Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-28
Etrrsstt1g Glrat

| a good thing that Uncle Sam ex-
tended the time for filing reports.
Otherwise, the offices of the revenue
collectors would have been swamped
with requests for extensions and a
lot of people would have faced fines.
The average man appears not yet te
have grasped the fact that he owes
a report to the government on what
he makes. Judging from what peo-
Pile say in the trolley cars, the in
come tax is still regarded as some-
thing which pertains only to the
4 wealthy, and the fact that every
single man who makes $1,000 and
every married man who makes So
600 a year have to pay taxes, has .
not permeated. Neither has the very
important provision of the law that
every corporation or firm that en-
ploys man or woman, who makes
$500 or over, must file a statement,
been generally grasped. When men
who would have considered it a
compliment few years ago to have
been put in the income tax paying
class, realize that they have arrived
1t is rather amusing. In the last
year, the earnings of many men,
especially those engaged in piece
work, have advanced materially and
there are mechanics. who would
have snorted at the suggestion of
their ever having to pay tax on
incomes, who are now we'll within
the class. One of tho men connected
with the Revenue Service said yes
terday In talking about the income
tax, that he sincerely hoped that
every man would make it his busi-
ness to find out what the law requir-
ed of him. THE government has
provided places for asking questions
and is. anxious to help in every
way" said he.
One of the most amusing incl
dents with the awakening" of men
to the fact that they are in the plu-
tocratic class that must file returns
came the other day in trolley car.
It was filled with railroad men and
they have been doing pretty we'll in
the earning line. AS most of those
on the car were married men they
did not worry, but there was one
man who was single and who had
been making pretty fair pay He
was "joshed" about income tax.
"I amt in that class. What's
wrong with you fellows?" said he.
The crowd began to quiz him on
what he made and he gave some
figures.
Then ready mathematicians in
the crowd added it up and showed
the engineer where he landed. His
terminal was within the taxing zone
and we'll within it.
"Say, old scout. what did you
make?" suddenly demanded the
plutocrat of a man near him.
The man carefully scanned book
and told him.
"Now add what you said you got
from that farm you brag about and
come on in; the waters fine shout
ed the plutocrat.
And the whole car roared.
1t turned out afterwards that only
two or three in the car knew what
they had made last year, but they
did some shrewd guessing.
The State Department of Agricul-
ture has completed series of in
and gives this data: The average
depth of plowing in Pennsylvania is
6.7 inches in fall work and 6.5 inches
in spring. Only in four other states
is the average depth of fall plow-
ing as great as that of the Pennsyl-
vanian and seven states show deeper
plowing in the spring"
|
1t is not generally known that DIR.
Samuel G.. Dixon, the states la
mented commissioner of health. at
one time thought seriously of buy
ing a residence in Harrisburg. DIR.
n Dixon made his home for time in
the Harrisburg club, and later at a
private residence in Front street,
taking rooms after he had given up
the idea of removing to this city.
! The commissioner, who was a sp1en-
did type of the wealthy scholar in
public service, was also very keen
businessman and realized the value
of property in Harrisburg. He was
thoroughly we'll posted on the pos
sibilities of this city and the region
round about and often remarked
upon the fact that this city was
bound to grow. when Harrisburg
starts to expand" said he upon one
occasion, when he had taken a walk
over the upper part of the city and
. had covered enough ground to make
his companion wish that he would
stop and rest look out for the
growth 1t will grow rapidly and
make a lot of money, for the people
who have the ground. Both ddes Of
the river to the mountain will be
taken up some day"
DIR. Dixon loved to work, but he
also loved to walk. He would be at
his office in the Capitol until late at
night long after everyone had gone
home and be around the first thing
in the morning, often embarrassing
ly early. The commissioner walked
Systematically. He would start out
in the morning to take a walk over
some Section of the city he had not
visited before and arrive at the office
glowing and filed with energy. And
in the afternoon after doing about
twice an ordinary mans work, he
would walk a couple of miles and
then go back in the evening and do
another days work. A friend who
used to drop in and visit the COM
missioner in the evenings and chat
with him, once remarked upon the
remarkable knowledge he had OF
Harrisburg. We'll, I know the
country around my home, and I re-
gard Harrisburg as a home, too. 4
know what it is going to be api
want to help it to be model in -
sanitary way and to watch its other
improvements by the best for the
conservation of life and health"
said the commissioner. when the
time comes, I am going to know just
| NJ, &c Daadad ond hnyy nan ha