Evening journal., 1922-03-14
Today's News Today
TAX OFFICE
SWAMPED BY
PAYERS RUSH
(continued From First Page)


there two hours. There was general
d appointment over the closing Of
the office. and some OF the men and
women who had been waiting left,
asserting tthey would not return un-
til after March IS to hand In their
reports and pay the filing fee. They
pointed out that the greatest penalty
that could be imposed under the
State law for failure TO file a return
by tomorrow night was an added six
per cent. which on the filing fee
would amount to but one and one
half cents for the month
others. tired Of waiting. went
before a magistrate or notary pub
lie and paid 25 cents for making an
affidavit to their return and then
mailed the return with a check for
the amount OF tax due TO Commis-
sioner Jester. No charge is made
COR the affidavit by Commissioner
Jester and his assistants at the
State Tax Department.
il requires about two hours for
person starting in line at Market
street TO get into the tax office. and
not one second more than Is actually
required is taken by the Tax Depart
ment force in dealing with each tax
able
Commissioner Jester and his as
sistants were busy until midnight
last night after closing the office,
clearing up the details OF the busiest
day they have had since the Office
was established The Office Is stack
ed with bags OF mail that has lot
been opened. containing income re-
turns
So engrossed are Commissioner,
lester Deputy Commissioner Rice
and others OF the office force in re-
ceiving the tax returns and taxes that
they have been unable 20 make any
computation OF the number Of tax
ables who have paid. or the amounts
/ that have been received. They are
/ laying aside the returns and the
taxes received FOR a thorough check
/ up when the rush period is past.
At the Office OF Harry T. Graham.
Federal Collector OF Internal Reve-
nue.. the scenes today were exactly
/ the opposite. There was no rush OF
taxables to file returns and pay the
first instailment Of their taxes, and
( all who called this morning were
Z taken care OF promptly by Mr.. Gra-
ham and the force OF deputies on
duty there. The facilities for han
, ding the taxables are much more
convenient az the Federal internal
revenue Office that at the State tax
office, because OF the greater space
available for use by the various
deputies, and the larger force on
duty.
Collector Graham said this morn
ing ne was not in position to esti.
mate the total income tax payment,
for Delaware because many Of tn,
large taxpayers will not send in theii
returns until tomorrow. the last day
It is estimated that this years re
turns will not exceed. n they equal
those OF last year. This Is partially
due to the fact Of business depres.
sion.
Yesterday was the busiest day oi
the entire income tax hling period
OF this year. The entire force wiz
work until o'clock tonight and ur
to midnight tomorrow for the fnai
cleanup.
/. From 9 a. m until 9 p. m. hun
dreds OF people paid their income
tax in person at Mr.. Graham's Of
flee. Others. however. took the
easier way and more than ten sacks
Of mail were unopened up to a late
hour last night with money order
or check enclosures.
we are ready for the last min
ute rush" said Mr. Graham. al
returns received in the mail Thurs.
: day morning bearing a postmark nof
later than midnight. March IS. will
be accepted. As long as the splri
toward the government Is o. K.
b will forgive an honest error and vii
z not be harsh with any taxpayer who
, means to be right"