The Portland daily press., 1870-05-14

Saturday Morning, May "a, 1870.
The Income Tax.


the hands of the collectors. Parties liable to
pay have now nothing to do but to "walk up
to the Captains office and SETTLE" Notwith-
standing settled purpose in certain infuen-
tial quarters to continue it longer we think il |
is the last time that an income lax will be as |
sessed in this country. Tue. this tax is paid by |
comparatively small number of people, ana
TAILS to touch the masses directly; less than
3o0,000 out of forty millions Of people paying |
the entire amount. But that 100000 nave
rights which the government is bouhd u ie
spect, and which they are beginning 10 assert
The income fax is essentially 4 war tax" anO
has been submitted to heretofore and lnciud-
inc the present year, with as much cheerful
ness as ever attends the payment OF any tax
But against its continuance the press and
people of the country emphatically protest.
We are AWAKE that its friends urge some
very strong reasons in favor OF its reten-
tom the weightieSt OF which to our
mind is, that we have an immense national
debt which must be paid in some way But
after listening patiently TO both sides of the
case the verdict Of the country is clearly to the
effect that it should 90 by the board. The
"voce Of the people" (Which our law makers
will do well to regard in this instance at least
as the voice OF God") declares that the bal
ance OF testimony and balance OF argument is
against it. 1t is of course impossible in news
paper article OF ordinary limits to discuss
such subject with any iullness of detail, and
we shall confine ourselves within very limit
ed range. Perhaps the greatest objection to
this tax arises from its inquisitolial character
1t cannot be faithfully collected without some
body makes inquiries of some other body re-
specting his private affairs which isn't exactly
pleasant under all circumstances to disclose.
The unregenerate heart rebels against making
a" full true, particular and correct account
Of all the financial transactions and affairs OF
its owner during the preceding twelve mouths.
Many are willing to pay to the uttermost far
thing the amount prescribed by law, but find
it unspeakably hard to have transcribed upon
paper all tie minute details concerning ito
have written down in black and white" how
much is received from business, how much
from bank stock, how much from government
bonds, how much from private notes, bonds
and mortgages, and how much from the
profits OF real estate purchased since Dec 81,
1866" Some would be willing to pay pre-
MUM for the privilege of putting down the
"demnition sum total" but we understand
the department requires the return to be made
in detail. One man has during the year
made what the boys call a "good thing" in a
certain direction, and is willing to divide with
Uncle Sam in the proportion OF 95 to 5, but he
is not at all anxious to let even such conf
dental person as this assistant assessor know
just h0W he made it. Some men work for
salaries, upon the excess of which over the
legal deductions, they are willing to pay the
8 per cent, but such are the peculiarities OF
human nature that they frequently experience
more difficulty in being obliged to state the
yearly value of their services, than they do in
palng the tax. One is DESTROYS of concealino
how much, and another of conce ilino how
small, an amount he receives for twelve
months work. Some people don't want even
their next friend to know that they own bank
or railroad or manufacturing stock or that they
are interested in business, or buy or sell gold
Business men object 30 saying that the result
OF the years operations is a loss, because, i.
known, it may affect their credit. They like
wise object to reducing to federal currency the
large additions which under the blessing of
heaven may have been added to their glils,
lest they be expected to found university or
buy an organ for the new church or set up in
business poor relative who hain't sprawl
enough to start himself in trade.
Some people dislike to excite the envy of
their neghbors by even limiting at the money
value of their better halves, and would fain
conceal from eyes pro,ane the fact that in
more senses than one land especially in the
literal sense) they obtain treasures suscepti-
bic of being reduced to dollars and cents when
they obtain their wives
Since the law first went into effect we have
heard but little, if any, complaint from any
part Of the country against the manner in
which the Assistant Assessors have performed
their duties in this behalf. People generally
understand that they are but the instruments
OF the law and are generally inclined to give
them credit Tor all 4he consideration and DO
likeness with which they discharge their often
times unpleasant duties. The intelligence of
the people is such that they put these gentle
men Ill the same category with the doctor or
surgeon, against whom they bear no malice,
even though he may have sawed off limb or
administered bitter dfaueht. But as bit
ter dose is not made sweet even though ad-
ministered by gentle and loving hands, so a
law, which interleres with the right of the
citizen to "keep secret if SO disposed. is
not made popular because the officer who ex-
ecutes it gently squeezes rather than wrinos il
from its reticent possessor.
1t may not be tue, as some assert, that the
income tax is making the nation "a nation of
liars but the tendency is certainly in that
direction. For the reason, therefore, (among
many other.) that he law imposes other than
pecuniary burdens, and is altogether unpleas-
ant and disagreeable, we think it should be
abolished, and if the amount realized from il
must be raised, let 1t be in manner more
agreeable to the people and according more
nearly to the American theory that evely
body should mind and be permitted to mind
his own business, and if so disposed to keep
his own secrets.