The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1918-03-23
ilR, SiNpHIMS PAYS
: lis E..CoME TAX
BY ROBERT McBlAlR.


Civil War and had died bravely on the
field of action Mr., Siinpklns throat
ached now for two reasons: First, he
reverenced and adored the memory Of
his father; secondly, his age and his
eyes and his game leg wouldn't let him
go to war himself. And as he observed
the martial bearing and uncoinpromis-
ing gaze of Colonel Simpkins he saw,
In Imagination the khaki-clad lads OF
the new generation marching forth and
crossing three thousand miles of sea to
fight. maybe die, for liberty.
Mr.. Simpkns pecred around to make
sure that neither Bess nor John (whO
were at the teasing ages of sixteen
and seventeen) were where they could
see him. then he Strengthened and
threw his right arm up for salute.
But his equity shoulder twinged, and he
groaned He couldn't even salute.
damn r. said Mr.. Simpkins. and
with his other hand fierceiy twirled his
white mustachios
He turned and Iimped into the IT,
brary and sat down creakily before the
mahogany desk on which were lying
the blanks for his income tax state
ment. blanks which he had rather
grumpily got from the Internal Rere-
nue. officer only that day after lunch
con on his way home from the club.
Mr.. Simpkins income for 1917 had
amounted to just about $4,000 and he
had been rather snappy on the sub
feet Of taxes ever since he had d:scov-
cred fhaf the more income man has
the greater the percentage Of 1t he
pays In taxes He could think of sew
eral men who, like himself, were mar
ried and had two children. and yet.
although their incomes were nearly
half of his. they would pay only a
small fraction of the amount he paid.
He gloomily drew the blank nearer
and began filing in the Information
that II asked for.
As Mr.. Simpkins' iNcome was S150H0
he had to figure out the amounts pay
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 per cent. tunder
the 1916 law) on all income Over
1000. deducting 5000 for each Of their
children under eighteen years. In Mr..
Simpkins case this was S212, 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 $2,0O0-with the
same allowance for children. This
added 1852 to his payable" column.
He then observed that for every
$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 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.
"Whewv' exclaimed Mr.. Simpkins
angrily. There's young Henry Will
kins, who married Jake Johnson's girl,
he makes $1,000 and he doesn't pay
cent of taxes guess this is his war
as well as mine!"
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 lawyer. was aiding the Local
Draft Board with its questlonnaires.
well" he admitted to himself.
"that makes difference"
He thought next Of Judge WiIlough-
by. whose income was about $1,000
"He only pays 500" commented Mr..
S,mpkins, not quite so anyrily this
time; and then thought struck him
and he sat up rigidly in his chair.
Judge willoughby's son had been
drowned on the Tuscania when 1t was
Summarized with the loss of two hun
dred soldiers.
Judge Willoughby gave his son to
America" muttered Mr. Simpkins.
He leaned forward suddenly and put
his face In his hands.
For o long time Mr.. Simpkfns sat
very still in that position. There was
no sound In the library except the
ticking of the tall clock and an occa-
sional trill Of laughter from the chill
dren skylarking 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 irascible 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
lie found In his rejoinder to Mrs
Simpkins when that placid lady came
In and turned on the lights. and asked
him whether he was ready for dinner
.Judge Willoughby's only son was
worth ms much as fourteen hundred