Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10


Republican National Commit
tee and as the real organizer
of the campaign for the reelection OF
President Hoover in 1882, has the happy
faculty of handling difficult assign
ments in an unusual but efficient way.
Almost Immediately after his arrival
in Washington about year ago to be-
come Commissioner of Internal Reve-
nue.. for instance, Mr.. Lucas was called
upon to discuss before radio micro
phone the second most unpopular thing
in life-the collection of taxes. The
primary purpose of this address was to
explain to the great majority of in
come tax payers-with incomes under
$40 000-how to prepare accurate re-
turns, thus avoiding for themselves the
annoyance of a possible future investi-
CATION and at the same time saving the
Government millions of dollars in the
cost of administration.
Others had attempted the same thing
before him, but their addresses on this
complicated subject had proved without
exception dull and tedious and had
failed generally in catching the inter-
est of the huge audience of radio list
eners throughout the country. But the
new head Of the Federal tax-collecting
agency approached the undertaking in
his own characteristic manner.
In order to clear up some of the
knotty problems which confront the
average man when he sits down with
his income tax blank the Kentuckian
hauled into his discourse the troubled
figures of Amos and Andy, and their
perplexities concerning the Fresh Air
Taxicab Co.
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue,
bearing as it does confidential relation
To- rviII, 1@A rni
spects that relationship and zealously
guards the secrets of the taxpayers
affairs. But, inasmuch as that well
known concern, the Fresh Air Taxicab
Co. of America, Incorpulated, has so
freely and persistently exposed its in
nermost secrets to the world, can see
no harm in using as an Illustration
for income tax purposes the private
business affairs of Mr.. Amos Jones and
Mr.. Andy Brown.
Hazard to Taxicab.
I'm the first place, If Amos and Andy
failed to file their income tax return
before midnight March Is. with the
collector of internal revenue at Harlem,
instead of being permitted to pay their
tax in four inStallments, the entire
amount will become due at once and
well. And the first thing you know the
Government will have that taxicab up
for sale to the highest bidder.
knowing how Andy's mind works,
think he is fixing to take deduction
for that piano he presented to Madam
Queen at Christmas time. But 1t can't
be done. BY no stretch of the imagi-
nation can that item be considered
a business expense, and then, too, there
t. wr-fn h. Co.
The cost of repairs on the taXicab will,
of course, be allowed If the repairs are
ever made. But long distance telephone
calls to Ruby Taylor at Chicago by
Amos and money spent for food for
the madam by Andy cannot be de-
Quoted as a business expense. Andys
investment In the patented f1y-catcher
and the Kingfish's bank may be charged
of as losses in the year in which he
ascertains. them to be worthless. To
these items We would say check and
double check
But messed up as these two big
business men admit themselves to be, I
would advise that they go in person to
the Office of the collector of internal
revenue for information and advice.
Likewise, it is suggested to all tax
payers who may need assistance in
making out proper return that they
go to the office of the collector Of in
ternal revenue or his deputy in their
community, where they will be cheer
fully advised and shown every courtesy"
Keen Sense Of Humor.
This incident affords an excellent
illustration of Mr.. Lucas apt resort to
his keen sense of humor when con-
fronted with a difficult task, which is
thoroughly characteristic of the man.
BY the above observations concerning
the tax difficulties Of the highly popu-
lar radio black-face comedians the new
commissioner caught the interest of
thousands of radio listeners who other
wise probably would have turned the
dial at the beginning OF his speech.