Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-10
INCOME TAX REGULATIONS
Those Prepared Said to BE Most Inquisi-
torial in Character.
They May he Called for by the House
Before the APPROPRIATIONS to Col
lect the Tax is Made.

While the republicans in neither house
have held caucus as to the order of bus
mess, the understanding is that they will
make no factious opposition to the appro-
priation of $5OO, 600 to make the income tax
effective, although most of the republicans
will vote against this appropriation, as
they voted against the income tax itself.
This course is in accordance with the gen.
eral republican understanding that the
democratic tariff law shall remain intact.
There are republicans who believe that no
more effective campaign document can he
produced during the presidential year than
will be furnished by the operations Of the
income tax. The indications are that this
tax is to be rendered quite as oppressive
and as odious as was predicted would sbe
the case pending the discussion of this bill.
The treasury authorities are said to have
framed regulations which are most In
QuisitCrial in character The argument
which was recently submitted to the Treas
ury Department by Mr.. Sigourney Butler
of Boston, who represents large body of
democ1 ats of New England and New York,
that the detailed inquiry into the private
business affairs of the people should be
omitted as that was not provided for by
the law, are to be disregarded.
The officials Fixed in Their Opinions.
But the treasury officials were fixed in
their opinions. They insist that the policy
Of putting those who are required to make
returns upon their honor would result in
wholesale perjury, and that the American
people are not to be trusted. The income
tax is to be enforced, therefore. with all of
the rigor and inQuisitorial accompaniments
which made 1T so odious during the war.
There is reason to believe that these in
quiries, which are very far-reaching In
their nature, have been ready for some
time, but that the Treasury Department is
disposed to withhold them until after the
appropriation to give effect to the law and
to make the collection of the tax possible
shall have been secured.
The theory OF some of the treasury off,
Gals appears to be that, II these interroga-
tories shall be made public before the APP
preparation shall be obtained, they might
be used as an argument against granting
the appropriation. There Is reason to be-
lieVe, however, that before the debate
upon the income tax appropriation shall
have been concluded. the treasury will be
directed to furnish to one or both houses
the draft Of the inquiries to be submitted
to all persons who are supposed to be IL
able to the income tax. If these interroga-
tories shall be produced, 1t is possible that
they may cause SO much agitation, excite
ment and opposition in Congress that a
provision will be attached to the appro-
prlation of five hundred thousand dollars
to provide that the Secretary of the Treas
ury, In framing his inquiries, shall not go
outside of the text Of the law, and shall
not frame inquisitorial inquiries for which
there Is no warrant in the text Of the in
come tax law.
ApprI hensiOn OF Some Democrats.
The fact is that some of the leading dem
ocrats are becoming apprehensive as to the
effect Of the operation of this law. This
is particularly true Of some very eminent
democrats from the northern states who
have been determined in their opposition
to this law, and whose opposition was in
no degree modified when they ascertain
ed. that the internal revenue bureau. with
the approval of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, has made arrangements to enforce
this law as vigorously as was the case dur
ing the war, when the tax gatherer claim
ed the right to enter private houses and
ransack the most secret affairs Of the In
dividual There are many men in both
parties in Congress- who, while they are
willing to permit the income tax law to
stand, and will resist any attempt to re-
peal 1t, are yet not prepared to allow the
Secretary of the Treasury, in the enforce
ment of that law, to put a thumb screw
upon every person in this country who
is supposed to be in the receipt of an In
come of four thousand dollars. The fact
Is that many who voted for the law are al
ready shrinking from the commercial and
political effects of any such execution of
1t as 1t is reported the Treasury Depart
ment has in contemplation.