The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-16


prylng into mems private AFFAIRS cannot
he conceived of. Every person who re-
celyed an Income in excess Of $500 be
tween January ]. lsi, and December 81,
1894. is required to make an affidavit that
he has included in his report all gains,
profits and income from every source
whatever received by him, or TO which
he is Justly entitled. for the year In ques-
ton, and that he honestly and truly Is
entitled 10 make all the deductions en-
tered on his return. and that he truly has
answered the interrogations set forth in
the blank form on which he makes his
report The questions put TO him, the
answers to which he must swear to, cover
the following points:
Cross profits Of any trade or business
wherever carried on.
Rents received or accrued during the
year.
Profits from sales OF real estate pur-
chased within two years.
Farming operations and proceeds.
Money and value Of all personal proper
ty acquired by gift or inheritance.
Premiums on bonds. stocks, notes and
coupons.
Income from trade or profession not
by stated salary, and not heretofore
enumerated.
Income from salary or compensation
other than that received from the United
States.
Income from salary or compensation
paid by the United States.
Undivided gains and profits Of any part
nership.
Interest received or accrued from all
notes. bonds, or other securities.
Interest on bonds or coupons paid Of
any corporation.
Dividends from corporations.
Income Of wife or minor child or chill
dren.
All other sources Of income not above
enumerated.
The deductions allowed on the return
are:
-Four thousand dollars exempt by law.
Interest due and paid within the year.
National, State, county, school, and mu-
nicipal taxes paid. not including assess
ments for local benefits.
Amount expended in purchase or pro-
duction of live stock or produce sold
within the year.
Necessary expenses specified by items
actually incurred in carrying on any
business or trade.
Losses actually sustained during the
year. specified.
Actual losses on sales OF real estate pur-
chased within two years.
Debts contracted and ascer'ained IN me
year 10 be worthless.
Salary or compensation over 5000 from
which the tax of per centum has been
withheld by disbuTsing officers of the
United States Government.
Dividends included in the estimates or
gross profits from corporations on which
the per cent. tax has been paid by
such corporation
1t is obvious that these questions probe
to the interior Of every mans private
affairs. and lay them all bare for the
inspection and comment OF every idier
who wishes TO gossip about a thrifty
mans business. They must be answered
truly CT they must be answered falsely.
The honest man will answer them truly,
and thereby subject himself to mortiica-
tons, and, in many cases. TO most tnju-
rious exposure of his business that may
ruin him. The dishonest man Will answer
them falsely, and add the crime OF per-
jury 70 the advantage he gets Of his hon
est competitor by learning all about that
competitors business and concealIng his
own.
We were very much impressed by the
| following editorial article in yesterdays
Richmond Dispatch:
4 Popular TaX.-Mr. Bourke Cochran,
! Of New York, said in the House Of Repre-
sentatives on Wednesday that the income
! tax would apply to only 5000 persons.
| OF these Virginia probably has 1000. Mr.
| Cochran did not think this could be called
| a popular tax. No II does not apply 10
persons enough 10 render il tax 10 be
styled popular" in the sense that II
reaches many persons, but il may be
styled popular" in the sense that IL viii
please many Of the men who viii not
have TO pay it.
Can that be true? Are there many
men glad to see others burdened with a
tax from which they are exempted? We
can imagine no baser man than one who
is unwilling to bear his fair share OF the
burdens Of MS Government, and seeks TO
impose them ali on others, who happen
to have been more fortunate in life than
he