The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
BY E. G.. HILL.


- ASH down and six billion to
gain!
Uncle Sans great team Of
money getters is already sweeping
down the field. with Big Bill Edwards
carrying the ball.
Along about December IL Bill will
slip the ball to Capt. Dan Roper. boss
OF the team, for the aast push, and
over. they'll 60 with a smash and with
. cheer that will ring around the
world-for the whole world is inter-
ested In this game.
This sounds like football. 1t isn't,
even with Big Bill in the thick OF the
fray. 1t conjures a picture OF immense
throngs. splendid teamwork. electric
enthusiasm and the romanticism Of a
great game. This is true. The throngs
are made up of millions Of American
citizens-nearly three and a half mill
ions paid Ian year. The teamwork
represents the intelligent and devoted
labors Of the Commissioner of Internal
sixty-four collectors. The enthusiasm
flashes from the beautifully coordinated
work OF the Bureau Of Internal Reve-
nue. and from the patriotic zeal OF the
men and women that are handing In
their income and other taxes. And
there Is more romance and sentiment
about this great cash collecting job,
which Uncle Sam must get done with
successfully to keep his honorable old
head above the waters of insolvency,
than one could find In play or novel.
Sentiment and Cash.
Sentiment? Well. there may be
some other land under the stars where
a man would walk into a tax coIlec-
ton office. plank down his. check for
$4,000. 000-Good as old wheat in the
bin-and remark with every evidence
OF sincerity that he wishes 1t were
twice as much. Talk about the widows
mite! There was a girL-a chorus girl
who got so mad at Bill Edwards be-
cause he couldn't figure out that she
had to pay an income tax Of more than
" that she cried and threatened to
report him to Washington.
Gle tentatively, hoping no doubt that
there won't be too many wearisome
facts concealed around the corner land
there won't bel the Money Getters Of
the Internal Revenue will have ex-
tracted from the prosperity OF the
everyday man and from the increment
or the not inconsiderable band OF
Charles ]. Cr9sus & Co. more than a
quarter of the total sum thafAour
worthy Uncle expects to raise this
year, a good deal more indeed than a
billion and a quarter. Lots of people
will have sent along their checks for
the entire amount due the Treasury
and will have had the sweet satisfac-
ton OF saying, Thank God, that's
paid!" 1t may be, as Collector Ed
wards opines, that half Of the six bill
lion will have been paid in by this
morning.
At all events, the gigantic stream Of
cash is moving from its innumerable
sources and forming a stupendous
river which is flowing straight into the
Treasury OF the United States. In
every internal revenue Office in the
land clerks stood yesterday and will
i't NrShS hHcc uccp iHohCJf
money by the drawerful, the basket
ful. II stuns the Imagination to pause
under the lee OF Collector Edwards and
observe the stacks and heaps OF yell
iowbacks and greenbacks that are be-
Ing shovelled into the cashiers ONCE OF
the Second district; impossible, I'M
heard OF, fantastic.
Tho clerks attack this treasure with
lass respect than they would extend to
cigarette coupons. One of them picks
up bundle Of bills. which the Collec-
tor figures TO represent 100000. and
slams 1t down into a basket as II 1t
were lot OF waste paper for the junk
man. Half an hour Of this extrava-
sanza reduces minds accustomed to
gaze With respect upon 400 bill TO a
tort OF fog. This IL dissirated BY the
q