The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-03-21

mail fraction Of the amount he paid.
lie Cioomlly drew the blank nearer
and began filling In the information
that II asked for.
As Mr. Simplins' income was $4,000
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
rIcd men then showed up as follows;
First, they pay . per cent. (under
the 1916 law) on all income over
$1,000, dcductlng 5000 for each Of their
children under eighteen years. In Mr..
Simpliins' 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
per cent. on all over $2,000-with the
same allowance for children. This
added $3.50 to his payable" column.
He then observed that for every
$500 jump In his income over $1,000
he had to pay Il SurtaX, the percentage
growing larger with each jump. This
was $50 more added to his burden.
And on top of all this came an "Ex-
cess Profits" tax OF s per cent. on all
Occupation" income over $4,000, max.
Ing $720 more.
The total, then, he must pay was four
teen hnndred and thirty-four dollars.
"Wheww exclaimed Mr.. Slmpklns
angriiy, "There's Young Henry VII
knS, who married Jake Johnsou's girl,
he makes $1,000 and he doesn't pay q
cent Of taxes. guess this Is his war
as well rs miner
Thinking Of young Henry wilkins,
he remembered that Mrs. wilkins went
every afternoon to make hauduges for
the Red Cross and that Henry, who
was lawyer was aiding the Local
Draft BOARD with It's questlonnalrcs,
"Well" he admitted TO HIMSELF
That makes n difference"
He thought next of Judge Willough-
by. whose income was about $1,000.
"lle only pays 500" commented Mr..
S,mnkinS, rot quite so angrly this
time; and then a thought struck him
and he sat up rigidly In his chair.
Judge WlllOughhy's son had been
drowned on the TuscanG whcn IT was
subnarlncd with the loss of two hun
dred soldiers.
Judge Wllloughby gave his son to
America" muttercd Mr.. SimpkIns.
He leaned forward suddenly and put
| his face In his hands.
For long time Mr.. Slmpllns sat
very still In that position. There was
nc sound IN the library except the
ticking of the tall clock and nm Occa-
slonal trill of laughter from the chill
drcn SkylarkinG upstairs. The square
Of light on the carpet gradually with.
drew Itself through the window, and
frs; twilight and then darkness settled
In about thc quiet, white haired, some
times irGscihle old man.
Mr.. SmpkIns was thinking things
which h. would never aficrwVrd speak
Of, ne was thinking things that we're
too sacred ever TO be put into words,
But some iukling Of his thoughts may
he found In his rcIolnder to Mrs.
Slmpkns when that placid l;dy came
in and turned on the lights, Fnd asked
him whether he was ready for dinner
"Judge WillouEhby's only son was
worth ns much rs fourteen hundred
md thIrty-four dollars, wasn't her"
Mr.. Simpklns demanded of her.
As his wife, who was not unused to
his superficial irrtatlons, watched him
IN mild asronishment, Mr. Slmpklns
limped out to the hall and took his
old felt hat and silver.headcd 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.
Nov, God be thanked" said Mr..
Slmpkins MS the lid claIked shut over
his missive. ~ can do his much for
my country anyhow"