New-York tribune., 1922-03-10
Bowers Guards
Tax Rush From
Bandit Gangs
Collector Calls on Police
as Precautionary Measure
to Protect Federal Cash
and Income Levy Crowds
Record Set by Throngs
Confusion Eliminated by
Specially Trained Force
at The Custom House

For the frat time since New York
~ income tax tho police were chilled out
yesterday to safeguard the tronGing
citizenry at the Customhouse. 1t WAS
a precautionary measure, deemed nee
Frank X Bowers, when tnc midday
crowds became 80 dense that a happy
hunting ground was offered to bold
bandits and nimble-finger dips"
Not only were the police on guard
near the windows on the sixth floor
where the taxpayers thrust their money
into the governments hands. but they
rode in the automobiles hauling the
money to the Federal Reserve Bank.
Every day until the office closes at
midnight on March Is, Collector Bow
ers siad, the police will be on duty. The
Collector will take no chances.
Big Crowds Seek Blanks
Yesterdays crowd seeking blanks was
the record. At the noon time period j.
became almost a mob. It was formed
into two lines, filing down the coli.~
past room 115, where the blanks were
banded out. An attendant distributed
thousands nd thousands of forms for
incomes under $4,000 Z the men and
women passed by, while blanks for cor
porations, partnerships, fducar in
ventores and subsidiaries were sup
piled in lesser numbers.
On the sixth foor where the returns
are filed. information dispensed and
money paid in, fifteen or twenty desks,
each manned by an internal revenue
agent or deputy collector, were
swamped by the crowds seeking advice
and Information. AS the elevators
emptied their loads Of taxpayers every
few seconds into the corridors, there
Was a continuous jam that even the
Zine forms en- -the-right" habit did not
untanglc until the middle Of the after
noon. There were long lines at the
ca shicrs' windows where the taxes are
paid
every arrangement has been made
to insure things running as smoothly
as the crowds permit" Collector Bow
ers said, as he snapped his bag shut to
catch train for Washington. "We
had training school for six weeks,
whore the deputies were drilled in the
new law. and they know it pretty we'll
by now. We have eighty more men
this year than last, making ITO alto
gothcr. Even with the distribution OF
work. made possible by our four branch
Offices, this years crowds arc the big
gest we have ever had
Office to Open Nights
On Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday
The Custom House Office will be open
nights. On Wednesday, the last day
for filing rcturns, the Office will close
promptly at midnight
With all of the crowds there has
been little real confusion. People arc
cooperating with the collectors the
best they can. but there are 100000
taxpayers in Manhattan alone to be at
tended TO. Yesterdays distribution Of
l040-A, for incomes of $4,000 down
ward; 385 900 for 1o4O. over $4,000. and
100000 of 1920. for corporations Peo-
pie from all the boroughs and commut-
ing regions who come to New York
daily are getting blanks from the
Custom House.
1t is expected that under the new
law there will be great increase in
the number Of non-taxable returns.
With the exemption under SIS 900 raised
$500 and for dependents from 5000 to
$500, the small taxpayer Will greatly
benefit.
The claim was made yesterday that
interest received on savings banks de-
posits should be free from tax on the
theory chat it is in the nature Of
dividend. The custom Of the Treasury
Department, it was said at the col
lector's Office yesterday. is TO regard
this interest as income and to tax it as
such. Dividends are subject to a sur
tax, but not the normal tax. Until
ruling to the contrary is made savings
bank deposit interest will be taxed as
income.