Evening star., 1932-03-01
CAPONE TAX CASE
OUTLINED IN FORUM
Burnet, in Radio Interview,
Describes Problems of
Levy Collection.

The recent drive by the Bureau oi
Internal Revenue against Al Capone
and other gangsters has netted the
Government hundreds of thousands ol
dollars from other delinquent taxpayers
who needed the handwriting on the
wall
This and other pertinent matters re-
lating to tax collection were discussed
last night by David Burnet, Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue, in the first
National Radio Forum interview. The
Forum discussion was arranged by The
Starr and broadcast over the coast-to-
coast hookup of the National Broad
casting Co. 1t was heard locally through
station WRC.
Questioned by Editor.
Mr.. Burnet, answering questions by
Oliver Owen Kuhn, managing editor of
The Star, said publicity given the Ca
pope case had "pricked the conscience"
of many taxpayers who had failed to
file returns to make honest returns.
Many of these taxpayers, he said, were
engaged in gambling and other busi-
nesses of an illegal nature, and their
decision TO pay up has increased ap-
preciably the Governments revenue.
Commenting on the fact the Govern
ment shares indirectly IN illegal profits
through taxes collected, Mr.. Burnet
said this must necessarily be so unless
the criminal element is 70 be especially
favored as tax-exempt class Marked
success has been had. he said, in en-
forcing levies against racketeers.
Taxpayers Generally Honest.
Declaring that 90 e9-100 per cent
70 o<TNo &C. t1rt, ,eI,v
honest in making their returns" Mr.
Burnet said he conceived the Bureau
OF Internal Revenue to be as much a
representative of the individual tax
payer as of the Government. The bu-
reau, he said, stands ready to help the
taxpayer at all times.
Although the bureau was represented
by the commissioner as being willing
and anxious to pay rebates whenever
they are due, the percentage of refunds
to taxes paid is very small. approx
mating per cent. Over a period of the
past Is years, he said, nearly S47,000,-
100000 in revenue has been collected,
while, less than $l,350, 100000 has been
refunded. Large refunds, which are
given wide publicity, he declared, are
more than offset by additional levies
and collections.
The full text of the interview fol
lows:
Mr.. Kuhn-Mr. Commissioner, the
average man looks upon the Bureau of
Internal Revenue as an agency of the
Government, the sole purpose of which
is to take money from him as taxes. Is
that, In fact, the bureaus only inter-
est?
Mr.. Burnet-Mr. Kuhn, will YOU not
let me digress moment to express
the sincere and grateful appreciation
that we of the Bureau of Internal
Revenue feel toward the press and the
radio for the opportunities and facili-
ties that are afforded us for giving to
our fellow citizens information con-
cerning the work and aims of the bu-
reau. It is, indeed, a noteworthy
service.
Now to answer your question. As
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, it
has always been my idea that the bu-
reau Is quite as much representative
OF the individual taxpayer as it is OF
the whole people as a Government.
The job Of the Bureau of Internal
Revenue Is to ascertain the tax that
Is due from the taxpayers and to the
Government. II the amount due is
less than has been paid we should be,
and we are, as diligent to see that the
excess is returned to the payer as we
are to collect the additional tax. We
have been striving for years to have
that understood by the taxpayers OF
tie country.
Q.-Your answer suggests to me that
our listeners would like to have you
tell them something concerning the
circumstances that lead to the refunds
we hear SO much about.
An approaching this subject 1t
seems to me it would be well. first, TO
consider the vast majority and the