Evening star., 1932-03-15

party aggrieved by the decree Of the
Probate Court could appeal In the man
ner provided for appeals from that
| court.
Fund for Refunds.
| The tenth recommendation Is the
| elimination from the bill Of the provi-
sion creating special fund from which
| to make refunds of taxes enormously
| imposed. The bureau describes this as
superfuous, pointing out that the Dis
! trict Of Columbia already has an indefi-
mite appropriation for refunding taxes
enormously collected.
The eleventh recommendation Is for
| the modification of the enforcement pro-
visions relating to transfers Of property.
| This section of the bill states that no
| person or corporation having possession
| Of property of decedent forming part
Of the estate or any property transferred
| in manner to be subject to the estate
| tax shall deliver or transfer such prop
| erty to representatives of the estate or
| to any other persons unless 10 days
notice Of the time and place of the
| intended transfer Is given to the Dis
| trict Commissioners. The section fur
| ther provides that no such transfer shall
be made without retaining sufficient
portion Of the property to pay the tax
and interest for which such property
may be subject to a lien, unless the
Commissioners consent in writing.
The bureau recommends that a new
! paragraph be inserted to exempt life
insurance payments from these restric-
! tions.
The bureau states that while q ban
on the transfer or surrender Of prop
erty by banks, trust companies, or other
financial institutions is essential, to
prevent the possibility of tax evasion,
through failure to report securities, in
safe deposit boxes, 'it Is questionable
whether the law should include life
insurance companies in the same cat
egory. In its present form the bill
would require insurance companies
to wait 10 days before paying death
claims to the legal representatives, and
then, to withhold an amount sufficient
to pay the tax, whatever it might be
on the proceeds of the policy. In view
OF the frequent need for immediate
funds by dependent survivors, the bu-
reau believes that insurance compa-
nies should be permitted to pay the
proceeds OF any policy to the repre-
sentative OF an estate upon mailing no
tice to the District Commissioners.
0ucIl an exception would permit prompt
payment of policies upon receipt of
death claims, often providing money
urgently needed by the family Of the
decedent."
Duplication TO Correct.
After pointing out that the bill con-
tains two different sections, one dealing
with the transfer Of property of a resi-
dent decedent, and the other with the
property Of a nonresident decedert,
the bureau shows that there Is dupli-
cation in part of these two sections
The bureau then suggests:
The provisions relating to transfers
of property in both classes of estates
can practically be consolidated into one
section, thus eliminating the repetition
and providing uniform treatment in all
cases."
The bureau came to the conclusion
that the penalty in the pending bill for
failure to co,I:ply with the restrictions
concerning transfer of property con-
nected with an estate were too severe.
The bill provides that any person or
corporation failing to give the required