Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1905-12-16

State through Its Revenue Agent In
insisting upon what is not only justly
due the State, but which will bring about
a means of relieving one citizen from
paying another's taxes. So much for the
subject generally.
Augustus ]. Blot, hustling young
attorney, was appointed Revepue Agent
for this district by State Auditor S. W.
Hager two years ago, and through his zeal
and energy hundreds of thousands OF
dollars due the State have been collected
which would never otherwise have found
their way into the treasury. Mr.. Blot
entered his Office as Revenue Agent and
since the day of his appointment has
worked indefatigably for its success.
Many obstacles have beeh in his way.
He has at no time attempted to extort
money where 1t was not justly coming,
but on the contrary, while working solely
for the States interest. has tempered his
exactions from the taxpayer with a
lenieut spirit and with fairness. Being a
lawyer he is well equipped to understand
the duties Of the Office, as the tax ques-
ton throughout the country is subject
of extreme legal complication.
There are few people who have studied
and understand the tax law better than
Mr.. Blot. On December 5, in the case
which he filed against the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company, he collected
in this one tax claim $54,694. The
Southern Pacific is company which is
incorporated in Kentucky, and which
has absolutely no property, so it operates
in the West, principally in California.
Mr.. Blot insisted that it should pay
here, in that Kentucky was the place of
its corporate existence, and it should be
obliged to consider this as its home Office,
where taxes should be paid. This litiga-
ton has been pending a year, and not
wlthstanding several strong cases having
since been decided in the Supreme Court
of the United States, all disclaiming the
contension of Mr.. Blot, he finally sue
ceeded in the compromise above men,
toned. This tax adjustment is the larg-
est of its kind in the history of Ken
lucky, and certainly feather should be
placed in Mr.. Bizot's cap, as the case has
been cause for general comment at the
Louisville bar, both the judges and law
yers giving him unstinted compliments
and words of praise. Incidentally his
success has been just as substantial for
himself, as under the law he is entitled
to 20 per cent. of all he collects, and
while the Constitution limits officers to
S., 900, there is no proviso to adjust the
fees of the Revenue Agent. The Consti-
tuition 10 not self-operative, and conse-
quently there is no limit to be placed
with this commission. This would be
against the very spirit of the Office, as to
limit an agent means to take away every
personal impetus after he has collected
all that the law would allow him.
Mr.. Blot has been for years an enthu-
siastic member of Msckin Council, Y.
NJ. l., and has always been interested in
its success. He was very active when
negotiations were effected which bought
the original site on which now is located
the beautiful home of Mackin. He
seems destined to shine in higher places
than that of Revenue Agent. Indeed he
would make a splendid representative
for Louisville in the National Congress.