The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-26
BURKE ON THE WAR PATH
Forwards Another Batch Of Charges
Against Collector Herring.
EFFORTS PROBABLY IN VAIN
Commissioner Miller Is Evidently Dis.
posed to Decorate the Collector with
q Coat OF Whitewash Some Echoes
from the Income Tax.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Washington, Nov. 25.-"Billy" Burke
has forwarded another batch Of
charges to the treasury department
against Collector of Internal Revenue
Herring. They have been in the hands
of Secretary Carlisle for several days,
but are now on the desk of Commits
sioner Miller. The package containing
the additional evidence against Her
ment, but whether 1t contains enough
genuine stuff to cause Herring's remov-
al is unknown.
Commissioner Miller when seen by
The Tribune representative, had not
examined the papers, and declined to
discuss the probable outcome of the
case. To man up a tree 1t looks as
though Mr.. Miller is preparing a coat
Of whitewash for Herring, unless Mr..
Burke can put up stronger case than
he has already done. The last batch
may contain something new, which
may compel Commissioner Miller to
make an unfavOrable report on Her.
ring. Without the latest evidence will
warrant his removal 1t can be set down
that Mr.. Herring will be allowed to
continue I'm Office during the present
administration.
The L0mcntcd Income Tax.
Commissioner Miller's annual report
contains some interesting statistics OF
the late and lamented income tax law
the commissioner has this to say:
The work of the income tax division was
practically terminated May 20, 1895, when
upon a reheaTing of the above case before
a full bench of the Supreme court, II was
finally decided that the whole income tax
law was null and void.
Following the decision, Instructions were
Immediately sent to the collectors to sus--
pend all income tax work, and to forward
to this office, under seal, all books, re-
turns and papers relating to income tax,
after further examination and classiti-
cation, the same were filed, secure from
public inspection.
The number Of taxable persons making
returns was 4s,672, and the amount Of tax
from that source was &c. 12S, ,05l As; the num-
ber of taxable corporations making re-
turns was 29,653, and the tax from these
| corporations amounted to $9.Sl5. 1924; the
| aggregate number of taxable persons and
corporations was 7S,325, and the aggregate
amount of tax from both sources was
| SIS. 9i3. 1850. Returns were made by 7O-
1852 persons and 2O,AS corpora tions who
| claimed they were not subject to the tax,
making an aggregate of 9O,4OO persons and
| corporations claiming exemption from the
| tax. The decision OF the Supreme court
| of the United States, of April 8, 1895, which
| real estate, and from state and municipal
bonds were not taxable, undoubtedly had
the effect to largely increase the number
of non -taxable returns.
1t is also known that many persons and
corporations required by the act to make
returns, failed to do SO. -,
From the reports of collectors anu
agents, and from other reliable sources.
II Is estimated by this office that the col
lections under the income tax law, If the
same could have been enforced without
interruption, would have reached, for the
| fiscal year ended June 30. 1895, above $780,
| 1000
There were employed in the examination
and classification of returns In this office,
| 16 persons, at an expense OF $5,25i.H; 2i3
| deputy collectors were employed In the
| field at a cost Of 6.366.64, making the to-
tai cost of work performed in connection
with the enforcement. of the income tax
law S9l, ,621.3S As both the office and field
| forces were increased from time to time
| as required by the interest of the pIblic
| service, many of the persons included In
| the above figures were In the service but a
| short time.
Figures from Herring's District.
In Collector Herring's district SO per-
sons were employed to collect the in
come tax at a cost of $10762.79 Only
sos returns, including merchants, manu-
facturers, bankers, brokers, profess
sional mep, farmers and others, who
were taxed to the amount of $61 ,231 .05,
were made. OF course, Uncle Sam Is
out of pocket just $40, 1852. 79,as the money
| collected has been or will be refunded
| to the persons caught in the leakv drag
| net.
The corporations making returns