The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-08

pavements. and other special purposes
III he has uninsured losses by fire. storm.
or shipwreck. he can deduct the sum
Of them from his total income. He can
do the same with respect to actually
worthless accounts owing to him and
charged on on his books during the year.
He Is also given a reasonable allow
ance for the wear and tear of his ma
chinery and business property. A new
roof for his building, manifestly. would
be an item of expense in the operation
OF his store, mill, or factory. An add
ton to his building. however, would not
be so regarded by the law. nor would
new machinery. Under no circumstances.
however. will he be allowed anything
for the living expenses Of himself or
his family"
ish man In black. how We are to make
out return of our net income and
gains
II can only do so in a general way"
Mr. Hull says THE Secretary Of the
Treasury will prepare and print a regu-
lar form for that purpose after the Un-
derwood bill passes the Senate. II can
be said. however. that the citizen VIII
put down the sum Of his earnings. II he
is a professional man, or the sum or
his profits, IL he is engaged IN business.
event that he owns real estate, and has
leased 1t to other persons; the interest
he receives on money loaned out or on
deposit in banks, as well as on ponds.
and the dividends he Is drawing from
the shares of corporations. This done,
he makes his lawful deductions"
Jail and Fine. for Some.
What becomes of the fistsr' inquiries
~ -hr- ha MI
They are given to citizens in the nrst
place by the internal revenue collector
of the district and are returned to that
officer, who sends them to Washington,
where other government officers figure
out the taxes due in each instance. The
citizen. on being notified of the amount.
rays 1t to the collector Of internal rev.
enue."
And prying lawyers. politicians, and
reporters" shouts the slim, oldish man
in black, "can go to the ONCE Of the
collector and look over and even copy
the lists
IF anything of that kind should hap
PEN" Mr.. Hull answers, the collector,
or his deputy. or the clerk who Is re-
sponsible for such a violation of the law,
could be heavily fined and sent to prison.
Furthermore" Mr.. Hull goes on to say,
persons and corporations failing to
make returns. when liable so to do. even
though blanks have not been sent to
them. can be made to pay $500, besides
penalties and back taxes"
But why is a person having a net in
come of only $500 a year compelled to
make a return to the government" in
quires a youngish person. who. some one
says. is the general manager Of a troll
ley company.
Man." says Mr.. Hull, SIS inclined to
be little pessimistic concerning himself
when he talks to the tax collector. He
is likely to shade the figures to his own
advantage. We have thought 1t prudent
to obtain a list of the $500 men and
women in the United States in the hope
that we can promote some of them to a
higher and a more prosperous class"
And how long" sneeringly asks the
slim, oldish man in black. do you think
this meddling law will be tolerated by
the country
Until after you, my friend. and i and
every person present" Mr.. Hull says.
good-naturedly. have paid the last
great debt of nature and have been
gathered to our fathers"
Copyright. Isls. by james B. Mcrrc~)