The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-01
NEVER BE COLLECTED.
The Probabilities in Regard to the
Income Tax Provision.
Il is Expected That it Will be Repealed,
and Possibly Before it Becomes Due.
Washington Start

Washington Star.
1t is probable that the income tax will
never be collected. This probability
is not dependent upon the defeat in the
Senate of appropriation to carry the
law into effect. 1t is recognized that
there is danger that the opponents OF the
law may defeat the appropriation in the
Senate. 1t is settled that there will
be vigorous and determined fight to
do this. But the success of movement
of this sort is too uncertain to be calcu-
lated upon and may be regarded as
posi- bility rather than a probability.
What seems probable is that before the
tax is collected the law may be repealed.
Under the terms of the act the limit of
time within which the tax must be paid
is June 80. 1t is not probable that any
one will pay the tax before the expir-
alton of this time, especially as the con-
stitutionality of the law is about to be
tested. The treasury, therefore, cannot
count upon deriving any revenue from
this source during the present fiscal year.
Meanwhile there is heavy deficiency
in the revenue, which, while it may be
improved somewhat by the growth in
the whisky tax after the first of the
year, is certain to leave the treasury in
an embarrassed position financially.
There is very little prospect that any leg
isIation such as Secretary Carlisle has
recommended can be got through both
houses of Congress. And If it were 1t
would hardly affect the income OF the
treasury. Therefore the treasury will
probabiy be SO situated before any reva-
nue. from the income tax can be secured
that some measure to supply the defic-
iency will have to be devised. Twice
this has been done by an issue of bonds.
The weakness of the market for govern
ment bonds in New York at this time
gives reason to believe that If at any
time soon the treasury should be again
reduced to the necessity of Immediately
raising money it would be found very
difficult to dispose of bonds at any price
at all advantageous to the government
In all proba biIlty, therefore, relief will
have to come from Congress.
Very few people, if any at all, expect
any complete legislation at this session,
and it is regarded as pretty nearly sure
thing that the Fifty fourth Congress
will be called together shortly after the
close of this sessio 1t is stated that
leading Democrats in Congress have
been warned by the administration that
if no financial measure was passed TINS
extra session would be called. If this
alternative is actually presented the
Fifty-fuurth Congress will he in session
mouths before the usual Decem Der meet
ing, The demand for action is
expected to become more urgent week by
week, and if anything is to be accom-
plished by call of the next Congress
The call will have to be for an early
date, probably within month after the
adjournment of this Congress.
One of. the conditions that will surely
be exacted by the opponents OF the in
come tax before agreeing to permit any
other legislation to supply the deficiency
OF revenue and to meet the demand for
general financial legislation will be the
unconditional repeal of the income tax
law. 1t is believed that the treasury Will
be SO situated that the administration
will be compelled to agree to these con-
ditions, and if the Fifty-fourth Congress
Is called together MS early as April or May
the law may he repealed before the last
of June. If Congress is not called to
xether soon, however. the expectation
that one of it's first acts, whenever it does
assem- BILE, will be to repeal that law.
will probably cause many, if not most.
persons of large incomes to run the risk
of prosecution by delay after the limits
allowed them for payment.