The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-03-28

As Mr., Slmpkins' income was 5000
he had to figure out the amounts pay
able on each of the successive smaller
classes of incomes In order TO arrive
/ at the total due from himself. He
| passed over the first class who must
! pay taxes, that is, single men making
| over 1000. His calculation for mar
ried men then showed up as follows:
First, they pay 2 per cent. (under
the 1916 law on all income over
$4,000, deducting 5000 for each Of their
children under eighteen years. In Mr..
Simpklns case this was 1912, which he
put down in the payable" column.
He saw next that, under the 1917
law, married men pay an additional 2
per cent. on all over S2,00O-with the
same allowance for children. This
added 1852 to his payable" column.
He then observed that for every
50, 500 jump in his income over $4,000
he had to pay a Surtax, the percentage
growing larger with each jump. This
was $3.50 more added to his burden.
And on top of all this came an "Ex-
cess Profits" tax of 8 per cent. on all
Occupation" income over $4,000, max
ing S720 more.
The total, then, he must pay was four
teen hundred and thirty-four dollars.
"Whew" exclaimed Mr.. Slmpkins
angrily. There's young Henry Will
kins, who married Jake Johnson's girl,
he makes $1,000 and he doesn't pay a
cent of taxes. guess this is his war
as well as miner
Thinking Of young Henry wilkins,
he remembered that Mrs. wilkins went
every afternoon to make bandages for
the Red Cross and that Henry, who
was a lawyer, was aiding the Local
Draft Board with its questlonnaires.
"Wen," he admitted to himself,
that makes a difference
He thought next of Judge Willough-
by, whose income was about $1,000.
"He only pays 500" commented Mr..
Slmpkins, not quite so angrily this
time and then a thought struck him
and he sat up rigidy in his chair
Judge Wllloughby's son had been
drowned on the Tuscanla when 1t was
summarized with the loss of two hun
dred soldiers.
Judge Wnloughby gave his son to
America" muttered Mr.. Slmpklns.
He leaned forward suddenly and put
his face in his hands
For long time Mr.. Simpkins sat |
very still in that position. There was |
no sound in the library except the |
ticking Of the tall clock and an occa- |
sional trlll Of laughter from the chill
dren skyarklng upstairs. The square |
OF light on the carpet gradually with
drew itself through the window. and |
first twilight and then darkness settled |
in about the quiet, white haired, some |
times rascible old man.
Mr.. Simpkins was thinking things |
which he would never afterward speak |
OF, he was thinking things that were
too sacred ever to be put into words
But some inkling Of his thoughts may
be found in his rejoinder to Mrs.
Slmpklns when that placid lady came
in and turned on the lights, and asked
him whether he was ready for dinner.
Judge NlllOughDys only son was
worth ms much az fourteen hundred
and thlrty-four dollars, wasn't he?"
Mr.. Slmpkins demanded Of her.
AS his wife, who was not unused to
his superficial irritations, watched him
in mild establishment, Mr.. Slmpkins
limped out to the hall and took his
old felt hat and sllver-headed cane
from the hat rack Letting himself out
into the foggy evening, he tapped his
way down to the corner, and mailed his
income tax statement and check with
his own hands
"Now, God be thanked" said Mr..
Simpkns as the lid clanked shut over
his mlsslve, 81 can do this much for
my country, anyhow"