The morning headlines, breaking news, top headlines, top stories… you have them all on your modern-day platter of smartphone without which you, probably, cannot live a day. The news is overflowing, but it’s never enough. One can’t do without fresh air. So here, we bring you some breather — News from 100 years ago…

OCCASIONAL NOTE

In his statement of objects and reasons prefixed to the Income Tax Amendment Bill introduced into the Imperial Legislative Council last month Sir William Meyer claims to have recast the whole of the Income Tax Act of 1886. The clauses of the amending Bill will certainly tighten the grip of the revenue authorities upon the persons or groups liable to income tax, while at the same time the scope of liability to income tax has been widened so as to bring together all the sources of an assessee’s income in order to determine the rate at which he is to be assessed. The powers and discretion of the Collector are considerably enlarged, and an attempt has apparently been made to render every employer liable for the deduction of income tax from salaries prior to payment of salaries. Whether the attempt has been successful or not depends upon the extent to which clause 15, sub-section (2), can be reconciled with an expression used in clause 16. The former says:- “An employer or other person responsible for paying any income chargeable under the head ‘Salaries’ shall at the time of payment deduct income tax on the amount payable under Schedule I.” Clause 16 reads: “The prescribed person in the case of every Government office…and every private employee who has agreed to recover the tax on behalf of Government shall prepare,” etc. From the first extract it would appear that every employer without exception is to be compelled by law to recover income tax from his employees on behalf of the Government.

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DACOITS RAID A JATRA PARTY

A daring dacoity was committed at Abdullapur, in the Munshiganj sub-division, Dacca. It is reported that a Jatra performance was being held at the house of a wealthy resident of Abdullapur when a gang of dacoits, about forty in number, well-equipped with fire-arms, surrounded the house and sent information to the owner of the house that a few gentlemen were waiting for him. The man immediately came and the dacoits demanded the key of the iron safe. The marauders were informed that the key was in the custody of a brother, who was then summoned, and nearly Rs 10,000 in cash was taken from the safe. It further transpires that all the ornaments, including the jewellery worn by the women who had assembled at the performance, were taken away under threats and intimidation. The total loss is estimated at nearly Rs 20,000. It is reported that the dacoits out the telegraph wires before making their appearance. Further particulars of the incident are not yet available.

NEW FLYING DISCOVERY

Speaking on principles of aerial navigation at the Royal Institution, Professor G.H. Bryan referred to the neglect on the part of British mathematicians to bring well-known formulae to bear upon the solution of many problems affecting the stability of aeroplanes. Egyptian basreliefs, and frescoes by Leonardo da Vinci showed that older mathematicians had dwelt on the topic, and there were known facts even within the past twenty or thirty years which had not been scientifically applied. Professor Bryan showed a photo taken by him in Paris in 1877 of an experimental engine, and said that only during the past few days had he discovered on the mechanism the name of Bleriot, then, of course, entirely unknown. Referring to the danger of successive “banking” Professor Bryan said it might be found that an aeroplane with wings the tips of which went downwards like a bird’s, would overcome this.

STANDARDISED CLOTHING

The Central Wool Advisory Committee has considered the reports of Sub-Committees appointed to review the general wool position in the light of the recent census of stocks and the necessity for building up a reserve of wool for military purposes. In order to maintain the supply of clothing for the essential needs of the civil population at reasonable prices it was recommended that a limited number of standardised articles in the manufacture of which wool forms a constituent part should be instituted for the home trade and that the particular method of standardisation should be worked out by representative committees of each branch of the trade. There are stocks of cloth and clothing in the hands of merchants and retailer in this country sufficient to clothe the population with reasonable economy for at least 12 months, and the Committee considered that the publication of this information, together with the sale of standardised articles at fixed prices, would have considerable effect in controlling prices in the home market. It was resolved that if these steps are not sufficient the Government should take drastic action to deal with the situation.