The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-21

earlier agreement was itself the result OF pro
lonsed negotiations, the affairs of the road be-
ing almost hopelessly involved with conflicting
claims and interests. Pursuant to this prelimi-
nary agreement, possession OF the entire railroad
had been obtained as far back as Dec. Il, 1859.
Tenth Item.-" Dec. 81. Fees during year from
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Company,
$4,000"
This item is totally false. Mr.. Tilden received
no fees, com pensdtion or payments from The Chit
edoo and NorthUestern Raa,cdv Company IN the
year 1902
Eleventh nem.-" Fees during year from Tole-
do and wabash Railroad Company, $4,000"
The recklessness Of this falsehood will appear
when It Is known that the Toledo and Wabash
Railroad Company nerer, at any time, was cli-
ept Of Mr.. Tildeas, and that he neuer IN the year
1892, or at dnv other time, recotrcd any fees from
that coinpunV nor rendered them any protcs-
siondl serrtce Uhdtouer.
Twelfth Item. -" share OF bonds retained for
services during year connected with the recon
struction OF tho Chicago and Alton Railroad
Company, $4,000"
No bonds pcre retained or received 1or such SER
rtccs IN 1852, nor was large amount ever re-
ceived including expenses and disbursements.
Services were rendered, and no doubt they were
taken into account In com putting the gross earn
ings Of that year.
Thirteenth aud last item Salary a. Trustee
and President Of the Balance Dock Company,
$1,000"
This Item Of $1,000 is correct except rs TO tho
date, and Ia the only one Of the whole thirteen
Of which that can be said.
At the outset OF these attacks on Gov. Tilden,
In regard to his taxable income for 1862, still
another allegation was made. as II on positive
knowledge, namely, that he had received from
| the st. Louis. Alton and Tetre Haute Railroad
Company f33,OO0 in first mortgage bonds dur
| ing that year.
| This charge Ia unquaHedly false and, now
| that 1t has been pointed out In the public
| journals that the complaint itself, In the st.
Louis, Alton and Terre Haute suit, showed
these bonds not used up to the year 1894, the
| charge appears to have been abandoned, even
by the Times. which newspaper, after asserting
| the fact in positive terms, subsequently pub
| lished a report Of committee OF that company,
also antaeonistic to Mr.. Tilden, Dut which
showed that, in 1870. these bonds were still In
the hands of<he Purchasing Committee. ana SO
| could not have formed any part OF his income In
1860.
| 1t seems proper to say that return made un.
| der oath must be assumed to be correct unless
| II can be shown TO be false. This attempt hai
been made by the Times, and growing boldel
from day to day It's efforts have 1naly culmn
ated In specification Of thirteen items. twelve
OF which are wholly or mainly fictitious. whilC
the Times was thus making excursions into the
| regions OF fiction, It seems to nave found II con
venient to overlook the possibilities of Lawful
deductions such as expenses, rent, interest, nnC
losses. The simple fact Il. the amounts re
turned were the net result OF income after tax
ing out the lawful deductions. For me 1t onll
remains to assert that every fact within M
knowledge confirms tho good faith and ade
quacy of the returns which were verified by th
AFFIDAVIT Of one who for moro than genoratiol
had lived II lie so pure and blameless that th
breath Of calumny bad failed to touch him, un
I'll by the general voice Of great party he ha'
become their candidate for the highest office II
tho gift Of the people.
In respect to the allegation that after tw
years of the income tax MIR. Tiden made no re
turn but left that portion OF his tax which wa
in excess Of the payments for his account mad
ty the corporations, whose bonds and stock
h o held, to be assessed under the law by tn
estimate of the public officers, the answer
simple. The statute gave the taxpayer tn
option to take that course and good and hor
orable reasons existed why "A scrupulous ma
should accept that option. Sir. Tilden receive
no favor from the Government officers, an
sought none. He did nothing but pay all ne
imposed on him. Nearly all his income irot
investments paid the tax through the corpora
tions whose bonds aud stocks he held wlthou
allowance for the lawful deductions. On th
residue. lfter the lawful deductions were mad,
he believed at the time, that iustea
Of paying less, he Oftencr paid more tha
would havo been the result Of a full, bu
troublesome. accounting. lie preferred in thJ
way to be exempted from the difficulties inc
cent to attempting specific statement OF tn
affairs In which he was interested. and OF IN
corporations and business in which be was
investor, and also to be exempted from the n
: sponsbility Of adjudicating on the facts and tn
law applicable 10 uncertain and nuctuating el,
monts during rapid and violent changes Of nct
I tious values. The law was unsettled que
tions of real difficulty existed. CONSTRUCTION
were set up by of1clals which were often col
1ictinc. unntelliglble, or incapable OF a just
. safe application, and II was not agreeable
8 make u return on a doubtful or disputed theor
. In contradiction to even unme eritorious olaiu
made In behalf OF the Government.
Respectfully yours,