Manchester Democrat., 1920-10-06
COLLECTOR MURPHY RESIGNS.

COLLECTOR MURPHY RESIGNS.
Louis Murphy, Collector for Inter
nal Revenue for Iowa. has rendered
his resignation, effective October 81.
1920, and thereafter will enter busi-
ness. Mr.. Murphy was one of the
earliest appointees Of President Will
son to office In Iowa and the position
OF Collector is considered in politics
as one Of the most desirable and usu-
ally goes to one whose ability and
party servicetar Of the highest order.
Upon the election OF President Will
son, Mr. Murphy was ut once recog-
nized Il qualifying for the position
and his friends urged him to accept
the appointment. His seven years of
service in the office have been mark
ed BY efficiency and courtesy and the
Governments will do well If 1t finds
successor who so well measures
up to the job.
The Dubuque Telegraph-H Herald
comments editorially upon Mr.. Hur-
phys resignation as follows:
The resignation OF Hon. Louis Muir
ply as Collector OF Internal Revenue
for the District Of Iowa will be a
surprise to the state, although there
have been intimations, in Dubuque re-
Gently that his resignation to become
effective October 81, next, had al
ready gone forward to the Commits
sioner Of Internal Revenue.
Mr.. Murphy became Collector at Du-
buque July /, 1918, when editor OF
the Telegraph Herald. which position
he retained for some time thereafter.
From the standpoint Of the. federal
Governments fiscal operations the
changes which have since occurred
are the most stupend0us In the his
tory Of the country. perhaps the most
remarkable in the history Of any ma
tion, and these changes have center
ed about the operations OF the inter-
nal revenue offices.
Formerly the Collection Of customs
duties furnished the chief source OF
revenue to the federal government.
These collections were made at the
seaports mainly and collectors OF I'M
ternal revenue had little to- do be-
yond selling stamps to manufacturers
and dealers in liquors and tobaccos,
although a corporation tax was en-
acted during, the administration OF
President Taft.
This was the situation when Mr..
Murphy assumed office in July, 1913.
The income tax law had gone into
effect, but the force for its admins
tration was yet to be organized. Other
laws for the amplification Of federal
revenues followed, conspicuously the
estate tax law Of 1916, and many
laws to be administered by the sales
tax and corporation tax divisions OF
the collectors office.
A task in organization was pre-
sented to yonng man inexperienced
in this field. Mr.. Murphy met IT
splendidly. If the good general is
known by the choice of his lieuten-
ants he has certainly won a major
generals rank by the record he has
made In the collectors office. His
work in office management and ad-
ministration attracted the attention
Of his superiors and he was called
to Washington some years ago to as
sist Mr.. Roper, then Commissioner
of Internal Revenue, in revising the
practice OF the bureau. He was Of
fered the post of chief deputy COM
missioner, but for various reasons
preferred to remain at his post in
Dubuque.
The late VIM. H. Stolzeben, chief
office deputy whose death last jan
uary was sincerely and generally
mourned by the people of Dubuque,
and by many patrons Of the Revenue
Office elsewhere in Iowa, was one OF
the lieutenants chosen by Mr.. MUIR
ply to assist him in the administra-
ton of his responsibilities. A
worthy successor to this capable and
courteous officer was found In Mr..
Harr Mcintosh Of Dubuque, at pres
ent chief office deputy. Other men Of
conspicuous thoroughness and abil-
ity, such as Mr.. Ramsey, present sup
erintendent of field forces, and others
now officiating as division chiefs at
various points in Iowa, might be men
toned to illustrate the capacity the
collector has shown in the direction
Of organization. His office ranks as
one OF the best in the country.
From less than million dollars
a year In 1918, collections at Dubu-
que have grown to over $25,000.000
annually. This sum is substantially
equal to. the total revenues of the
United States at the date OF 1owa's
admission to the Union in 1S46. Iowa
last year collected about $47000.00O
in taxes under STATE laws including
revenues for the support OF state and
local governments and institutions.
It thus apears that governments last
year cost the people of Iowa about
thirty-three dollars per capita, or
about s155 for the average family OF
five.
However, while the growth OF tax
es for state and local purposes has
been so gradual as to be unperceptl-
BILE, except to the most important
contributors to the state and local
treasures, the federal government the
past six years has come into direct
contact with perhaps 100000 citizens
who never before paid taxes direct
ly. In addition to taxation in various
forms. such as the taxes on amuse-
.,,.o,,,nbiIac Jauuch-