The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-03-29
MR.. SIMPKINS PAYS
HIS INCOME TAX
BY ROBERT McsLAIR.


field OF action. Mr.. Simpzins' throat
ached now for two reasons: First, h,
reverenced aud adored the memory OF
his father; secondly. his age and his
eyes and his game leg wouldn't let hin
20 70 WIZ himself And as he observed
the martial bearing and uncompromis
ing gaze Of Colonel Simpkins he saw
IN imagination, the KHAKI! cIad lads Oi
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 seventeem 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 fiercely twirled his
white mustachios.
He turned and limped into the IL
brary and sat down .reakily before the
mahogany desk on which we're lying
the blanks for his income tax state
rnent, blanks which he had rather
grumplly got from the Internal Reye-
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
ject Of taxes ever since he had discov-
cred that 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 q
small fraction Of the amount he paid.
He gloomily drew the blank nearer
and begun filling In the information
that II asked for.
AZ 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
Mt 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. deducting $500 for each Of their
children under eighteen years. In Mr..
Cfu.nkfnaf .aa. &ht- -. eoT0 -As.n =.
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 $2O0O-vith the
same allowance for children. This
added $3.50 to his payable column.
He then observed that for every
900 juiap 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 SEX
cess Profits" tai Of per cent. on all
occupation income over $1,000, max
ing s72o more
The total, then, he must pay was four
teen hundred and thirty-four dollars
"Whew" exclaimed Mr.. Simpkins
ansrily. There's yonng Henry Will
kins. whe married Jake Johnson's girl,
he makes 5000 and he doesn't pay
cent. Of taxes guess this Is his war
ss well as mine r
Thinking OF young Henry wilkins,
Ne 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 questionnaires.
well" he admitted to himself.
THAT makes difference"
He thought next of Judge Wiiiough-
By, whose income was about 5000.
"He only pays $20," commented Mr.
not quite 50 angrily this
time; and then a thought struck him
and he sat up rigidIy in his chair.
Judge Willoughby's son had been
on the Tuscanla when 1t was
summarized with the loss Of tive hun
bred soldiers
Judge Willoughby gave his son to
America muttered Mr. Simpkins.
He leaned forward suddenly and put
his face In his hands.
For 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
iren skylarking upstairs The square
IF 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
If, he was thinking things that were
90 sacred ever to be put into words.
But some inkllng of his thoughts may
% found in his rejoinder to Mrs.
simpkins when that placid lady came
n and turned on the lights. and asked
lin whether he was ready for dinner.
Judge willoughby's only son was
worth as much as fourteen hundred
md thirty-four dollars. wasn't he?"
dr. Simpkins demanded of her.
As his wife, who was not unused to
lis superficial irritations, watched him
n mild establishment, Mr.. Simpkins
imped out to the hall and took his
Id felt hat and silver-headed cane
rom the hat rack. Letting himself out
mo tho foouv nveninr he tanned hts