noel tho
recent ruling of the COMMISSIONER the interest paid on
mortgage OF the house occupied by an individai cO
which was not paid for tho house is inserted III so'o
other business from which income Il deivsd a i
NAV he doing large prOfes siOnal business without ca
raj ON the income from which he pays full taxes or ne
may be doing mercantile business on borrowed caRa,'
Gs d invest mart of il in his business no not
deduct the ntere, paid on his mortgage deD, ne Tia
head. The Commissioner has no discretion gwen hn la
Finally. BY the terms Of the act of 1861 deduction
of the rent of the homestead was allowed from lhcne,
The act of 1861 changed this with intention to me
amount actually paid by for the rent OF the
house premises occupied as reside iG pn NH 81 ~
his family" Although the design OF TINS change was "a
allow the rent OF whatever premises Two or Qrel ,o
he occupied by the person, to be deducteu tno ~
form remains unchanged and persons are required 10
conne their deduction of rent to That Of tneI hoine
let Let rs have the whole system abolished. LEX
Netc- York April 20, 1870
INJUSTICE OF THE PRESENT LAW.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: | found but little amusement in the
feeble wit of Mr. Representative Schenck when IN the
House on Saturday last he affirmed that the Income lax
law was one OF the most popular In the country because
II affected fraction less than 23oo persons ana every
body liked a tax which somebody else paid" chance
70 be one Of that 23 and let show how that income
tax bears on Three years ago came To ths city Oh
the call of OF churches. tired TO hIe mouse,
but could find none, and was accordingly copeu oou!
mortgagng the property for nearly is entire amount.
have been virtually living in rented house. paying my
rent to mortgage instead of landlord Well SIR, WIN
the deduction of my interest and the very few repairs
was able make, still found myself mucted last year
But this year told that even my interest cannot
be deducted, because II is in payment on m9rtgag on
my DIV cling At the time am assured That II Lly
house GROCERY Instead Of an oratory H. ihstau
OF I ns t6o t wGyd o FE e 70 should into
place where Liquid death and distilled dainnatlon,
should he dispensed. and my property were moigaged
to enable to carry my business, the deduction
might be allowed. What outrage on all honesty
How can Republican legislators imagine that their
saronic laughter over the heartoss suerings they i'm
pose upon integrity do otherwise than tend 10 aen
ate the feelings of many who have been their tried ana
truc surporter. AWAY with "A tax which il premium
ON rascaiity and which uncQuly oppressive Oh the
Door man W has his saary-I tax which touches
only 273 600 out of 80 100000 JUSTICE.
AeW- York, April %, 1870.
WHERE THE INCOME TAX HURTS MOST
tn the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: Mr.. Schenck, in his speech in the
House the other day. ignored large class of sufferers
under the Income tax Why did he say any thing
about those who their little all invested in banks
,nsira nee c,n,' niss nia i,ti caiise ana
Neic- York, April y, 1870.