The morning call., 1895-01-02
CORPORATIONS WILL UNITE
In Their Efforts to Avoid the
Additional Burdens.
OTHERS WILL TRY TO DODGE.
The Revenue From the Unpopular
Source to Be Far Short
of Expectations.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-Unless appear
ances are .deceitful, the exhausted revenues
of the Government have little to hope for
in the income tax, of which so much was
anticipated at the time of Its nactment.
The opponents of the tax evince deter
mined disposition to fight its enforcement
al every stage. 1t is understood that nego-
tiations have been privately instituted to
secure harmony and unity of action among
all corporation influences which are af-
fscted by provisions of the law.
Individual effort, of course, will be
strenuously directed on the line of evasion
and avoidance. Undoubtedly considerable
time will be consumed In discussion of
the subject in Congress, and if an appro-
priation is asked by the Treasury Depart
ment and should ultimately be given, in
all probability it will not be available for
some time.
The circular of regulations on the in
come tax, just issued by the Treasury De-
partment. is exceedingly elaborate and
comprehensive. 1t would appear TO be
very difficult On the face of this document
for any one liable to the tax to escape its
searching inquiries without downright
perjury. Yet moneyed men constantly
make use of the expression, "They will
get nothing out OF me-" The income tax
In Great Britain and other European coun-
tries is a recognized and permanent
feature of the fiscal system and acquiesced
in without compl amt or remonstrance. 1t
may be that the idea is SC. unpopular in the
United States because people of this re-
public have had so little experience with
what is designated inqulsitorial taxation.
1t needs no prophet to foretell that the
income.tax gatherers of the Government
are going to have hard road to travel.
During the civil war mutterings both loud
and deep greeted the imposition of the
income tax. In one year 1t yielded about
$40, 600. 600. but no one doubted II the pro-
visions of the law had been possible of a
strict enforcement the amount would have
been doubled. All those familiar with such
matters we'll remember after the tax was
lifted multitudes would bitterly deny any
aspersion upon the honor and integrity of
those who boosted they had never paid
any tax. When the taxpayer hears legis-
lators and statesmen rise in their official
places and denounce and deride the law in
terms in which the income tax has been
stigmatized he is not apt to have much
reverence for 1t or much fear Of conse-
quences of violation.
1t has been announced that when the
question Of appropriations for the proper
enforcement of the law comes up In the
Senate motions will be pressed to repeal
the tax. No such motion can prevail and
the tax is bound to remain on the statute
books. Under any circumstances for
year, according to its provisions. every one
liable to the tax must make up return
and hand 1t to the Government officials not
later than March /. 1t will be very inter-
esting to note how many do this. A we'll
known opponent of the tax declared this
evening his belief that nothing like S10.-
000.0 900 would or could be collected In 1895,
and that not one man in ten who was.
amenable to the tax would make any re-
turn, unless in the improbable event Of
some practicable method being discovered
to compel him to pay it,.