The Washington times., 1919-12-05

WOIlOcI.
The man is Daniel c. Roper,
Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
Who assumed charge of that office
early IN October, 1917, when the
total number of clerks and other
employees under his direction in
Washington barely exceeded 500.
he now directs 1000 in Washing
ton and something like 10000 in
the field He became Commission
u simultaneously with the sign
ing of the first war revenue act,
that of October 8, 1917. He had
10 build his organization as ne
Jumped into the enforcement of
that first law.
As an organizer and admins
traitor he has no superior in this
country, his friends say. He was
chairman of the organization
committee of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee in the election Of
1916. This organization returned
Woodrow Wilson to the White
House for a second term.
Long after that memorable cam
paign he was introduced to Charles
z Hughes, the defeated Repub-
Rcan candidate.
This Is the man who brought
about your defeat" is the way he
vas introduced to Mr.. Hughes.
We'll, l am certainly grateful to
you in the light Of what Is hap
pening," Mr.. Hughes replied with
. smile and ring of sincerity.
Hates Spy System
This officer of the United States
hates a spy" system for the en-
forcement of tax, prohibition, and
ether laws He believes in appeal
ing to public sentiment for en-
forcement of laws, and he rejoices
that the newspapers, magazines,
and other publications Of the
country are his agencies Of CO.
Nperation-
Any taxpayer who believes he
has paid too much income or
corporation tax into the Treasury
may see the Commissioner person.
ally and state his case.
The colored messengers in the
corridors around the Commission
er's office remember the case of a
wealthy corporation official who
told Mr.. Roper one day that the
Government had collected from his
establishment 1000 more than it
had a right to collect and he in
tended to file a claim for return.
Let's see about that" said this
Ugnified but kindly official. In a
short time he showed the corpora
don officer where he was in debt
to the Government close to $780,
900 more than had been paid.
That man not only willingly paid
this additional sum but went away
thanking the Commissioner for
courteous attention
No Coughing TsctieA
Right here, too, it may be said
That Mr.. Roper does not want col
tecting agencies of the United
States, either high paid Official
er low paid clerk, to reach the con-
cfusion that their duty is to heckle
taxpayers or gouge for Uncle
Sam That is, II a man having an
income Of few thousand dollars
. year or one hundred thousand
makes a mistake against himself
m returns sent In the Commits
sfoner prefers that the internal
revenue collector or clerk shall ap-
prise him OF the fact just the same
- IL the taxpayer had made a
mistake against the Government.
II Is the conscience of the Amer
lean taxpayer that he prefers as a
guide TO the making Of fair and
Just returns, and the collecting Of
fetal is not directed TO become ex
parte IN hunting mistakes against
The Government solely. These mis-
takes must be guarded against, Of
course, and yet an Official who
Knows positively that a TAXPAYER
has overtaxed himself should, ac-
onrding to Mr.. Ropers wishes, 50
notify the citizen.
Mr.. RoperB version Is that evrv
man is honest, patriotic and fair
until you know otherwise. II the
"payef proves to be a scoundel
b Win be dealt with without
Mercy
Then M. Ropers hinge Office
proceeds on the theory that it !,
10 the interest Of every taxpayer
70 see that every other taxpayer
b BEARING his proper burden of
tH1tion and that business rivals
vin not tolerate cheating" In
@ returns BY the other fellow
An Amazing Achievement.
One Of the most AMAZING
ochievemsnts in Government his
tory was the collection of r.
LOO yo00 900 By the Internal Rev
enue Bureau in nineteen days.
WITH almost no preparation for
4 Congress spent many months
b passing the present war rev
snne act II should have been
kW before the close of 1917, but
q reached President Wilson Feb
mary "a, 1918, and was signed
- Nm I~k~ <A>k l.