The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-10
LETS THE RICH MAN OUT.
THE INCOME TAX NOW OPERATIVE
ONLY AGAINST THE MAN OF
INDUSTRY.

The Exemption of the BOndhOIder
and Land Owner Relieves n Large
Number of savannah's Capitalists
From the Payment of the Tax--AII
of Them Now Want Information as
to What Returns They Must Make.
The Manifest Unjustness of the
EmascuIated Law May Lead TO Its
Repeal.
The owners of Savannah wealth are jub-
liant over the decision of the United
States supreme court, declaring certain
sections of the income tax law unconsti-
tutional and imperative.
Under the law, as it formerly stood. re-
turns of property and incomes were re-
quired from 200 or $50 of Savannah's cit
liens, and the number would probably
have been nearer the latter. but 1t is esti-
mated that the new turn the matter has
taken will cut down the number making
returns from Savannah at least p per
cent If not more. There are many whose
incomes would go considerably over $4,000
IL that portion of it from state and munic-
ipal bonds, and from real estate rentals
were included, but without these amounts
will fall far short of that figure of the
income which in every case is made ex-
empt.
A great many have not yet made re-
turns, and some of those who would 9TH
erwise have done so, will be relieved I'M
der the supreme courts decision. great
many of those with weighty incomes who
were on the anxious bench called on Dep
uty Collector H. E. Wilson yesterday for
some information with regard to their
returns under the decision, but he was I'M
able to furnish anything further than
what has appeared in the papers, as the
commissioner of internal revenue has not
had time to send out the additional in
structions. 1t is probable that these in
structions will be received to-day, as they
were to have been sent out from Washing-
ton yesterday.
The principal information with regard
to the changes, however will probably
have to be obtained from press dispatches,
on account of the fact that the time Is
so short in which the returns can be
made. The returns must all be in by
April Is, and no doubt those that are now
left to come will come in with rush,
as many have been waiting for some time
to see what the supreme court was going
to do with regard to the law The in
come tax law has been much discussed
here, and in this city it has many warm
the victory of those of its opponents who
fought 1t to a finish, and they nope the
opposition will be continued until the en-
tire law has been removed from the
statute books.
why" said gentleman, who is some
what interested in the matter, the law
as it stands, after the ruling of the SUI
preme court, is manifestly unjust, be-
cause it practically let's out all the wealth.
Ter men, or, at least, to a great extent It
does The man who has his wealth
amassed in state or municipal bonds and
real estate is exempt from the payment
of any tax, no matter though his in
come goes up in the hundred thousands.
But on the other hand, the man who
through the efforts of his brain and la
in the ordinary walks of life, must sub
init to the law and pay the tax. This is
evidently unjust and believe viii Gre
ate such a clamor against it, that con-
gress will yield to the pressure and re-
peal 1t altogether. The law Will undoubt-
edly have a hard road to travel in its
present shape"