The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-12-02
ROCKEFELLER DID
NOT RETURN TAX
on full INCOME
BY BASIL r. MANLY.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-From a
confidential source, high in authority
at the United States treasury depart
ment. I learn that in 1915 John D.
Rockefeller paid income tax on little
more than $2O,00O,000.
From an independent authority, also
having access to treasury records.
learn that in 1915 the income tax paid
by John D. Rockefeller was approxi-
mately $1,25O,OOO, which is the tax on
an income Of $20,S3O, 900. as nearly as
can be calculated in absc-ve Of COM
plete data.
These two sta temcnts obtained from
independent and authoritative sources
agree so closely that it may be accept
ed as a fact that Rockefeller paid into
the treasury in 1915 tax on approxim-
ately S21,Co0,ooO.
Tax Too Small.
This is an almost inconceivable
amount, equal to the average annual
earnings Of $1,000 American citizens,
and repro onting more than one-thir-
tfeth of the total personal income tax
paid in TINT year by 357,515 of the
nations richest citizens.
But the question ARIES: Does this
million an1 a quarter dollars represent
ALL THE TAX to which the federal
Treasury was entitled from Rookie
Teller?
one Of the host of wealthy citizens.
who, as I have proved in previous ar
tioles. defraudcd the treasury of $780,
100000 by evasion of the income tax?
With Rockefeller's detailed income
tax return locked up in the vaults Of
the United States treasury departm ent
/ I'D lacking complete information re-
garding all the details of his vast for
tune, positive charge that Rockefel-
Ter was one Of the great income tax
dodgers can not be made
But there is evidence that compels
the conclusion that his return for that
year should be subjected to the most
searching scrutiny by the treasury
officials.
Evidence Is Strong.
Here is the evidence: During the
year 1914. for which income tax was
paid in June, 1915, the dividends of
the Standard Oil companies and their
s'1hsidari es alone amounted to $751;
100000. Rockefeller is shown on the
stockholders lists of these companies
to have been the owner of little
more than cne-fourth Of all the stock.
making his share Of the dividends in
shot year s1c.S05.O00.
I'm addition. Rockefeller received
during the same year as interest on
his Colorado Fuel and Iron bonds, of
which he admitted the ownership of
s14SC6000 further income of s743.-
500.
From his oil stocks and Colorado
bonds alone. therefore. it is possible to
account for more than $17,500,OOO in
come during that one year.
This leaves only $3,50O.000 as his
income from all other sources.
NO records exist from which it is
possible to calculate his income from
other investments with a similar de-
gree of accuracy, but it is matter of
common knowledge in New York fl
nancia1 circles that Rockefeller's in
vestments in other securities are
nearly if not quite equal to his oil
holdings. These latter represent his
reinvestment of the enormous sums
paid to him in Standard Oil dividends
for the ]'st quarter of century.
Keeps Fortune Secret.
He is known, for example, to be a
large owner Of bank stocks, including
the immensely profitable National
City Bank of New York. a large holder
of railway stocks and bonds, and a
very heavy investor in all classes of
public utility and government securi-
ties.
Any Wall street banker or broker
Will tell You that Rockefeller's income
from investments outside Of oil is i'm
menselv MORE than $3,5OO,0OO.
This evidence, which seems to show
that the treasury department. did not
secure complete return of Rookie
tellor's income is strongly confirmed
by these further facts:
On the occasion Of Rockefeller's
last birthday, his employees are re-
ported on good authority to have pre-
scented him with a statement SHOWING
that his total wealth amounted to
more than ONE BILLION DOLLARS.
At per cent this would make his in
come amount to s50.O0o,00O or just
s29.o00,oO0 more than It appears he
paid income tax on Just ono year
before.
Five per cent dividends on anything
are pretty small potatoes to John D.
Rockefeller
Has Bad Record.
In weighing this evidence the Am
er'can people should take into con-
s1deration Rockefeller's known tax
record. They should remainder that
he has Dersistently evaded taxes in
Cleveland and has paid taxes in New
York; for less than the actual value of
his personal property. They should
remember also Standard Oils record
of disregard for the law and every
KIND OF government property.
Order Of Hearing ON Petition for De-
termination of Descent of Land.
STATE OF MINNESOTA. COUNTY OF
st. Lou1s:-ss. In Probate Court.
In the Matter Of the Estate of John
Kalin, Decedent.
The Petition Of Lizzie KAHN having
been filed. in this Court representing,
among other things, that the above
named decedent died more than five
years prior to the filing Of said petit
ton, and that no Will Of decedent has
been proved nor administration granted
on, his estate in this State; that said
DeflfiOnpy> has ~