Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1918-06-27
Mr.. SIMpkINS PAYS
HIS INCOME TAX
sy RosERr MoBlAIR.


Civil War and had died brs rely on the
neld Of action. Mr. SimpAins' throat
ached now for two reasons First, he
reverenced and adored the memory of
his father; secondly, his aae and his
eyes and his game leg wouldn't let him
go to war himself And as ne observed
the martial bearing and un-empr0mls-
ing gaze of Colonel SimpkisS he saw,
In Imagination, the khah-clsh lads OF
the new generation marching forth and
crossing three thousand miles OF sea to
fight, maybe die. for liberty.
Mr.. SimpkIns peered 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 /" said Mr.. Simpkins, and
with his other hand fercely twirled hiF
white mustachIos.
He turned and limped Tito the H.
brary and sat down creakily before the
mahogany desk on which we're lying
the blanks for his income tax state
ment, blanks which he had rather
grumpiiy got from the internal Reve-
nue. officer only that day inter lunch.
con on his way home from the club.
Mr.. Simpkins income for 1917 had
amounted TO Just about $1,000. and he
had been rather snappy or the sub
ject of taxes ever since he had discov-
cred that the more income man has
the greater the percentage of II he
pays In taxes. He could thisk of sew
eral men who, like himself, were mar
ried and had two children. and yet.
half OF his, they would pay only a
small fraction OF the amount he paid
He gloomily drew the blank nearer
and began filling In the information
that II asked for.
As Mr.. Simpkins' 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 tho first class who must
pay taxes. that 10. single men making
over 1000. His calculation for mar.
ried men then showed up as follows:
First, they pay per cent. (under
the 1915 iaw) on all income over
$4,000, deducting 500 for each OF their
children under eighteen years. In Mr..
Simpkins' case this was 1912, which he
put down In the payable" column.
He saw next that, under tho 1917
law, married men pay an additional 2
per cent. on all over S2.000-with the
same allowance for children. This
added 1852 to his payable" column.
He then observed that for every
s2.501 jump In his income over 5000
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 s per cent. on all
occupation" income over $4,000, max.
ing 1920 more.
The total, then. he must pay was four
teen hundred and thirty-four dollars.
"Whswl" exclaimed Mr.. simpkins
angrily. There's young Henry VIII.
kIns who married Jake Johnson's girl,
he makes $1,000 and he doesn't pay q
ceiit-of taxes. | guess this IL btf war
as wen AZ Miner ---
Thinking OF young Henry wilkins
be remembered that Mrs. wilkins went
every afternoon 70 make bandages for
the Red Cross and that Henry, who
was lawyer, was aiding the Local
Draft Board with Its questionnaIrea
"Well." he admitted to himself,
~that makes a difference"
He thought next Of Judge wiliouRh.
by, whose income was about 5000.
"He only pays $40" commented Mr..
simpkins, not quite 20 angrily this
time; and then q thought struck him
and he sat up rigldly In his chair.
Judge Willoughby's son had been
drowned on the TuBcania when Il was
Summarized with the loss Of two hun
dred soldiers.
Judge Willoughby gave his son to
America" muttered Mr.. Simpkina
He leaned forward suddenly and put
his face In his handa
For q 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-
slonal trill OF laughter from the chli.
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 irssclble 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 rejOnder 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 as much as fourteen hundred
and thirty-four dollars, wasn't he9"
Mr. Simpkins demanded Of her.
As his wife, who was not unused 10
his superficial irritations, watched him
IN mild astonighment, Mr.. SimpkIns
limped out to the hail and took his
old felt hat and sllverheaded cane
from the hat rack Letting himself ont |
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 sald Mr..
SimpkinI as the lid clanked shut over
No missive, II can do this much for |
my country, anyhow"