The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-21
TREASURY BARS
TAX ATTORNEYS
Agents Interfere With
Business of Govern
ment, It's Reason
EpsoIal 70 lrha World.

Special 10 The World.
WAsHINGToN.-The service de-
partment OF banks which have been
handling tax business for Its GUS
TONERS before the treasury depart
ment cannot continue 10 represent
them under the new and important
chagcs announced by tho treasury
department.
Sweeping regulations governing
rcpreseutation bye attorneys before
the tax bureau and other offices,
which Will have the effect OF in
terfcring with large amount Of
practice before the internal revenue
bureau have been issued by Sccre-
tary Mellon.
While the revised regulations al
feet principally the tax practice.
custom house brokers and other rep
resontatives arc touched upon to
some extent.
indh idual Must Act.
Representation In tax cases must
be by individuals who cannot appear
until they are passed upon by a
qualifying committee and formally
enrolled. The service department OF
a bank which has been handling
the tax business or it's customers
cannot continue to represent them.
\ corporation whose business Il Is
TO represent tax claimants cannot
continue to do ~ as "A corporation.
Not even n partnership can appear
before the department.
Tax claimants must be repre-
seniod by attorneys, personally en-
n so NV.s.
TAX agency, but the principal in per-
son. The department states that IL
frowns on solicitation OF tax business
by agents or attorneys and forbids
enrolled attorneys to advertise on
business cards. announcements or
even personal letters intended to
imply such action, In the solicitation
or business.
The department particularly OBJ
Iects to contingent fees; especially
N tax cases. 1t has been a practice
Tor agents and attorneys to collect
fees contingent on the amount OF
me saving in taxes affected. The de-
partment claims the right to inuuire
tt any time OF an agent or attorney
ne compensation he is on with his
,rIhclpaI' III 1t objects to the basis,
nc attorney VIII be disbarred. The
'esuIatlons especially are emphatic
n tofbiddlng any person seeking tax
business to make known that hc for
nerly has been employed bv the
reasury.
Can Ignore Agents.
When claims are allowed, the
teasury reserves the right TO send
he proceeds direct to the princInaI
t being placed within the discretion
)f the treasury officers 10 ignore
completely the attorney or agent in
.urning over any sum collected.
PROVISIONS are contained for dis
garment or suspension, but a hear
ng is to be allowed tho attorney
Or agent, and he Is to be given an
opportunity to answer any charges
which may be filed against him. Any
officer or employe of the treasury.
IN Washington or elsewhere, who
has reason to believe" that any
agent or attorney has violated any
rue. shall promptly make written
&port thereof"
Attorneys and agents. who have
oeen engaged In tax practice as we'll
rs auditors, accountants and others
having business with the treasury are
nuch incensed by the new regula-
lions and characterize them ae tho |
most bureaucratic and hish handed
'Ver issued by n government depart |
inent, Protests are already being |
made. and 1t is possible some modi- |
lcatlon may be made, but this by |
no means is certain and now ddes |
not seem likely.
The complaint is voiced that the |
regulations raise a presumption OF |
fraud against every attorney or
agent appearing before the tax |
bureau and that NJ M tI,,aa 4. ar |