The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
S1O,OOO,OOO CHECK
IN FINAL TAX RUSH
Several Exceeding S., 100000
Sent to Collector Edwards
to Pay Income Levy.
SOME PAYMENTS 1 CENT
Girl Clerk Helps Lawyer to
Solve Puzzle-Big Crowds
at All Revenue Offices.

The time allowed by the Federal Gov
srnment for the payment OF at least
q quarter OF the income taxes due from
individuals, firms and Corporations ex-
p,red at midnight last night. At the
three offices In this city where returns
could be made, the rush was continuous
up to the closing hour and the receipts.
90 1t was estimated, were immeasurably
in excess Of those during any previous
days last week. An remittances dropped
into mail boxes prior to the stroke of
twelve will be accepted without question.
Wilful refusal TO pay the tax may be
punished by a fine of $4,000, or a
years Imprisonment. or both. Failure
to pay on time renders one liable to
a $1,000 fine. an additional assessment
of 8 per cent on the amount of the
tax unpaid, with 1 per cent. interest
added for each full month 1t remains
unattended to.
big Bill" Edwards, Collector OF the
Second District, which includes all that
part OF Manhattan below Fourteenth
street. expected, he said, that when
yesterdays payments were totalled they
would amount to 100000, 900. Although
the district is one of the smallest In area
in the country, its payments will be
far heavier than any other, Collector
Edwards thinks there will be about a
quarter of the entire tax collected or
approximately 1,Oo0,OOo.0OO, although
this figure may be shaded somewhat
because losses may be deducted this
year, In contrast to the law in 1918.
The amount collected here will not be
definitely known for four or five days
yet. he said.
Taxpayer MONIES withheld,
Employees at the Custom House were
cautioned against making public the
amounts paid by particular individuals
or corporations. About the largest single
payment, however, was made late yes
terday afternoon when diminutive mes
senger boy arrived with a certified check
for 100000. 1t was not necessary
that 1t be certified. this requirement hay
ing been waived by the Government
checks In excess of $5.000.000 were
received at the Custom House yester-
day. it was understood.
The smallest tax paid by any one In
the Second district was one cent, and
several such contributions were received.
As 1t was the least that could Be sent,
II represented an income of something
between $1,000 and $1,00o.15. A money
order for a cent was received from a
woman in Montclair and it cost her IA
cents to send it, including postage. a
rather thriftier spirit was displayed by
man who mailed one cent check al
. cost OF two cents for postage.
Nearly all of the large individual and
corporate tax payers sent in their re-
turns yesterday. Most OF them held of
payment until the last moment because
of the interest they were able to col
lect on large sums. Practically all OF
them awaited themselves of the quarter
ly payment provision of the law and will
have until December IS to liquidate their
Indebtedness to the Government. In a
majority Of cases persons and Arms
whose tax was comparatively small paid
the entire amount. Collector Edwards
estimated this was true in probably 10
per cent. OF the cases.
Clerical Work Is Much Increased.
The fact that quarterly payments are
permitted has practically quadrupled the
clerical work in connection with the col
lection of the tax. Fifty bags OF mail.
all of them containing checks and money
orders, were piled up at the Custom
House by midnight last night, and II
was estimated that each one of them
enclosed at least 5000 tax returns. A
force Of 800 clerks was on duty up 10
the closing hour, and they will all re-
turn this morning and work all day. The
Federal Reserve Bank remained open UP
20 - o'clock and will be open all day
to-day to receive money sent in from
the three tax collection offices in the
metropolitan area.
Collector Edwards sent twenty deputy
collectors into the financial district to aid
the customers Of various banks, and the
public at large, In filing out their re-
turns properly This squad finished its
work yesterday afternoon and by night
Mr.. Edwards had received letters from
ten bank presidents thanking him fo1
the assistance his men had furnished