The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-13
SECRET SERVICE TO
WATCH INCOME TAX
"Flying Squad" Organized to
Ferret Out Frauds on the
Government.
SCRUTINY FOR OFFICERS

WASHINGTON. July IA special Sc
cret service division has been organized
In .he internal revenue bureau for the
purpose Of uncovering frauds against
the income tax and other revenue laws
The organization Of this new force Tore
shadows a determined campaign on the
part Of the Treasury Department to run
down persons h have evaded the IN
come tax law and to enforce other
statutes such as the oleomargarine law
more effectively.
The new squad Of detectives not only
are to ferret out yiolators of the In
come tax and other laws, but they are
10 spy upon the internal revenue coll
lectors themselves to see that they do
their duties. The dying squad is the
way the Internal Revenue Commissioners
d%esignates The new secret service In his
formal statement.
The addition OF this latest secret SER
vice force TO Government agencies OF
this character Is viewed with ~disappioval
by many In Washington. Already there
is a large secret servic. force in connec-
ton with the Department Of Justice, an
other IN connection with the customs
service and still "a third In connection
with the Treasury proper. Millions OF
dollars are spent each year In the sup
port of the secret service agencies. IL
a only a few years ago that a bitter
light was wa ged in Congress against the
money expended by Roosevelt when he
was President in this direction. but since
then the qualifications OF the Govern
ment's secret service have Increased
many fold.
Treasury officials. however. pointed
out TO-DAY that through the work OF the
regular agents OF the internal revenue
bureau many millions. OF dollars or IN
come taxes were collected last year. and
II is also felt that much money il being
lost by the Government through evasions
of the oleomargarine law. The Treasury
officials therefore feel Justified In estab-
fishing this new service.
In describing the so-cilled dying
squad" OF special agents or detectives.
the Internal Revenue Commissioner
saws:
These officers will lie the personal
representatives OF the Commissioner. and
In fact. will he his eyes and ears
throughout the country. Niolators OF
the law. or unfaithfui employees of the
Government. II there he any, Will not
know when the eyes OF the Comm.s-
sioner are upon them.
THESE agents VIII ne srn' INTO any
part OF the country where the Com
missioner has reason 10 believe that
fraud liz being committed which II Is
impossible for the regular revenue ofii-
GERS to u Revenue officers are
largely known in their district. and n
strange unidentified person may be able
to detect irregularities where regular
officers may fail.
This action reduces TO permanent
form the temporary policy which has
been followed for several months and
which has unea rthed numerous frauds
on the revenues. 1t was through the
work OF a number of similar agents,
temporarily appointed. that the vast
oleomargarine frauds were brought TO
light. The organization of this force
is no reflection on the regular Internal
revenue force. but IL intended to pro-
mote the general welfare and efficiency
of the service"