The evening times., 1896-07-24
WANT TO REVIVE THE TAX
Present Status of the Income
Law ArOuSeS Interest.
THE MEASURE NOT RECINDED
Still Stands on the Statute Books, Al
though Rendered Imperative by
Decision of the Supreme Court in
Single Case-If Bryan Is Elected
He VIII Probably Enforce 1t.

The present status of the income-tax
law is matter of great interest, consider
ing recent developments. In view of the
declaration of the Democratic platform, the
election of Bryan and Sewall may be taken
to mean that an effort will be started for
the collection OF the tax.
1t would not be necessary to pass another
law: that which was put through at the
last session of the Fifty-first Congress and
approved by President Cleveland has not
been rescnded. 1t has been rendered in
operative by the acquiesceDce OF govern
ment officials in the verdict of the United
States Supreme Court in u single case.
The friends OF the law claim that the
Treasury officials ought to go ON and make
up the lists of persons from whom the tax
is due and prepare the papers for the col
lection of it. They assert that If Mr..
Bryan comes into office lie will have this
done. Also, If vacancy in the Supreme
Court should occur, he will appoint man
whose vote would give majority in favor
of the constitutionality OF the act. The
tax could then be collected.
WILL COLLECT BACK TAXES.
| Not only is it proposed in such con-
| ungency to collect the tax for the then
| current year and for the future, but for
| all previous years back to 1895. The only
| hindrance to this action, it is claimed, will
be the inability to determine how much is
| due from each person, because the statistics
| have not been collected a directed by the
act
The statistics were collected, however,
| for S95, so that millions Of dollars would
be collectable for that year Also, there
is some talk of a mandamus suit to compel
Secretary Carlisle to carry out the pre-
| visions of the law.
The advocates of the tax say the Supreme
| Court has once reversed itself on this
| very question, and there is no sound reason
why it should not d O the same thing again
| Nothing is being done at the Treasury
| Department concerning the collection OF
the tax. Any effort to compel the per
Torrance Of the preliminary steps under
| the act would probably be resisted through
| the machinery ofthe government. Treasury
| officials were reticent when asked concern
| ing the attitude of the department.
SECRETARY CARLISLE SILENT
| Assistant Commissioner OF Internal Reve
| nue. Wilson said, in answer to questions:
I'VE are, OF course, after the decision OF
the Supreme Court, which is final, taking
no steps looking to the collection of the
| tax; also, all personal facts gathered by
| our agents under the law have been de
stroyed, in accordance with au act OF
Congress"
Another official, who preferred not to be
quoted, said he regretted Bryan and Sewa Z
and tree silver, but he was sure there ought
to be an income tax to make the wealthy
bear their due proportion of taxation.
Under existing conditions, he thought,
wealth to a large extent escapes this.
The reviving OF tbelaw by putting Judge
on the Supreme Bench who would decide
in favor of the law would be a dangerous
experiment He much preferred that the
result should be reached by the enactment
of an amendment to the Constitution.
Secretary Carlisle preferred not to say
anything whatever in regard to the matter