The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-24
SAMUEL ]. TiLDEN.
Tho Sham Reformor Exposed.

The Times finds on inquiry in the proper
quarter that Mr.. Tilden, whose voluntary
contributions to the support of the na ions
life do not appear where those of others
are found, also took care not to contribute
bis due share of the involuntary contribu-
tions which in theory all of us are com
PEELED to make. In other words, the great
reformer contrived in very questionable
ways to pay just as little as was possible of
the tax due from him on the great wealth
he was acquiring during the ten years or
more that tax was imposed upon in
comes.
The frat income tax law was passed in
August, 1861, and imposed n tax upon the
incomes of that year to be collected in the
spring of 1869. Amendments were made
in July, 1862, and st various later periods.
| as is well known. Every one was required
to make q return of his income under cath,
and with considerable detail. Mr.. Tllien
made returns for the years 1869 and 1868,
| but after that he seems to have come TO the
| conclusion that it was cheaper for him to
make no return, but tn leave the assessor
| to guess at his income, and then to pay n
tax upon the sum so guessed at, with the
penalty OF fifty per cent added, which the
law imposed for failure to make return.
THE INCOME TAX DoDGED FOR NINE YEARS.
| And so Mr.. Tilden made no return of lis
income after that of 1868 for all the years
during which that tax continued, which
was down to 1872. We presume no one
| will hot oft -
ted to pay penalty for not making q re-
turn and to pay besides his just share of
the tax. The inevitable conclusion is that
he found it cheaper not to do a. an honest
citizen, as a sincere upholier of the gov
eminent would have done, viz, make out
a correct return of his income and pay the
tax upon it.
If any one has any lingering doubt upon
that subject 1t will vanish when we tel
them that during the entire period of the
| imposition OF the income TAX Nh Tilden,
millionaire as he was, paid tax on an av
eraga, income, penalties included, Of about
$4,000 year. This, be it remembered
was during the years when he was re-
ceving that large income from his occupa-
ton as railway wrecker, winch has made
| his enormous fortune.
| WHAT HE WAS nEArISu IN THOSE YEARS.
1t was during those years that S. J. Til
den was reorganlzing the Terra ll,u'e, st
Louis and Alton railroad company. from
which alone he admits under Ca,h that he
received in one year $780, in cash AID q
large amount of bonds that he was part
ner, counsel and trustee, gobb.iug up the
Galena and Chicago railroad company in
Illinois; that he was appropriating to him
self the great profits of the Continental
Improvement company, and the Grand
Rapids and Indiana railroad company, and
the Peninsular railroad. COMPANY in Michi-
gan.
1t was during this period that az counsel
of Cakes Ames he gave the advice which
led to the Credit Mobelier with its crop of
f, auds and scandals 1t was during this
period, too, that he stands charged upon
the books of the Erie railroad company
with $4,000 paid him for legal services.
extending over two months only. II was
during this period that he purchased his
costly residence at Gramercy park. Yet
with all these sources and evidence of a
large income this earnest supporter of the
government continued to pay tax on an
average inooihe Vi on'y "oou' @io'ooo
WHAT iih La" N''hi ""''o f"o" HIN
II the laws were enforced against our
model reformer he would have to disgorge
a large sum out OF winch he has cheated
| the government If such n suit il brought
the Times suggests to the government
whore II will find some conclusive tes,i-
n. D.,. oc ,oeo ~. TILL,
'nony' V" i''''0.' ~ io0o' -'', "'.N
swore to return under cath, in which he
said:
"I berebv cortifv that the following &c q
trre and faithful s.otement of the 1ains.
nrofits or income of Samuel 7 Tilden. of
The civ of New York and county of New
Ynrk state of Nav York whether derived
from anv Kind of nroncrIv rents. Interest =.
dividends salary. or from anv profession
trade, emnlovment ar vacation. or from
anv other so,irce wbatever from the LAT
3 dsv of Januorv IN tho ais, dav of Deem
Der of 1862, both days inclusive, and sub
Ject to an income tax under the excise laws
Vi .no on,.eu o.a.esi lncoh,c I'm ~
eighteen dollars" '' '''> W. "'>
Rpt in b;a answor IN the comn,aint in the
circuit court of the United States in tht
amt of the St. Louis Alton and Te,re
Haute railroad comrauy against limse,
and others which answer was filed few
7 DAVIS ago. Mr.. Tilden swore under oath n,
+, follows.
.Tbat for such services the defendan
Tiden made charge of $4,000 agains
8 said second mortgage bcniholicrs, and thu
t said charge was paid by or on behalf OF
, said second mortgage bondholders on thu
17th of October, 1862. That the defendan
Tilden, for a part of his tervices afore sad
a also made charge of the like sum of $40,