The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-21
Representative Sperry Says Govern
ment Officials viii BE Compelled to
Pry Into Private Affairs of Citizens.
ANOTHER DEMOCRATS VIEWS
Commended by Mr.. Hall, Who Is
Father of the Proposition.
Holman's Pension Agent Candidate
The Bridge Bill Vetoed-Mr. Fos-
ter OH the Bond Question.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-The opponents
OF the income tax have been stirred TO re-
newed activity by the digest OF the measure
recently given TO the press. IL was the first
time they had seen the detailed method pso-
posed for levying the tax. Representative
Sperry, who is one of the most active op-
ponents or the bill. points out some Of the
main objections To the income tax plan as
propt sed. He says that the committee has
in no way overcome the main objection
that an income tax is inquisitorial They
do not pry into the incomes OF citizens, but
leave 1t for the citizens having an income
of over $500 to voluntarily make report
as to whether his income exceeds $1,000 Mr..
Sperry says that this voluntary" provision
gives no protection to the citizen. The gov
ernment assessors will select such citizens
who have not made a voluntary statement
and will pry into their affairs Mr.. Sperry
also SAYS that the voluntary system puts
a premium on liars" Mr.. Sperry points
out that IL will be- absolutely impossible
for business men to make voluntary
statement as to the amount OF their in
comes. He cites an actual case which has
come to his attention Of a man who has
used a large stock OF raw wool TO make
wooden hose without expecting to sell the
goods and merely for the purpose or keep
ing his men employed. The transaction re-
suited in a net loss of $4,000. Mr.. Sperry
asks how such transaction can be esti-
mated in figuring on an income. He also
says that large commercial concerns will
never be able TO make an estimate Of their
incomes. They are in the habit Of giving
credit at from four to six months and their
book accounts seldom or never show what
their income is. If the book accounts are
paid it represents income; otherwise IL rep
resents loss. Mr.. Sperry says there is no
practical means Of obviating this difficulty.
In the plan to have the disbursing oHicer
of firms or corporations pay the tax on
salaries of employees Mr.. SperTy says that
the proposed law shows its manifest In
Justice A salary is easily ascertainable and
is not like the uncertain profits Of a busi-
ness firm. And yet the employer is COM
pelled to do the bookkeeping and assume
the busine&s of looking after thssr.Hax es. On
Representatiye Hail. OF Missouri. TODAY
explained a number of the details of the In
come tax to be reported 10 the House Mon
day. Mr.. Hall is regarded in the House
as the originator OF the entire plan OF an
income tax. He has discussed the subject
fully with President Cleveland and with the
various members Of the Cabinet: Regard
ing an income tax Mr.. Hall said to-day:
81 find there is much apprehension as to the
amount OF income which will be subject TO
a tax. If, for instance. a man receives a
salary of 5000 year, the opinion seems TO
prevail that this entire salary is subjected
to a per cent. tax. AS a matter Of fact.
however, all classes of incomes have an
ceiying 9n salary of s. 600 Would pay a tax
on only $1,000. One OF the most inexplica-
BILE things to me is the opposition TO this
means committee, from the wealthy classes
of the United States. This bill might have
eg een ten aeG rewts Of o anarcbP nS nnd
| In conversation with one of the ablest law
yers of this country, he made this remark:
Were / the legal adviser OF all the con-
| solidated wealth Of the United States, 1
should advise them TO advocate just such
an income tax bill as this, because IL
TO bear some of the burdens OF govern
| mental taxation and relieves the poor from
| demagogue can then well go on the stump
and saw that the wealth OF this government.
wne fsnee Of 5S ali other classes, refuses to bear
any of the burdens for its support
Zone of the objections urged against the
income tax" said Mr.. Hall, "is that IL is
| induisitoriai in it's character. So is tho
| custom house tax inquisitorial. Is not the
inses5a hacc5 aindnistorial? Is not PERSONAL prop
| erty taxation, which is reSorted to by
| thirty-nine out OF the forty-four States OF
the Union, inquisitOrial when IL requires a
| man TO make an affidavit to every dollar .
| worth of personal property that he has,
and allows an officer to go into his wife,s ,s
her nnery. And yet the same men who
| succeeded In passing these laws In the
States now come forward and oppose an
| income tax on the ground that II Is in
| quistorial. Another Of their silly argu-
ments is that income tax is n reward for
perjury. While we have heard demagogues
on the stump say many harsh and cruel
| things OF wealthy men, we have never
| heard one so bold as 10 say that men
| who receive incomes OF $1,000 would make
| themselves band OF perjurers in order 20
| protect themselves from a small. pitiable
| tax on their incomes of per cent Instead
| OF this measure being reward 10 perjury
| by its passage, II we refuse TO pass II be-
| cause this claim Is made tian the refusal
| to pass 1t from such AN argument will be
| reward 10 a threatened perjury. The
| danger arising from an Investigation OF the
! operation and methods of buisenss men IS
1 entirely destroyed by the first part OF
Sec. 10 Of the bin, which Furnishes severely
| any collector or deputy collector who d.
| vuiges any Information regarding a per-
| sons financial condition.