The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-09-21
Questions and Answers.

1t is known that Mr.. Tilden is worth for
! tune never stated at less than five millions,
and generally regarded as great deal lar
| ger. 1t is known that from 1860 to 1874 he
was engaged in great and peculiar railroad
operations by which he acquired this vast
fortune. 1t is known that he obtained very
large fees from many railroad corporations,
| besides the interest on his invcs tments and
the railroad bonds and stocks he managed to
secure.
In 1868 he swore that for 1862, while he
able income was only S7,11s. For nine years
after that time, he persistently violated the
law by making no return at all, and compcll-
ing the government to guess at his income
and levy the fifty per cent. additional which
was the penalty of not making return. In
that way he escaped by paying tax on only
$4,000. .413 ta
Now, first. was Mr. Tilden's income for
1862 Only S7,11S, as he swore, or was his re-
turn false and perjured return? Second,
was not his annual income from 1868 to 1872
far more than $15, 900, and did he not thus
defraud the government every year? Third,
why was it that during these nine years he
made no return at all? These questions, it
is perfectly clear are the vital questions in
the matter, and 60 to the very core OF Mr.
illden1s dishonesty, perjury and fraud: II
they cannot be satisfactorily answered; if
MIR. Iildcn's income was more than S7,llS,
as every man knows it was il his refusal to
make return for nine years cannot be eX-
planned, then it is evident that his crime is
clearly established. We ask the Albany Ar
gus these questions and it does not and dare
not answer. 1t corfesses that no answer can
be made.
Instead Of answering the questions it falls
O.rao n rtn In lV9up
the issue by confiniog the discussion to the
Zee OF $4,000 from the st. Louis and Terre
Haute railroad, las if that were Mr.. Tilden's
only source OF income by drawing us
away from the real point. Bat, without
losing sight of the main issue, we will an
sWer 1t. 1t asks whether Mr.. Tilden was
pound to return as taxable income for 1862 a
zee paid for services rendered partly in that
year and partly in previous years.
we answer frankly that we understand
inc income of the year to be money received
within the year. If that were not the rule,
lnen any man, except one who is paid spe-
cific salary for specified time, could escape
the payment of his tax. But in this case |
Iha1 question is one of very small conse-
quence. Mr. Tilden's income for 1862, about |
Whlcn there can be no pretence of question,
was Tar beyond $7,l1S. He swears to two
payments Of $4,000 each from the st. Louis |
and Ierre Haute road, one of which was for
work wholly performed in 1862. A portion |
OF the other $4,000 was confcssedly for SER
vices Of the same year. Then it is already |
shown that he received $1,000 from the Cum |
beriand Coal Company, and other large |
amounts from other corporations. The proof |
is absolute that he concealed large part of |
his income, and thus that when he swore to |
only 81, lis he perjured himself.
2 We again ask the Argus to answer first,
whether it has the assurance to maintain |
that Mr.. Tilden's income for 1862 was only |
S7,llS as he swore; and, second why Mr..
Tilden made no income return for nine |
years. But it will not answer and dare not. |
Its silence is confession.-Albany Journal.