Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30
Collector Agnew's Office Removed to
Alexandria.
PROTEST. BY LYNCHBURG PEOPLE
Hearing Before Internal Revenue
Commissioner Forman.
SOME PEPPERY REMARKS

1NeNcHue oTIndn was the scene of GIN
gerry hearing today over the removal of
the office of Collector of Internal Revenue
Agnew from Lynchburg to Alexandria
considerable feeling was displayed between
Representative Otey of the Lynchburg dis
trict and Commissioner Forman. The rui-
Ing of the commissioner was that the office
be transferred to Alexandria The an
nouncement of the ruling drew forth ap-
piause from the delegation of Alexandria
people and corresponding depression from
the representatives of Lynchburg
Representative Otey W. NJ Doyle. J. R.
Williams and o. b. Barker. president of
the Lynchburg board of trade, represented
Lynchburg. The Alexandria delega ton was
headed by Representative Rixey Collector
Agnew, Robert Portner and NJ b. Harlow
president OF the Business Mems League
me other members of the delegation were
J; X. NJ. Nort"n, Geo. l.. Simpson. Louis {.
Barley, Geo. A. Mushbach, Gardner L.
Booth Benoni Wheat, joseph Broders. Col
oEel Arthur Herbert, Charles King, Geo R.
Hill, Julian T. Burke, Oscar F. Carter
VIM. Smoot. A. d. Brockett. James f.
Muir E. E. Downham, X. Kemper, VIM A.
Smoot, Thomas Hoy. Isaac Eichberg, John
A Marshall and J. Clinton Smoot
be1ore the arrival of the Alexandria dele
gduon Representative Otey made a vigor-
Gus protest against the hearing continuing
at this time. He said that he had had too
little time to prepare the Lynchburg end of
the case. In addition, Senator Daniel want
cd to appear and say something
Commissioner Forman, however did not
indicate that he would continue the hear
ing, and Maj. Otey referred throughout his
remarks to being compelled to go on. with
out facts and figures which he wanted
Inc Lynchburg delegation has asked Sec
retary Gage not to approve of the decision
OF Mr.. Forman until they can again be
heard FROM also until Senator Daniel can
be heard from. While Mr. Gage may do
this. his decision will uphold that of Com
missioner Forman, who is supposed to
know the business of the office.
At the beginning of the hearing Commits
sioner Forman said that it was not Gus
tomary to grant such hearings, the COM
missioner was supposed to know what was
best in the matter. He also said that the
agent of his office had recommended Alex
andria. He had granted the hearing at the
request Of Maj. Otey and the Lynchburg
people. His office, he said, had taken steps
to ascertain if proper accommodations
could be had at Alexandria, and had found
that the accommodations were all right.
Alexandrin's Claims.
Representative Rixey spoke for the Alex
andria people. He said the representative
people of the city wanted the office The
mail facilities of Alexandria, he said, were
fncomparably better than those of Lynch
burg,at which the Lynchburg people smiled
lHe proximity OIL AleXdnQrla
TO Washington was matter of conven-
ience to the collector and the people of the
district. Alexandria was once the seat OF
the office He earnestly believed that as
many people would be served by the change
as if the Office remained IN Lynchburg.
From Charlottesville to Alexandria and
throughout the valley the people would like
to have the office at Alexandria. Most of
the business of the office was conducted by
letter. This being SO, Alexandria offered
better facilities in the mail line than
Lynchburg.
Mr.. Harlow said the best interests of the
people and the government would be served
by the removal of the office to Alexandria.
The proximity of that city to Washington
made it convenient for the collector to come
here to transact his business. Alexandra
offered ample accommodations and facii-
tiles.
Mr.. Kemper also made few remarks as
to the advantages of the office being locat-
ed In Alexandria. He dwelt upon the fact
that the convenience of the collector should
have some bearing in the case, especially
when there was no damage to the business
of the people or the government by a
change.
Opposing the Change.
Representative Otey spoke next for
Lynchburg. He said he proposed to give
facts and reasons why the change should
not be made, if the commissioner would
grant a postponement until November f.
ern and not the desire of the collector. He
had been unable to gather all the facts he
desired during the last few days he cause
he had been refused them at the office of
Collector Agnew. He intimated that The
refusal came through the collector He
also appealed for time. because Senator
Daniel was canvassing in the state, end did
not know the hearing here was TO lake
place.
The Lynchburg people, he said, had not
attempted to come before the commissioner
backed by great delegation. He did not
think the number of people ought to enter
into the decision, and he did not think he
ought to be forced to go on with the argu-
ment.
Major Otey then said the district Of the
collector was 49O miles long, with Alexan-
dria at one end, and LynchbUrg in the CEN
ter. With map he illustrated the situa-
southwest end of the district would have to
come hundreds of miles to Alexandria to
conduct business, while they would have to
travel but a few miles to get to Lynch
burg.
He next claimed that during the last
quarter the territory tributary to Lynch
burg paid 300 per cent more taxes than the
territory tributary to Alexandria He as
serted that the business ought to be kept
with the people, and not the people have
to go to the business. He ridiculed the
road facilities. He alleged that Alexandria
has only two lines, while Lynchburg has
seven. He claimed that people would have
to go through Lynchburg and lie over there
to get to Alexandria. If it was a question
of the convenience Of the collector the Of
fee might as well be removed to New
York.
Collector Agnew interposed the statement
that collection of taxes have nothing to
do with the question.
Convenience of the People.
Major Otey denied this, saying that the
people who pay the bulk of the taxes ought
to be given whatever benefits that accrue
from the office. The convenience of the
people ought to be considered by the gov
ernment. He reiterated that the Lynch
burg section pays from 800 to 200 per cent
more taxes than the Alexandria section.
Major Otey claimed that the business of
thirty five counties in the district was con-
venient to Lynchburg, and the business of
fourteen counties convenient to Alexandria.
In whisky making, tobacco growing and
everything else the Lynchburg people were
entitled to the office.
Major Otey said that the cost to the gov
ernment of the transportation of deputy
marshals, storekeepers and gaugers over
the extra distance would be heavy. These
officials would have to travel 200 miles fur
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