The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-03-21

small fraction OF the amount he paid.
He gloomlly drew the blank nearer
and began filling In the Information
that IL asked for.
AS Mr. Simpkins' income was SIC. 900
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 1915 law on all income over
$4,000, deductlng 5000 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 the 1917
law, married men pay an additional 2
per cent. on all over S2.0O0-with the
same allowance for children. This
added 1882 to his payable" column.
He then observed that for every
$500 jump In his income over $1,000
he had to pay a Surtax, the percentage
growing larger with each jump. This
was $3.50 more added 10 his burden.
And on top Of all this came an "Ex-
cess Profits" tax Of per cent. on all
"occupa ton" 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.. Simpkins
angrily. There's young Henry VIII
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 miner
Thinking Of young Henry wilkins,
every afternoon to make bandages for
the Red Cross and that Henry, who
was a lawyer. was aiding the Local
Draft Board with Its questionnalres.
well" he admitted 10 himself,
THAT makes a difference"
He thought next OF Judge Willough-
by, whose income was about $1,000.
HE only pays $40" commented Mr..
Simpkins, not quite so angrily this
time; and then a thought struck him
and he sat up rigidly in his chair.
Judge WilIoughby's son had been
drowned on the Tuscania when 1t was
summarized with the loss of two hun
dred soldiers.
Judge WilIoughby gave his son to
America" muttered Mr.. Simpkins.
He leaned forward suddenly and put
his face in his hands.
For a 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 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 he put into words.
But some inkling of his thoughts may
be found in his rejolnder 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 hep
Mr.. Simpkins demanded of her.
AS his wife, who was not unused to
his superficial irritations. watched him
in mild establishment, Mr.. Simpkins
limped out TO the hall and took his
old felt hat and silver-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 hanus.
Nov. God be thanked" said Mr..
Simpkins as the lid clanked shut over
his missive. Il can do this much for
my country. anyhow"