The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-31
THE new SENATOR.

Characteristics of the Head OF tho In
ternal Revenue Department = His
Kindness to Ovcrworkcd Clerks
Last Summer : Tribute from a
Democratic Correspondent.
The Washington staff correspondent
of the New York World had the follow
ing dispatch In Sundays Issue OF that
paper. which explains itself:
senator-elect Nathan B. Scott. OF
West Virginia, is business man with
business head. who has been in con-
troll OF one Of the largest manufactur]
ing industries In his state for some
years. He has found the office OF the
commissioner OF internal revenue one
of the busiest of the strictly business
branches OF the treasury department.
AS 10 his business at home, so in
Washington, he has made those under
him feel that they had personal. In
terest In the success of the establish
mcnt over which he, presldts. One Of
those who worked under him to-day said
that Mr.. Scott never appeared 10 feel
t.iS tis'iAtS VI tlS oilIGt, llc W as llLSI
~ and cordial with all his clerks. and
made It n point to ask them to assist
him in making the administration OF
the Office q success. His policy. won
him friends and loyal supporters
Commissioner Scott was confronted
with the problem Of putting war rev.
enue measure into effect within sixteen
days. 1t was gigantic task, but was
accomplished with the smallest possible
amount of friction and inconvenience to
the public. Every clerk in the office was
required to work for three or four weeks
about eighteen hours day. Many Of
the women whose duty Il was to count
internal revenue stamps worked In
raults where the temperature vas IS
and 80 every day. Ventilation and cleo
trlc fans were alike impossible, but
these clerks, imoued with the indomita-
bic energy OF their chief. labored with
out complaint long hours more than the
law required and the government never
allowed 4 penny OF extra compensa-
ton.
During this period Mr.. Scott cut the
red tape Of another official and secured
an all-niGht service on one of the eleva-
tors. He induced the man who runs the
treasury restaurant to keep his service
going all night, and saw to 1t person.
ally that each OF his clerks had a good
lunch. and 1t was Commissioner Scott
who footed the bill.
Commissioner Scott also broke the
rules that prevailed at the bureau OF
engraving and printing. All night
work at that institution was an I'M
heard OF thing; but it was inaugurated
soon after. Mr.. Scott had U conference
With SaNraf 90 -
Gus kinds and by million lots We're
demanded. Every train leaving Wash
ington carried a large invoice of these
little evidences OF the war tax. Treas
ury clerks worked incessantly, and
Mr.. Scott saw no reason why the print
tnS bureau should not do the same,
especially in view Of the fact that the
workmoa there worked on time and
were paid for their overtime. There
was complaint. but the work was done.
Commissioner Scott took the ground
that inasmuch as the government was
taxing the people quite heavily for the
conduct OF the war It should do SO with
the least possible inconvenience
II there has been one characteristic
of COMMISSIONS: Scott that has stood
out more prominently than another II.
has oeen his dogged determination not
10 be swerved from course that he
thought was right Several senators
VINO have been in the habit OF turning
bureau chiefs around their fingers
found 10 ;heir SORROW that M. Scott
was man o; s;erner stuff. Several
interesting episodes Of this sort hap
1ened during The time when the COM
missioner was making his rulings on
the war tax
Ohe afternoon 4 senator who repre-
sentS an eastern state entered Mr..
Scftts Office with u constituent. That
constituent was very large manu-
'a'tu:er OF an article that was taxed
very heavily under tbs war tax bill.
want so and so held with respect
10 this article" said the senator.
The attorney general and rhe law
officers of this department have given
their opinions on this question" retorted
Mr. Scott. and this office will be guided
h% those opinions. The war tax was
enacted for the purpose of raising rev.
e3ue for the government. and wherever
the facts justify it I waltSit distinctly
understood that the rulings OF this de-
partTent will be in the Interest of the
government and not of any manufac-
turer no matter from what state he
comes or what senator happens 10 be
behind him"
The manufactures did not get what
he went after, and the government is to-
daf cheertuliy and regularly collecting
taxes on the goods he makes