Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-11
TAX MEN PROBING
LAND SALES TO j. S.
Noting Income Returns Of
Those Who Sold Property
to Government.

Bureau of Internal Revenue agents
are checking up on District RESIDENTS
and others who have recently sold land
to the District and Federal Govern
ments to ascertain if they have paid
their Federal income taxes. The agents
want to know if proper returns have
been filed. noting the sums paid out
of public funds for this land.
This became known yesterday, when
agents started systematic eXamlna-
ton Of the land record Of the Depart
ment of Justice, the United States
engineer Office the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, the
Treasury Department and the District
government. They are going back over
a number of years to see how those
who sold land to the Government have
been faring with their returns to Uncle
Sam. They are particularly interested
in knowing if the land vendors have
paid the proper income taxes, in con-
junction with the money they realized
from land sales.
Extend to Maryland.
A preliminary investigation by the
Bureau of Internal Revenue convinced
O44II1dAo, do ~ 40 oAioSA
stood that an appreciate number OF
persons who failed to file Federal in
come tax were uncovered. These will
be given an opportunity to wipe out
their past Indebtedness and help re-
plenish depleted Federal Treasury. In
cases where these persons failed to
settle court action is indicated. The
drive is to be extended to nearby Mary
land, where the Federal Government
has advanced funds with which to de-
velop parks in the nearby Sligo, Rock
Creek and Cabin John Valleys.
In the preliminary inquiry a number
of land purchase records, where deals
have been closed, were picked at ran
dom. An appreciate percentage of
these were found to have overlooked
paying the Federal income tax. The
Bureau Of Internal Revenue then de-
cided on a microscopic examination
and a thoroughgoing inquiry, which is
expected to take number of weeks, Is
being undertaken. Names of land
sellers will be checked against the list
of those who paid their income taxes,
so that those, who have squared them
selves with the Government, in flnan-
cial way, may be eliminated from the
reckoning and those who failed to
comply with the law can be proceeded
against.
Many Bureaus Involved.
The Department of Justice handles
land condemnation cases; the United
States engineer Office is interested in
buying land for the development OF
Anacostia Park: the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission buys
land for the park, playground and
recreation center development here; the
Treasury Department purchases ground
for the public buildings program mere,
and the District government acquires
property for municipal purposes.
Office Renting Houses.
The Office of Public Buildings and
Public Parks is renting out about 100
houses. which have been acquired by
the Federal Government as part OF the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commissions development program Tor
the future They represent part OF the
properties needed and are at present
in Federal hands. The former owners
OF these premises, as well as those VINO
sold vacant ground to the Federal Gov
eminent, are the object Of the present
scrutiny.
A great deficit in the public Treasury
caused Bureau of Internal Revenue Of
ficials to cast about for additional
sources Of income for the-Rederal Gov
eminent. An enterprising agent thought
about the land purchase possibilities
here inasnuch as the Federal Govern
ment has purchased millions of dollars
worth Of property in the District re-
Gently in conjunction with the many
improvements that are going forward
here Bureau of Internal Revenue au-
thorities expect to get hundreds OF
thousands Of dollars out of the pockets
of Washingtons former land owners
through the present investigation.