Sketches New and Old


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the bill of "DEDUCTIONS." He set down my "State, national, and municipal  
taxes" at so much; my "losses by shipwreck; fire, etc.," at so much; my  
"losses on sales of real estate"--on "live stock sold"--on "payments for  
rent of homestead"--on "repairs, improvements, interest"--on "previously  
taxed salary as an officer of the United States army, navy, revenue  
service," and other things. He got astonishing "deductions" out of each  
and every one of these matters--each and every one of them. And when he  
was done he handed me the paper, and I saw at a glance that during the  
year my income, in the way of profits, had been one thousand two hundred  
and fifty dollars and forty cents.  
"Now," said he, "the thousand dollars is exempt by law. What you want to  
do is to go and swear this document in and pay tax on the two hundred and  
fifty dollars."  
[
While he was making this speech his little boy Willie lifted a  
two-dollar greenback out of his vest pocket and vanished with it, and I  
would wager anything that if my stranger were to call on that little boy  
to-morrow he would make a false return of his income.]  
"
Do you," said I, "do you always work up the 'deductions' after this  
fashion in your own case, sir?"  
"
Well, I should say so! If it weren't for those eleven saving clauses  
under the head of 'Deductions' I should be beggared every year to support  
this hateful and wicked, this extortionate and tyrannical government."  
401  


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