New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-16
THOUSANDS TO PAY THE TAX
PEOPLE RUSH IN DURING THE LAST HOURS
TO ESCAPE, THE PENALTY.
INTERNAL REVENUE OFFICES KEPT OPEN TILL
MIDNIGHT To TAKE RETURNs-TIIE DEIlN-


oUENTs WILL NOW RECEIVE ATTENTION
Beated persons who expect 10 pay the income
tax and we're anxious to avoid possible penalty
fiocKed in large numbers the Offices OF the co..
lcctors OF internal revenue In this city yesterday
to file their returns. Many other persons and
many corporations sent returns to the Collectors
by mail II the last day In the time hSed py
law for fling the returns of incomes for 1874 Inc
penalty to be imposed for failure to make the re-
turns within the time II the income tax law hoids'
will be the addition of 50 per cent OF the tax TO
be collected in each case.
At the office of Collector John A. Sullivan, on
the first floor of the building, No. ia Nassau-st.'
there was a waiting crowd at a. m. when the
doors were opened, and the work of receiving ana
fijng the returns went on steadily all day. Now
and then somebody who had failed to get blank
on previous days of the rush would hasten TO the
office and ask what was the latest hour for ming
the return but comparatively few blanks were
asked for as the main business seemed TO be the
filing OF the returns. Mr.. Sullivan received an
order from the Commissioners Office in Wash
ington directing him to keep his Office open until
midnight IL necessary, and TO send to the COM
missioner as soon possible statement showing
the number Of the income tax returns when ne
had received since March 10.
MANY RETURNS IN THE LAST WEEK.
Mr. Sullivan said in the afternoon that ne
thought about 80 per cent Of the returns OF IN
which had been received al MS OhiOt A't'u
been filed since the recent decision OF the United
States Supreme Court Only few hundred re-
turns fled in the Office before March ~
People and corporations held back their returns
hoping that the Supreme Court would declare the
Income Tax law void AS soon the decision Of
the court was made known. however there was a
rush to file the returns and at Mr.. Sulvan's ONCE
they were filed at the rate of about 1000 day at
the beginning of last week. Yesterday the cle'hs
in the office said the returns were coming in at a
rate which indicated the filing of more than -'VV
during the day and evening. Mr. Sullivan had
given orders to keep the office open for business
until midnight When ne was asked If he would
accept as filed within the required time returns
which are brought 10 his office by mail on later
day IL the stamp on the envelope showed that the
returns were mailed before midnight last night.
Mr.. Sullivan said:
Il think I shall have TO get the advice OF the
Commissioner at Washington in such cases.
would be disposed 10 accept all returns "hich pore
the postmark Of the 18th of April. but do not
know that | have the authority TO make such Il
ruling without consulting with the Commissioner.
The Collector said he expected to be able TO
give an approximate number of the returns winch
ha has received by this afternoon. That is about
all the information which he can give to the pup
Ito concerning the returns. lie is uhoer such
strict orders to maintain secrecy as 10 the names
OF persons making returns ana the amounts OF III
comes reported that If ne were even served with
an order from court to give such information, he
would be obliged TO refuse TO give IT,
ss- NOW FOR THE DELINQUENTs.
The orders TO prevent any disclosure of such facts
also will compel the Collector to make the neces-
sary examination Of the returns only with the ana OF
trusted deputies. When the returns are examiner
they are sent to the office of the Commissioner OF
Internal Revenue Washington. the Collector keep
ing only list of the persons and corporations max
in; the returns Before he begins the collection OF
the tax In the latter part OF June ne VIII receive an
assessment roll from the office in Washington. In
the mean time he will have to ascertain. If posi-
bic, who have been delinquent in making returns,
summon persons and corporations to be examined,
and make out for them the required returns with
the 80 per cent penalty added.
The work Of looking after the deinquenis can
not be begun for fortnight yet, probably bat the
Collector already has list of persons and corpora
10 check off the names of those who have sent re-
turns Of Incomes Then he VIII know who the de
sons and corporations have deliberately refused 70
w decare the s hEPS 5na Tax
the eonstitutlonaliiy OF the law IS again eaHed III
1t was noticed yesterday that many OF the per.
and corporations who sent in returns also sent
was unconstitutional. Mr. Sullivan said those pro
Sres wo forge n the Latin in the
mony of sprinkling holy water, SAD II II does
There were many appeals to the Collector during
the day for delay in making the required returns
such appeals being accompanied by statements that
either in or unavodaby detained away from the
provision Of the law which states that "in cases
where the neglect to make the return required by
law is occasioned by sickness. or necessary ao-
sence Of the person required by law to make the
may allow such further time for making and de-
verlng such return as he may deem Necessary sa
could not see how such provision could Apply to
a corporation but there presented to
him yesterday In which 1t was asserted that the
secretary. president or other officer who had the
information needed 10 make correct return for the
oratt
the city. In such cases Mr. Sullivan advised that
be allowed to file amended returns later
The crowd In Collector Sullivan's Office thinned out
Rapidly late IN the afternoon and last evening the
1t was evident that nearly all the persons in the
district who intended to file returns had been heard
from. Mr.. Sullivan however. persisted in his reso-
luton TO keep the office open unit! midnight In
order that citizen would have reason to complain
that he did not have an opportunity to file his
return In time
CROWDS AT THE THIRD DISTRICT OFFICE
The Office Of Collector Edward Crosse. at Four
tsenth-st. and Fourth-ave.. said to be in the
weaithiest district in the United States busy
place all day. The volume of business transacted
was decidedly larger than any other day since
returns began to be received. and the office
kept open until nearly midnight.
Collector Crosse announced yesterday that all
returns received in the first mail this morning would
be treated II they had been received yesterday.
All returns received by mail and bearing the post
mark Of yesterday or previous days. he said would
be received and filed II they had been received
yesterday. Furthermore, Mr. Crosse has decided to
use his discretion in receiving and fling all returns
mailed from foreign countries as late yesterday
In some cases he granted extension OF time to
those who were too III to comply with the law. He
HAv A al ga