The sun., 1895-04-20
The Income Tax In the Past.

To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sir: 1t may not
be out of place to call the attention of the public
to the fact that the penalty for the failure to
make. verify, and return statement of income
for the year 1894 is not collectible nor can the
same be enforced by distress or otherwise,
The Income Tax law" of Aug. %, 1894. In
addition to other valid constitutional objections,
is clearly and wholly unconstitutional null. and
void. in 30 far as 1t imposes, or attempts to i'm
pose. any penalty whatsoever for any act or &C ts
or omission or commission, which relate directly
or indirectly to the period Of time from Jan. /,
1904. to Aug. 2s. 1894, and in imposing, or seek
Ing to impose fine or penalty, the act is at least
hnK TO It's eo as II r. ea 70
and therefore necessarily unconstitutional. at
least SO far as the returns or non-returns for the
year 1894 arc concerned and any fine or penalty
A discussion on tho above lines may not be
the Federal officials to resort to distress" &c,
In the event of failure on the part of any one to
APRIL 10. 1895. FREDERICK J. STONE.
To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sir: Please
inform a constant reader of your sprightly paper
If the Income Tax law is not retroactive enact
ment, and IL being such it is not, upon that
ground alone, unconstitutional?
Jan. /, 1904. This is going back eight months
If the law can thus 60 back eight months why
not eight years Why not, for that matter,
why fSe not Tor
In the latter case our Populist friends would
nave had the salts faction OF seeing a good many
OF the men at whom they have aimed the income
tax beggared outright. FAIRPLAY.
The Income Tax law is wrong at every point.
1t couldn't we'll be otherwise. for 1t was proposed
and promoted by pack of infammatory dema-
agOgues who throw overheard the Constitution,
law, justice, the good faith of the Democratic
party. and about every vital political sentiment
that Americans have been taught TO respect.
Wonderful Story OF n Pittsburgh Statue.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: During
sojourn of one week in the city of Pittsburgh
a great number Of more or less curious manifes-
tations of human conduct has come under my
observation. but the most remark able affair of
Its kind-an affair. am sure, without a single
known instance. ancient or modern-ever known
in this or any other community is now being
ventilated in the news columns of the Pitts
burgh daily papers.
In tho East End Of Pittsburgh is park do
mated by Mrs. Scherley and known as Scherley
Park. 1t is proposed to adorn this park-a beau
tiful place. by the way, and tho noble gift of a
noble gver-with various pieces Of statuary. and
York appears on the scene as q sort of official
sculptor who is expected to furnish designs for
and execute as rapidly as possible all the stain
ary required for Scherley Park. Now comes the
remarkabl ana unprecedented Incident above
referred to. The city authorities voted TO order
from Signor Moretti and have erected at the
public expense statue in Scherley Park of Di-
rector OF Public Works Bigelow, a gentleman
who not only Is not dead but is the present in
cumbent OF the office named, and appears to be
very much alive. The committee of three from
the City Councils who were appoint ed To order.
accept. and erect this statue have performed
their duty. They have ordered Sgnor Moretu
TO build II. they have visited the Signors studio
IN New York. pronounced it a masterpiece, and
have accepted II: but only yesterday Director
hgelow visits New York, inspects the statue for
personal reasons, such as It does not look like
him, II is cross-eyed, the chin is too big. &c.
Now the questions arise:
What Is Signor Moretti's position and what
shall he do? ~
What shall the Committee of Councils dor
What will the citizens doP
What will the honored Bigelow do?
Although an unprecedented affair would not
y really be better II all statues wore granted to
illustrious persons while they are livingI
III al statues were so granted. would there
ever be any statues erected except by force and
dnress against the will OF the honored partyP
Would 1t not be well IL no statues were
DO you think Pittsburgh will keep the statue
TIL l}ige!ow Is dead and then take IL down from
the garret and erect itr Or do you think they
VIII let Bige!ow oil upon payment of a fine and
PIrrsHuRGH, April 10.