The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-06
Utmost on Income Earned
Abroad Causes Revolt
i'm London.
MAKE PROTEST TO BRYAN
Leading Expatriates Sign Nc
mortal to BE Forwarded
to Washington.
sp,c,oI cob,e Despatch 10 TnE Sun.

1oypoN. March 5.-There is q wide-
pread revolt against the new Ameri.
can income tax by the weather. Amerl-
ran residents of London and there are
numerous threats that unless the law Is
sufficiently modified 30 as not to penalize
men engaged in business abroad whole
sale renunc.ation OF American citizen
ship will occur.
Two prominent Americans. as. a
,rotest against the tax. have already
translated their threats into action and
become British subjects. They are
Isaac Seligman Of Seligman Bros. the
London bankers, and Frank +. Bliss,
former Standard Oil magnate and ex-
president OF the American Society OF
London.
A memorial protesting against the
Inequalities of the act has been signed
b. the leading American residents OF
London and will be forwarded to Secre-
tary Of State Bryan through Mr.. Page.
.he American Amba ssador. The corre-
spondent of THE Sun learns from sew
sral of the signers of this document
tia, II the memorial does not produce
Results a large number OF them will be-
come British subjects. +. G. Van
Duzer, secretary OF the American So
sie.y and dean OF the American colony
in London, who is one Of the signers of
the memorial. said to-day:
american residents abroad are penal
ned, while alien non-residents who are
drawing money from the United States
are not penalized. 1t becomes serious
matter to pay an income tax OF per
cent. in Great Britain and then on TOP
.. that a surcharge of per cent. in the
United States. because the graduated
charges in the American tax will rapidly
reach that figure. There is no obJec-
ton on the part of Americans in Lon
don to paying tax on incomes received
from the United states. but there Is Ger
iainly an objection from business Ameri
cans who come abroad and develop new
fields o. industry TO being penalized 10
Increasing American prestige and trade
confidently prophesy that II tn
memorial is not needed a large number
Of Americans here will follow tn,
example Of Messrs. Seligman and Bills
and become British subjects. much a
We dislike to do So"
Says Act IL Ridiculous.
Harry Gordon Selfridge, a shrew'
American business man, who has JUS
extended his property here with
f2jO. 600 81, ESQ, OOV) real estate deal, wa
surprised when he was asked II he wa!
going to pay the income tax. He said:
'Of course l am willing to pay ta'
On any income which I receive from tn
United States. but as a matter OF rae
am obliged constantly to send none
to the United States to maintain m
interests there"
But" explained THE SUN CORE
Pondent. the act demands that 20
pay tax on your total net income. n
matter where it is derived"
SuIu WI. SUM
till not pay It,"
Mr.. selfridge emphatically exclaimed
Ny income is derived entirely In Ems
hnd and ! am asked to pay not only
income tax here, but another In tn
United States. / simply won't pay It,"
But" said THE Sun man, III you d
not make a return before April ! at III
American Consulate you will be hne
anywhere up to 100000"
That does not frighten me-" reptile
Mr.. Selfridge.
III you find the tax unavoidable wou
you become a British subject?" aske
THE Sun correspondent.
To this Mr.. Selfridge replied: :"
would be the simplest thing In Il
world, but have no desire to do 80.
prefer to fight the tax. There is col
Siderable doubt In my mind as
whether such provisions Of law VIII
found to lie constitutional"
Firms Pay EMployees' Tax.
At the American Consulate and amo'
Business firms and individuals there h
been considerable activity In filing =
turns, but there has been decided abste
Con on the part Of prominent Amel
can residents OF London from MAXI
individual declarations. The Consu.s
has been surprised to md unheard
Americans living quietly and unkno'
in country places who have Cheerful
Declared an income which 10 frequent
IN sxcess Of flo,eoe (eS0.eee). oevs'