The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-01-13
REVENUE DEPT
Plan FORMED
Reorganization Scheme At
Last Worked Out; Has
Two Divisions
Bv J..C. Baskerville
The Times News Huron"
Sir Winter lIntej

the state department VI ieFe
has at last been born. after many
months of labor and has turned
out to be twins. While DR.. M. Z.
s. Noble. Jr.. executive assistant
commissioner of revenue is gen
orally acknowledged as being the
papa of the new twins, it is gen
orally conceded that both Cover
nor J. C. B. Ehringhaus and Com
missioner of Revenue A. j. Max
we'll exercised a good deal of pre-,
natal influence over them and had
considerable to say about the
naming of them.
The new reorganization plans
call for the consolidation Of all
department of revenue activities
into two major divisions, as fol-
lows:
/. The division of assessments
and collections. to be headed oy
Harry Mcmillan. heretofore d.
rector of the sales tax division
only. This division will now have
general supervision over the COL
lection of the sales tax. income,
inheritance. franchise and license
and beer taxes.
2. The division Of accounts
and records, to be headed by Geo.
G. Scott of Charlotte. formerly
of the accounting firm bearing his
name there, but from which ne has
resigned in order to accept this
new post. This new division will
exercise supervision over the fol-
lowing subdivision: cashier. &C
counting. statistical information,
stores and supplies.
Executive Assistant Commits
sioner of Revenue Noble will have
general supervision over the in
stallation of the two new divisions
and over all of the departmental
operations, Commissioner Maxwell
has announced. Former Assistant
Commissioner of Revenue U. ).
Thompson will continue with the
department Of revenue, but with
the title of executive secretary OF
state board of assessment.
None of the various division
heads are being dismissed. accord
ing to the announcement made by
Commissioner Maxwell. This does
not mean. however that some ot
the present heads or employees or
these subdivisions may not De
eased out later on by the new d.
vision heads. 1t is generally un-
derstood that one of the reasons
for the lorg delay preceding the
announcement of the reorganiza-
ton plans was because of the dif-
ference in the opinions of COM
missioner Maxwell. Gov. Ehring--
haus and DR.. Noble with regard
to what should be done with the
present personnel. The prevailing
belief is that DR.. Noble wanted to
make some rather drastic changes
in personnel. that Commissioner
Maxwell wanted to retain the
present personnel and at least
give them a chance to make good
under the new set.up and that
Governor Ehringhaus at last sided
with Commissioner Maxwell. 1t IS
believed. however. that the pres
ent personnel in the various sub
divisions must make good under
the new division heads if they are
to retain their jobs.
The salaries Of the two new di-
vision heads were not announced.
Both of the two main divisions
will have contact with the field
organization, consisting of 56
deputy collections of revenue,
through the chief supervisor of
the field force. In the statement
announcing the new reorganiza-
ton plans. Commissioner Maxwell
said:
"The new system is intended to
provide more adequate supervi-
sion of all revenue collecting
operations. a more thorough fol-
low-up system on collections and
much more thorough accounting
with better analytical records.
The reorganization plan, however.
is not expected to increase cost Of
operation or of personnel. Some
of the changes contemplated will
necessarily have to made by a
gradual process. but the installa-
ton of the new plans will begin
at once.
1.-THE department of revenue
occupies a distinctive place of in
creasing Importance in our gov
ornamental system. Every func-
ton of our state government. in
Guiding schools and roads former
ly supported by locally collected
property taxes, are now wholly
dependent upon the successful
functioning of this department.
It's organization must be adequate
for this great task and it must be
operated intelligently. co-opera-
lively and efficiently"
This new twin plan of organiza-
ton is regarded as being the an
swer to Governor Ehringhaus' re.
peated declaration that the de-
partment of revenue must become
real tax collecting agency in
stead of merely a tax receiving
agency. 1t is now going to be up
to Messrs. Maxwell. Noble, Nc
Mullan and Scott to deliver the
goods"
agents here have sounded out en-