Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-22
Money Sufficient to Garry on the
Work Of Collecting It.
WHAT CHAIRMAN SAVERS SAYS
All That Was Asked For Was 40
propriated.
W III A I 1T MAY cos T


appropriations were very much amused to-
day at doUble-leaded scare-head story
which appeared In New York paper this
morning to the effect that the income tax
provision of the tariff bill Is likely to iail
OF execution on account of the failure of
Congress to provide appropriations for car
rying the bill into effect. 1t was stated IN
the article that the Secretary of the Treas
ury had submitted an estimate Of sJOo,oUo
for this purpose, which had been ignored
by Congress.
what Chairman Sayers Says.
The House passed a special appropri-
alton bill last Monday" said Chairman
Sayers to a Star reporter, "and one OF the
items of that bill was 5000 for additional
help for the internal revenue bureau, the
office which will carry the income tax pro-
vision into effect That appropriation was
made at the instance of the Internal reve-
nue. commissioner, indorsed by the Sccre-
tary of the Treasury in a letter to this COM
mittee. We gave them all that they asked
and gave II promptly"
The Secretnry's Letter.
The letter to which Chairman Sayers re-
ferred is as follows:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE SECRETAR1.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., August Is, 1894.
Hon. Joseph d. Sayers. Chairman of the
Committee OF Appropriations, House Of
Representatives:
Sir: The recommendation of the commits
sfoner of internal revenue that provision be
made for the employment of additional
force to be used In connection with the
work made necessary by the legislation of
the present session of Congress is approved
by me.
J therefore ask that the sum Of $1,000 be
APPROPRIATE ted for that purpose.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) j. q. CARLISLE, Secretary.
What IL VIII Cost.
1t is understood that the Treasury De-
partmeEt did ask for 100000 when the in
come tax first talked of, but as the
committee on appropriations did not pro-
pose to PROVIDE for the execution of a law
rot at that time enacted. nothing was done
In the premises until the tariff law seemed
q certainty. Then the Treasury Depart
ment modified its request, and professed to
De able to get along with 5000 for the
present. which was thereupon provided.
1t is said that even with no further ap-
propriationS the income tax could not fail
of execution. for the regular appropriations
Tor the internal revenue bureau would
carry II along until the next session Of Con-
gress No new offices are created under
the bill The duties Of collecting the income
tax are imposed upon existing officials. 1t
Is true that at some subsequent time these
officials may find the new duties too much
for them. and then Congress will take ap-
propriate action. and provide more men.
The Force Needed.
1t IS estimated that two hundred and fifty
deputy collectors for active service in the
field, and that twenty-five additional
clerks in the Washington bureau will be
necessary for the execution Of the addi-
tional work of collecting the income tax
For some unknown reason neither the
House nor the Senate appropriations COM
mittee paid any attention to the estimates
made some time ego. 1t Is intimated that
the failure to make appropriation was in
territorial, as the members Of the commit
tee did not wish to have II appear that they
had been extrayagant IN their appropria-
tions. They wished, 50 1t Is said to make
their aggregate appropria tions as low as
possible for political effect during the fall
campaign, with the intention Of making the
the reassembliny of Congress In December
What Revenue Omcers Say.
A high official Of the internal revenue
bureau informed reporter Of The Star to-
day that there was no doubt whatever In
regard to the enforcement Of the income
tax provisions; and that the blank forms
upon which returns of incomes must be
made, and all other incidental work, will
be prepared in good time to put the provis-
ions into full operation on the 1st day of
January next. Up to that date there is
nothing to be done but what can be ac-
complished IN the internal revenue bureau,
with the assistance Of a few additional
clerks. The employment of collectors and
other field operators will not be necessary
, until after January !. and the returns Of
incomes may be made at any time up to
March 1 next The blank forms have al
ready been prepared, and will be printed
and distributed as soon as Congress makes
the necessary appI opriatlon. AS showing
the feeling of the internal revenue officials
on this question, 1t is stated that they have
practically completed all the preliminary
arrangements necessary for the execution
of all the internal revenue provisions of the
bill the very instant that it shall become
q law, including the income tax provisions,
which, as already stated will not take ef-
feet until the 1st of January next.