Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-24

Saturday before saying anything abou
II. But again his envelope contained
only $3.50.
He then complained TO the cashier
who said 4 thought you knew Tha
deduction Is the usual ten per cent tith'
for the temple" The writer says h
was afraid that II he raised objection
he would hazard the loss OF his position
lie states that he ascertained It wa
Customary In that locality TO pay thi'
1.-THE. but that Il was supposed not t.
be compulsory lie then asks the eli-
tor to give his opinion on this point;
namely. rs II fair that officers and d.
rectors should pay tlthea on net profits
after salaries have been deducted
while employees pay ten per cent on
their gross Income" He complains that
"employes are taxed ten per cent Oh
gross income, without deduction Of any
expenses or allowances Of any kind
and says thus we see how the poor al
ways get IL III tUt nfNh.
The editor expresses the opinion that
zone should do In Rome as Rome does,
but as a matter Of business Mormons
should not expect employees whoare not
in sympathy with their religion 10 pay
tlthes, and as they do not make MOI
monlsm a condition for employment,
they are probably liberal enough to
treat people on their merits whether
they pay tlthes or not" He also thinks
the system described to be decidedly
unfair and an unjust discrimination
against those who can least AFFORD H.
We fear The Bookkeepor has been
imposed upon as TO facts, and we are
sure that Il Is mistaken as TO the prin-
ciple involved In the questions 1t has
undertaken to answer As to the ALLEGED
statement by d. Eff, we do not believe
his story. There Is no manufacturing
or other such establishment in or near
salt Lake City. where tlthing Is made
In any way compulsory Certainly one
who is not member of the Church
would not be required to contribute a
cent to II, either by way Of tithes or do
nations,
II there Is a business house In which
tIthing is deducted from weekly wages,
we are not aware Of It, At one time
this was zone in a few establishments,
by the consent Of the employees as
much reader way Of paying their vol
untary tithes, than leaving 1t until the
amount became too large for easy set
tlement. But these we believe have dis
continued the practice, not desiring to
do for the employees that which they
ought to do for themselves.
We regard the attempt to make II APP
pear that non-members of the Church
are required TO pay tithes to IT, and
that this is a custom here as a deliber-
ate attempt at Misrepresentation which
is highly reprehensible and indeed con-
temptlble. No such custom ever pre-
ga.lcd In this city or its nelghborhood.
The very expression the usual ten per
cent tithe for The temple" which shows
ignorance Of the object and purpose of
tlthe-paying, brands the statement as a
fabrication,
Now as to the supposed "discrimina-
ton in the tithing OF the gross income
of individuals and only the net income
OF fms and corporations, II the book
keeper earning S25 q week or the LABOR
ef receiving but 50 a week, desires to
pay iithing, he win donate the tenth
OF his wages whatever they may be,
What expense Is q bookkeeper or
day Iaborer put TO In gaining his sti-
pend? None at all His support and
family expenses are another matter.
They come out OF his tithed income.
But If a company or individual engages
IN business, investing a certain amount
OF capital iha expenses Of carrying It
on. including the wages OF employees,
must he deducted before the seal In
come Is determined. The company lays
the tenth thereof as the company nth
Ing But each partner or director pays
the full tenth OF his personal income
Just the same az any employe does. The
Garner of wages, or receiver OF a salary
OF acrso, conducting business, pays
the t,nth OF that which he actually ie-
ce.ves az li.cume, and each person sup
oorls himself and family out II tie re-
ma'aler Thus there is no discrnnina-
ton and no injustice In the working Of
tlla ruiz.
Sat the tenn taxed ten per cent" is
Incorrect There Is no such tax In
Utah. The State has It's tax laws, sim
liar 10 thos, in other parts Of the couu-
ny, bat taey have nothing to do with
the Church Titbing Is a voluntary do.
na,ioa pota tax, but IS a requirement
Of the Lord upon His people VINO re
mogrt 10 regard II as a matter Of con-
science.
II would be- a good thing for egciy
c)n irunity and nation, II all other
forms Of Kissing revenue were abolished
and the tithing system substituted
therefor. II is the most equitable plan
that can be devised. While ineQuall-
lies Of wealth exist--and II Is likely ,hat
they always will--complaints may be
made Of the tlthing OF the poor on the
same hasis as the rich. But each indi-
sldJal PAYS in proportion to his actual
Income. and that Is the fairest method.
al things considered. that can be
adopted by any people. The world viii
come TO II some day, and its justice and
lts benefits win be universally acknowi-
edged
KING ALFRED THE GREAT.