Evening star., 1935-02-24
Paul Pry Pink Papers.

Paul Pry Pink Papers.
Every income taxpayer has received
a pink slip Of paper on which he Is
to write the answers to five questions
relating to his 1884 income tax and
mail 1t to the collector Of internal
revenue before March IS next. or for
felt a penalty of five dollars. The
questions concern confidential matters
between the taxpayer and his Govern
ment, although the answers are Of no
earthly use to the Government. having
been covered in more detailed, exact
fashion in the income tax returns
themselves. The only purpose to be
served by filling out the pink slip Is
to make available to any Paul Pry
who wishes it information regarding
the taxpayers gross income, total de-
ductions, net income, total credits
against net income and tax payable.
The Treasury did not ask for the
information. It Is required by sec
ton 55(b) Of the 1884 revenue act,
and the history Of that section Is not
without interest. The revenue act OF
1924 had made income tax informa-
ton public, but one years experience
was enough and the publicity section
was repealed. The act Of 1926 pro-
vided that the President should pro-
mulgate rules and regulations per-
mitting public examination Of income
tax returns, and the Presidents have
limited such inspection to those who
had legitimate reason to seek the
Information, subject to specific rules
The 1884 act went to the Senate
containing the same clause relating to
presidential regulations, but Senator
La Toilette secured adoption OF an
additional publicity section-by vote
of Al to 34-making income tax rec
ords available to those who paid q
reasonable fee for certified copy Of
the return. In conference, this
amendment was apparently considered
Objectionable and was stricken out,
but, curiously enough, an even more
Objectionable amendment was substi-
tuted. The pink slip" substitute
slipped by Senate and House without
discussion in the closing days OF the
session, and it Is to be doubted II
many members of Congress knew it
was there.
The amendment requires the filling
out of the pink slips and the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue is to
make copies available to the inspec-
ton of any Tom, Dick and Harry
who wants a peek.
Representative Bacon Of New York
Is leading a fight for its repeal and
has been joined by Senator Copeland
and by Representative Bell Of Kansas.
Private organizations are, in addition,
waging campaign for Its repeal. It
should be repealed. Mr.. Bacon has
told the House that 1t makes informa-
ton on tax returns available to any
kidnaper, blackmailer, racketeer or
sucker-list salesman whose business
it is to know other peoples financial
standing. The merchant or business
man will also be compelled involun-
tarily to make known to his curious
rivals the sort of information that he
would ordinarily gard strictly as his
own affair-to be shared only with
his Government.
For any one with legitimate inter-
est In income tax returns-State off,
cials, the committees OF Congress, GER
tain corporation officials and stock
holders-the information Is already
available under rules prescribed by the
President. The pink slips are repre-
sentative Of an unnecessary indignity
inflicted upon income taxpayers. some
ninety per cent Of whom pay taxes on
incomes Of $1,000 and less, and the
great majority Of whom are not seek
ing to evade their obligations-a trait
of honesty, it is true, that is not
universal.
Mr.. Bacon has made a reasonable
request of the House Ways and Means
Committee for hearings on the repeal
proposal, which would give the Sec
retary OF the Treasury and officials
Of the Bureau Of Internal Revenue
opportunity to testify regarding the
value to the Government, If any, Of
the pink slips. No convincing argu-
ments have yet been made in their
favor. The section requiring them