St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1943-11-05
Senate Confirms
Negro as Collector
Internal Revenue

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 81
The United States Senate today
confirmed the appointment Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt of James W. John
son as Collector of Internal Revenue
for the Third New York District.
This district is the second largest
internal revenue area in the United
States.
Johnson is the only Negro in the
country holding such a position.
During several Republican admin
istrations this position was held by
Negroes as the chief political plumb
in New York.
Senator Robert Wagner after
the Senate's confirmation without
opposition last Wednesday offered
the following statement for inser-
ton in the Congressional Record:
1t is a privilege to endorse and support
the nomination of James w. johnson as
collector of internal revenue for the third
New York collection district, in place of
Joseph T. Higgins, who recently resigned
bench.
Mr.. johnson has had a long and distin-
gulshed career in the service of his COM
munity, State and country. After gradua-
ton in 1877 from the academy of Howard
University in Washington, D, c.. he en-
tered the College of the City of New York.
Shortly thereafter he enlisted in the Army
an1 saw active combat service overseas
with the Field Artillery.
On returning to civilian life, he received
his Bachelor of Laws degree from New
York University in 1926. He engaged in
the practice Of law, and served as attorney
Tor the H. o. l. G. and as special counsel
Tor the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Apartments
and the Dunbar National Bank.
He was appointed chief, office deputy coll
iector of the third New York collection dis
tr1ct on April 81, 1889, later was promoted
to the position of assistant to the collector
with supervision over the office and field
divisions. He completed specialized courses
IN taxation and received the degree of
Master of Laws from the School of Law of
New York University. in June 1910. Since
the resignation of Collector Higgins, Mr.,
johnson has served as acting collector.
In addition to this background of ex-
per1ence and legal scholarship. Mr.. John
son has been active in community affairs
and national defense.
de served as regimental adjutant of the
Three Hundred and Sixty-ninth Infantry.
New York National Guard, converted and
redesignated Three Hundred and Sixty
ninth Coast Artillery (AA), from No
venber 1888 to December 1910, under four
commanding officers. He holds the New
York State Long and Faithful Service
decoration for 10 years service in the New
York National Guard. He is q graduate
OF the National Guard and Reserve Officers
Course, 1887, of the Infantry School, Fort
Benn1ng, Ga. Since the onset of World
War No. 2, he has served as deputy war
precinct of the New York City Civilian De
Tense Service. During 1912, with the as
sIstance of volunteer instructors from the
Fifteenth Regiment, New York Guard, he
conducted an intensive course of basic
military drill instruction for the air raid
wardens of the thirty-second precinct.
Mr.. johnson is married and has been a
resident of New York City since 1911, He
is former national president of Phi Beta
Sigma Fraternity and among his affilia-
tons are the American Legion, Veterans
Corps, Fifteenth Regiment, Harlem Law
yers Association, National Bar Association.
Beaver Ramapo Democratic Club, Delta
sigma Kappa Fraternity, and the Reveille
Club of New York.
The appointment of Mr.. johnson to head
the second largest collection district in the
country is a splendid and deserving rec
ignition Of the merit principle in advance
ment in Government administration. It
reflects also, in these world-shaking times,
the ever-increasing recognition of equality
OF opportunity in our national life, for all
men and women of ability, regardless of
race or color.