The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-04
GOV. TILDEN'S INCOME TAX
A DESPERATE EFFORT TO TMPEACH
THE HONEST GOVERNOR.
George bliss Trying TO Mako Political Cap
ttnI by tho semblance Of suit to Recover
What Commissioner Kaum Thinks Of IL.


George bliss Trying to Mako Political Cap
ttni by tho semblance Of n suit to Recover
What Commissioner Kaum Thinks OF IL.
WASHINGTON Sept. 3-The charge
against Gov. Tllden, that he did not pay income
tax on the whole mount OF bis earnings for the
years 1892 and 1893, is to be judicially tried.
when the accusation was FIRST made public the
attention Of District Attorney Bliss Of New
York was called to II, and he said that II the
charges were substantiated IL might be his duty
to institute suit against Mr. Tilden to recover
the alleged deficiency. No sooner was It made
known that Tilden's character could be
smirched by the relteration Of the charges af-
fectiDg his integrity, than q bugle blast was
sounded at Long Branch BY the President,
LET no guilty man escape" and repeated by
Gen. Zach Chandler, Chairms an Of tho Republi-
can National Committee. Correspondence was
begun with the Commissioner OF Internal Rev
enue, and yesterday the second letter from Dis
triot Attorney Bliss was received at the Internal
Revenue Bureau on the subject OF Tilden's so
called delinquencies. Commissioner Raum said
he did not feel at liberty to make the tenor Of
the correspondence public. but he could say
that Mr.. Bliss was OF opinion tn Il suit ought to
be instituted against the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency. The Commissioner, how
ever said that he was entirely free from any
poullCU pItluulCt III nhbtoi, anu Wnhb uo
advised had been without regard to the proml-
nent position now occupied by Mr.. Tilden.
81 must treat him." continued Mr.. Raum, "as
would any citizen against whom there Is a rea-
sonable charge that ne has not complied with
the law. The charges to be sustained must be
connned to the two years when he made returns
OF his income. In the subsequent years. when
no returns were made, he submitted TO the ad-
ditiOn Of the penalty of nfty per cent and the
question therefore arises whether the Govern
"A f..< Int.
reotness Of the acts of It's own ofhcers There
never has been test case on that point, and
doubt whether the amount OF Mr. ltlden's in-
como for the years during which the income tax
was In force under the provisions OF law eau be
ernInent' II a tserefore concernipg the wears
1859 and 1888 that the suit will be brought Now.
on that point this once Is free from any charge
that II such suit Ii brought II will De In accord
ance with a circuiar letter addressed to col
ectors directing the course to be taken to re-
cover taxes due out unassessable without a
waiver because Of the 1fteen months limitation.
You will sse tnat THIS letter bears date Treas
ury Department, once u Commissioner OF In
ternal Revenue. Washington. March %, 1874
nearly two and one-half years ago" The lotter
IL as follows:
cison OF ne United state. supreme Court Ia the sc
l 4e pSss s sss Az snSS m .H 9 ana o t 1s see ne
~, Internal Revenue Record where q held thsl ihe
taIes. not only Of suc "a are assessed out slso ot
wS,ch un acccuat Of the statute of m,son are Dos
assessed desire that yS1 ri ess yourssi to % dls
Limitation OF sccUoa %, OF June 20. 1904
amended by section act OF March 1857. cannot
srssed without waiver Oi theee IiInitAfsons
the hxpaYer In all thtec will notift ne de
| niN iNlUnts that II tncY viii make written mTff Of
| the,r exemption from assessment across m Of
tnrlr return the taxes Will be Assessed vithdu6halty
ou viii forward returns maue Ia the prupf forms.
but Ia c.ses ~he1 denalcn neg ec' Or r.Iu. 60 t.se
tins course, You vii ~ once report we fncts To the
proper Uuteu States Disrict Attorney referring him
the time to the OF the above ID
| decision OF the supreme Court request IN Wv Of
the importance Of action In tins matter. tnst will
acknowledge receipt OF ths letter. and that
| within three months from ate hereof You ~il
coliiete report Of what discoveries you have de
and \ bat scton you have takeu. Very respectfully.
| "wh.s the District Attorney In New York."
| con,.iat lie o..tsAis,' Raum, called my at
tention 70 ms accushtfon agsinst Mr.. Tilden, it
| was only my duty TO remIrdthe Collector 81 the
| district In which Mr.. TideD lived In lSS and
1893 that the Instructions contained IN tn Il CIR
cular letter were stl in Il rce, and he had rea-
| sOnable ground for supposins III L Mr.. Iilden
| had failed to make proper return that " was
bis duty to req 1rt toe facts - the proper United
| states District Attorhey."
| Here the Commissioner paused for Amoment
and then smil,ngh said. " But what good would
| IL do to bring suit aga nat MIR. Ttlden now 1t
| could not be tined Tor mOnths-certainly not be-
| fore the November election ana probably not oe-
fore the new President would take his seat so
that for political purposes nothing can be
gained by uIging the prosecutions. How far the
suit will be pressed Is Ques ion which only
time can answer.