The Anaconda standard., 1895-03-27
LO. THE POOR PRINTER
Editor Ed Butler Talks About the In.
come Tax Law.
Is EARNING HIS SALARY
Eastern Montana Has More Than
One Hundred Rich Men and Cor
porations-The Bounty Law
is Growing Active.
snec,al correspondence Of the standard.

special Correspondence OF the Standard.
LIVINGSTON, March 25.-Ed Butler, dep
uty internal revenue collector for the dis
trict comprising Park, Sweet Grass, Car
bon. Yellowstone, Custer and Dawson
counties, is in the city on business for
Uncle Sam. To the STANDARDS corres-
pondent Mr.. Butler stated that returns
from those liable to the income tax are
not coming in very fast.
according to my present Information,
obtained by consulting the county records
and in conversation with reliable parties
said the deputy collector, ~ am enabled
to state that there are within my district
at least 11S corporations or individuals
having yearly incomes in excess of $4,000,
divided among the different counties as
follows:
Park dncluding the newly created coun-
ties of Sweet Grass and Carbon). y, with
returns from IL; Yellowstone, 10, with re-
turns from 6; Custer, 56, with returns
from z, and Dawson, Ia, with no returns.
It is not generally known that there is
anything secret connected with the dis
charge of the income tax collectors du-
ties, but there is nevertheless. Under tho
provisions of the law the collector lays
himself liable to n flue of $1,000 If he
corporation known to him to be liable to
the income tax. The collectors records
in this respect are as sealed books to all
those not connected with tho business in
an official capacity. suppose this clause
was inserted to protect the parties in in-
interest from the festive assessor, and IL
this county official is unable TO arrive at
the amount of money or property pos
sessed by tho taxpayer n the regular way
he can rest assured that no information
will be forthcoming from the internal
revenue office or anybody connected
Herewith.
ALTHOUGH only those individuals or
corporations having n yearly income in
excess of $4,000 are liable to the per
cent. tax. those whose incomes exceed
$500 must make returns just the same.
The income OF n corporation or company
is taxable as n whole, but not SO with n
firm. For instance, If n railroad corpora
ton has an income of over $4,000 year,
il is liable to the tax, no matter how many
members of said corporation there are
among whom the profits are TO be divided,
but in the case of firm or co-partnership
the income liability does not attach unless
the members thereof shall receive as their
pro rata of tho entire income an amount
in excess of $1,000. In this case each
member receiving over $4,000 of the net
proceeds OF the firm is liable as an in.
dividual to the prescribed tax.
"All returns must be made on or before
April Is, but the tax is not due until July
/. In computing incomes, only the net
amount received during the calendar year
of 1894 should be considered.
The penalties that attach for non-com.
pliance with the law are pretty severe.
For failure to make returns the penalty is
80 per cent, for making false returns 10C
per cent, and for neglecting TO pay tine re.
quired tax on or before July 1 an addi.
tional per cent is added TO the per
cent tax.
"Corporations organized in other states
but doing business in Montana may make
returns TO the collectors in tho districts
where the concerns were incorporated
In such cases, however, the law makes i,
compulsory that the collections in all dis.
tricts where operations are carried on be
notified by the resident managers that re,
turns from tho home offices have been
made, and n penalty of 80 per cent at
taches for failure TO give such notice."
The wolf aud coyote killing industry
has commenced 10 receive the impetu:
given il by the passage of the new bounty
law, and from present indications County
Clerk Angus will have TO surrender con
siderable of his time TO the business o
puncing skins and keeping the necessary
record connected Herewith. The bount,
of So per head on coyotes, together with
the amount received from the sales of the
hides. makes the killing of these animal,
quite "a profitable industry. A ranchel
who was in town to-day from the upper
Yellowstone with six coyote skins said hs