The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-02
FEW DAYS GRACE
GRANTED PAYERS
OF SPECIAL TAX
Government Will Not Insist On
Immediate Payment of De-
linquency Penalty
WILL ALLOW FREIGHT
SHIPMENTS TO MOVE
Delay Granted Because of In-
ability of Local Force to
Handle Rush

| Internal Revenue Collector James
j. Brady received the following tele-
gram from Commissioner w IL. Os-
born, Washington. Tuesday morning;
Date all special tax returns Nov.
80 until you are able To handle APP
plicants promptly, unless you have
! Information that no effort was made
to file same prior TO that date, IL I'M
able TO supply demands for documen-
tary stamps for bills OF lading permit
shipments TO go forward, Have record
/ kept thereof and affiX cancelled stamps
when received. Notify all railroads.
The Importance OF this telegram Is
| that il gives the COLLECTOR the lati-
i tude he desires In dealing with deliH-
quents, which, under the law, are
! liable TO so per cent penalty, and
also prevents the tying up OF freight
shipments for lack OF special tax
stamps.
Owing 10 the rush OF taxpayers at
the eleventh hour. the collector was
unable to take care OF all applicants,
Monday. the last day for making re-
turns without penalty. The delay la
making returns the collector says,
was largely due 10 ignorance on he
part OF those coming under the de-
linquency tax law. Collector Brady
remained In his Office late Monday
night TO accommodate tardy taxpay-
ers and he personally took the last
return at 10: 30 o'clock In the evening
| Early Tuesday morning the col
lector realized that large number of
| taxpayers would be liable to a so per
cent penalty II the government IN
sisted on strict enforcement OF the
law. He hurriedly communicated with
his chief in Washington, asking per
mission to use his own discretion IN
the matter OF not attaching a penalty
to those who came in Tuesday TO pay
the special tax He also asked IN
structions regarding freight ship
ments without special stamps He
received the above reply from Com
missioner Osborn shortly before noon,
unfolding the collector in his con-
tentions.
The rush for special stamps has
swamped the local Office and consi.n-
ments are slow in arriving from
Washington, indicating that the main
office Is In much the same position
Tuesday morning all the one and one.
~
OF long before the usual line had be-
gun 10 form In front OF the cashiers
window Reauisitton for stamps Of
other denominations were immediate
" cut down as II was feared the en-.
tire supply might become exhausted.
Only 500 stamps were issued on an
order for 10000. The collector has
sent in orders for millions Of special
/ In, 40
| or two 10 be able 10 handle the sales
without a hitch or unnecessary delay
There Is no time penalty In connec-
ton with the purchase OF stamps but
all matter coming under the special
law. must bear the stamps when sold
or shipped.
Orders for stamps poured into the
office through the mails. Tuesday
morning, keeping a force OF four men
busy opening envelopes. extracting
the checks and money orders, and fll-
| ing the orders Deputy Collector
Neeley estimated the number OF mail
orders at 5000 before noon and they
were still coming in fast.
I'VE have no way OF telling at this
time how many returns have been
made or how much money the office
.
1.-The cashier Is still buried in several
bushels OF bills, checks. money orders
and coin. II will be a day or two be-
| fore he can check Up.
I IT have not decided as yet on what
| | will do in the matter OF getting
those who have failed tC obey the law.
This special tax collection rs the hig-
gest Job that this Office has ever had
I to tackle Jacob Cook. VINO has been
In this Office for SO years, told me he
never saw 80 many people around the
revenue office before.
IL think my Office force is entitled
20 credit for the work y has done and
Is doing. We worked overtime for
the last week The people are also
20 Be complimented on the ready man
ner in which they complied with the
law Tie crowds we're always orderly
and patient There was not q grum-
! BILE AZ they handed over their individ-
ual portions of the special tax"
! During the rush Collector Brady had
| the following state deputies working
| In his Office: Ira aWterman. John Kin
ney, John Graham. George Weimans,
James Jordon, Walter Nowicki, Daniel
Richardeop and I Shpdd