The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-22
EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX.
Contention of Judge Hughes of the
United sStntes Court.

WASHINGTON, March 2d.-A question of
some interest is likely to arise in connec-
ton with the collection of the income tax
from judges Of the United States courts.
Some days ago Judge hughes, of the East
ern judicial district of Virginia, came to
Washington and, in discussing the income
tax with friends, said that he had already
made his return. He had stated simply that
he had no income other than his salary as
a United States judge, which, under the
Constitution, was exempt from tax. The
sections of the Constitution to which Judge
Hughes referred provide that the Presi-
dent or the United States and the judges
of United States courts shall receive for
their services a compensation which shall
not be diminished during their continuance
in Office. The Supreme Court has held in
several cases that the imposition of a tax
on the salary of the President of the United
States and the judges of the Supreme and
Superior courts of the United States is a.
diminution of the salary within the mean
ing of the Constitution If the act levying
the tax was enacted during the official
term of the President or the Judges affect
ed thereby. If these decisions remain I'M
disturbed all United States judges, of which
there are about one hundred, will be ex-
empt from paying the income tax.
People who take exception to .ne income
ldA dIlu lHt lew li1leIIldl revenue tdAES lI1-
posed in the United States may take some
satisfaction in learning how much worse off
are the French In this respect as disclosed
United States Consul Wiley at Bordeaux.
He shows that every form of legal paper,
checks, notes, and documents, bills of lad
ing. even Autograph posters, must have a
revenue stamp affixed. From this source
Amounting last year to ...,.C0O 900. The
spirit and wine tax amounted to $12O. 900, 900.
The custom house. receipts Were 100000
Ahs fnhaaTO fnH Ma III an n nn6
other government monope4les yielded $780,
10000 Sugar paid an internal revenue tax
The land tax brought in $Ss, 500, 600 and per-
sonal property S2s,O00,000 If a clerk occu-
pied q hall n.l,, room s1s he pays q tax Of g per
pay for her poodle, but for every door and
window in the house. As the treasury. re-
alone. The g architect a Mho can lor Designs @lha9Ws
house with the least possible amount of
bicycle. you are taxed-the government col
lects Sc. 1000 % annually for permitting such
troduced in the chambers to tax the wear
ing of corsets. Business licenses bring in
$4. 00.0 900 per annum
As to expenditures the interest on the
national debt Is $40. 600, 900. and the main
tenance of the $4,000 men in the army, for
which the French are running themselves,
costs $50. 009. 0o0. The navy costs $50, 0O0,O coo
each year. and it costs ST., 900, 000 to run the
government match. tobacco and card fac
tories. for individuals cannot make or sell
the things. Salaries cost So. coo for the
President. Senators and Chambers, and the
Presidents salary is $24v. 600 per annum-
nearly five times as great as our own Pres
ident's salary, and the French executive
has a seven-year term. The judiciary costs
5000. geo, and as the state also pays the
priests. $4,000, 600 goes to that account. The
roreign Office and diplomatic service costs
100000. and when it comes to public
works, not less than $40. 1900 is spent am
nually, making our river and harbor and
public building appropriations seem ridicu-
ously small. There are many other items
of expense, requiring the exercise of in
genuity to devise new taxes from time to
time. and how long the French can con-
time TO support such an expensive estap-
lsshrnent is a matter or speculation.