Messersmith, G.S.

Date
2011-06-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Discusses reluctance of certain Europeans to pay income tax; relates incident reported by friend, Louis Steinman, a Swiss native but for some time a naturalized Belgian citizen, engaged in shipping business; Belgian Government needed money for reconstruction after World War I and established income tax; everyone said no Belgian would declare his income; Steinman spent many hours meticulously preparing his return and had tried to report honestly; when he handed return to tax receiver, he returned it and said, "Mr. Steinman, I cannot accept this... according to this you are the richest man in Belgium, and I know you are not as rich as Mr. X," naming the richest man in Belgium; has observed that as a rule, foreigners, when they establish themselves in business in another country, are more meticulous about obeying the laws than the natives themselves.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.
Citation