New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-22
WANT THEIR P1PERS BACh.
MANY PEOPLE WORRYING LEST THE RE
TURNS BE MSDE PUBLIC.

TIE DOCUMENTS ORDERED TO BE SEALED Up
AND SENT TO oN-coMpIAcATIoNs
CAUSED nY THE DECISION.
Many persons in this city went to the oihces OF
the collectors OF internal revenue yesterday anu
said that they wanted 10 get back the returns Tor
income tax which they had hed Few OF "'o"l
had paid TO the collectors tho supposed amount VI
their income tax and they also wanted TO get the
Money back The chief anxiety. however seemed
., he that the returns which disclosed the incomes
and also all OF .hc business affairs OF the persons
who had made the returns. might De ailo"e' 10
get 10 the knowledge OF the general puhhc on a'-
count OF the decision OF the Supreme Court deciar-
Ing the Income Tax law to be unconstitutional.
The general opinion seemed TO be that the decision
~ the Supreme Court had rendered void not only
that portion Of the law which related to the col
lection Of the tax. but also that portion which maze
the publication OF Information in the returns mis-
demeanOr
section s.ls, Of the Revised Statutes. as amended
~. the act provides that ut shall be unlawful ior
or,. collector dcruty-coector agent or other OIL
cer or employe of the United States to dvulge or
make known In any manner whatever not PROVIDED
H.. law TO any person the amount or source Oh IN
come profits. losses. expenditures or any particular
thereof set forth or disclosed in any income return
hv any person or corporation. or TO permit any
,,c,,ne return or COPY thereof or any book con-
tanning any abstract or particulars thereon 10 De
seen or examined by any person except as pro'iueu
By law
..lt shall be unlawful for any person To piht or
,-.,h,ish I'm any manner whatever not provided by
law any income return. or any part thereof or III"
amount or sources Of income. pro"ts 'oSseS OF
exueneltures appearing In any income return.
ANY offence against the foregoing provisions
ehou he a mislomeanor. AMI he punishei 10y 4 me
not exceeding y.oor by imprisonment not exceed
INC one wear or both al the discretion Of the Court;
.ltl.ar mi % . q
United states he shall be dismissed from Once am
h irc,ualle thereafter OF holding any Office under
the government
TO BE SENT FORTHWITH TO WAshlNfToN.
The aafeguard provided 10y tn" Law was believed -
a. .n,rlo hut as soon As the law was d"r.hr'l 10
be Unconstitutional the question 1T cH'" arose.
what Will b. done with the returns NAM
New-Yorkers thought there would be great danger
n th.rn If tie returns which they had made 'ouN
,o ,htained for publication. and they Were anxious
., c., the returns back speedily AZ pos3ib'.
THOR alarm might have been anuc vaiei IN WASH
irgton because As soon AZ the decision OF 'n' 81
pr.rle Court had been announced the COMMISSIONER
Of Internal Revenue sent by telegraph 10 All "l
the collectors an order when said stop all "or"
in connection herewith. and send To this once
at once under seal all books. assessment is's'
returns and records in your Office or IN hand Of dep
uiies relating the income tax , -.
the design Of the order WAS speedily TO concrntratr
the returns, and get them in the CUSTODY ol a rev
resuousibi. officials where they would De shir anu
also beyond the reach Cf anybody VINO shi nan
10 publish the information contained IN theH
TIE fact was appreciated that some oi me news
ia pers might want to publish the returns made
by prominent and wealthy men
John 4 sullivan Collector OF Internal feNshur
Tor the Second District Of New oTk ~ an "H.'hl
who t. swift 10 carry out orders lie D." sooner
received the order from Washington man hr So,
about obeying IT. Every return for Income lax IN
his once al No. III Nassau-st, together WIN M
assessment rolls and every scrap OF paper bearing
on the subject had been PLACED under seal am
forwarded to Washington yesterday, 10 lh1 per
sons who went TO the office t. ask Tor their re-
turus MIR sullivan said chrerfuily that they were
oui Of his hands and beyond hs reach, ana he vas
not suf y. ...., a.
There IL nothing left hcTe connected WIN ~,
income tax except HE sign nc sali ana W"nti
send The SIGN 10 washington " U""hN' "'' ''"''
make any usr ~ o. o..-. ,...,...,
G1llrlinr Edward Crosse, ~ The lhifl lsii'l,
,.as a, ,.,,t ia hn once ~ inufh-aVt AMI -Four
i,snti- 81 Yesterday, getting ready - forward ih'
inrnmr Ia returns, ahH'Hsinrhl IONS hfH "l'l
tinrin ~ Washington. llr had innl' t"hr W
diifns w telegraph. ana ma in'rN'l I'tl"H Huu'
ir enn sslnnrf ~ Internal iipNrru" concerning
inc applications of persons VINO ha1 mhl' i'inlhl