Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-03-26
MEMS CLUB.
A Large Gathering OF the Members
to Eear T. S. Adams Talk on the
Income Tax Law.


Last Wednesday evening about 100
members of the Mems club of the
First Universalist church met in
annual session to listen to the address
of Prof. T. S. Adams on the income
tax law. Supper was served at $50
O'Clock by members of the Ladies'
society of the church, which was
followed by business meeting.
Jos. W. Coates, president of the
club, presided, and the minutes were
read by Roscoe Young, secretary.
Reports of the various standing COM
mittees, and of the treasurer, Chas. ID.
Wegner, were received.
A nominating committee composed
of H. III. Manson, A. V. Gearhart
and Dr. W. A. Green, reported. and
on motion the secretary was instruct
ed to cast the ballot for the gentle
men named for the various positions,
as follows:
President-C. G. Yawkey.
| Nlce-PreSldent-A Ill. Reid.
Secretary Roscoe B. Young.
Treasurer-Chas. H. Wegner.
Mr.. Coates then introduced Mr..
| Adams, who is member of the state
TAX commission, and he talked very
Interestingly upon the new income
lax law, and at the close Of the even
ing's discussion, those present were
much better satisfied with the law
than they thought they could ever be.
Mr.. Adams went into the workings of
the new law quite extensively: he
told of the conditions which led to its
enactment; compared it with the old
law of taxation which he thought was
very discriminating; but he felt the
income tax treated all alike and
placed the burden where it belonged
and upon those best able to bear it.
He felt that the old method was in
iquitous and that its workings tended
to burden those of moderate means,
while the wealthy escaped with a
mere pittance. He said that under the
old system it required II supervisors
of assessments to do the work in the
place of the assessors, there were
80 income tax collectors al
though the salaries of the 80
amounted to about the same as the
total amount of the Il assessors. He
thought that if the people would give
the new law fair trial they would
superior to the old method of taxa
tion. He said that the land-owning
class now paid so per cent of all the
| taxes. Under the new system when
in thorough working it would not pay
over 30 per cent. He talked for an
hour and then invited discussion upon
whatsoever questions might be asked.
Many questions were propounded, all
of which Mr.. ACams answered with
promptness. Some of the questions
were such as had not been brought
before the state tax commission, and
these he proposed to submit to the
commission. Much valuable informa-
tion was secured by those present as
to how to make out their income tax
papers which are to be returned to
the collector by April 1st. Upwards
of third of those present took part
in the discussion.
1t was one of the most interesting
meetings ever held by the club and at
its close rising vote of thanks was
rendered the speaker for his excellent
address and his patience and kindly
consideration in answering the var
ious questions. 1t was after ten
o'clock at the close of the reception
which followed. During Mr.. Adams
stay in the city he was guest at the
home of Judge A. II. Reid.