Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-03-17
Entered at the Newport News, Va,
POstofflce ns second-class matter
FRIDAY. MARCH II, 1905.
AS TO THE INCOME TAX.

The Richmond rimcs.Dispatch prints
an interesting letter from a pctcrshur::
correspondent, in which tho unpopular
lily Of tho Virginia income tax is touch
cd upon. The writer calls attention 10
S The Tact that twenty of the one nun
,lrcd counties Of the State. or Onc-tifth.
return no income tax whatever Hen
rico leads ell the counties in the aggrc-
gate amount or income taxes paid, Sc E.
su'0. o.. Wise second. with Sl.7G9. 63,
ana AlhcmarIc third. 81 1856 Then
Mhcn we come to The cities. We ill.,.
1 that Richmond leads. the amount @,
income tax paid being $4,000 81: R0a
nokr. s2|n4.07r Petersburg. S2.ssO.u3:
Danrillc. $2,3ll.G9. The cities nay
nearly two.scvenths OF all tbs income
lax paid
This comment follows: Now whcr
one thinks CT the total income OF ali
the cities 9: the stare alone. >ihc $500
exemption IN each ease. these figures
are cScnrding small. | cannot under
stand how q citizen can avoid perjury
whcn making cath tc. the personal
properly Undergraduates to omit his in.
come. and |, In no sense atlemn, IL
Justify il. There are, however. some
reasons fer the nnporularity CT thi,
tax. and they should be brought TO the
attca'icn OF our people, and by them
In the attention Of our Legislators. In
TIE first place. 1t is not fair To the mi
n:riiy who pay income tax that they
should have to bear this burden AMI
llc others 30 free. Butthere is anola
GER. reason for the unpopularity of tho
income tax, and n more cO.ent one. IL
is double. treble and sometimes quad
riiEle tax"
The correspondent explains that par,
ct his centt ntion by quoting this deli
milton of the word under cOnsidci;.
'1on; Income shall include all rents.
salaries interest. etc. Amount OF all
premiums in gOll silver or colDcns
amount Of sales OF live stock and meal
of all kinds: amount of sales OF woct!.
butter. cheese. hay, tobacco. grain au,l
Gtlcr vegetables and agricultural D-o.
ducts. with certain deduct ions. not nc...
eSSaiy to give here All other .air
and profits derived from any source
whatever" .,y
lie then continues: Take the cas-,
OF man owning and renting propcrty,
ne pays tax 10 county town or city.
and tc The State on the value of thai
property. which is valuable accCrdin.;
10 the rent it will bring. Then comes
he income tax and he has 10 nav an
othcr tax on what the property bring;
nm ana what makes the taxable vaI,,,.
Oh MS property. the rent. Here is don
Die taxation The same would aDply
TO bends the bonds being taxable, then
INC interest on the already taxed bonds;
IS taxed AS income. When We consi,Icr
siccks there is further taxation. Til.
company doing business is taxed on i.s
hihni' II pays n license TAX. tlcn lie
members e.; the company the stock.
hcldcrs ere taxed on their stock. aud
~ addition 10 This. cores tile incum;
lax ON The dividends. which is the Weld
10 the individuals Of the property al.
ready fiiily taxed. Or take The cas- of
me merchant he pays p tax Oh his
stcrehouse then he is taxed on the
f6 I IAN Gmhi<<of his stock. tl,cn he has 10
pay license tax TO do business then
4 as fourth tax he has 10 pay AK on
Is Tie income derived from tho properly
5zEhlrehGy taxed. We nigh, note the case
y: o. ihr farmer who pays a lax on his
land, on his horses and mulcs. en- his
pi1~s aud other Implements, ana then