Evening star., 1951-04-30
Domestics Here
10
Social Security
Deductions From Poy
Meeting Little Favor
Revenue Bureau Says

Long-range social security bene-
fits hold little interest for WASH
ington maids. buffers, cooks and
gardeners, according to inquiries
received by the Bureau of Internal
Revenue.
In the face of widespread oppo-
Sition on the part of servants here
to the new social security pro-
gram, set up to include domestic
workers. indications are that
many employers are paying the
full 3 per cent levy, rather than
risk losing their servants. Under
the new provisions. employers are
supposed to withhold IL per cent
from servants wage, and con-
tribute the other 1h per cent
themselves. First returns must be
filed by midnight tonight
However, officials at the In
ternal Revenue Bureau said in
quiries from employers disclosed
that many planned to pay the full
levy. Spokesman in the Washing
ton Office of the Deputy Collector
of Internal Revenue for the Mary
land District, which includes all
of Maryland and the District,
said most Washington employers
seemed willing to go along with
the benefit plan, but many men
toned unfavorable reaction on the
part of their domestic workers.
Afraid Of Tax Investigators.
officials said servant opposition
was based principally on an un-
willingness to have their take
home pay reduced, and because
some have not been filing income
tax returns, and fear a social Sc
Icurity record would put Internal
Revenue Investigators on their
trail.
On the latter point. a spokes-
man would only say, "We never
neglect lead -
-Four employees were answering
telephone inquiries at the local
office this morning. Calls were
coming in on an average of one
every 2 minutes.
Most of the callers wanted to
check on whether they came under
provisions of the law. The social
security extension provides a
per cent return must be made il
a servant is employed "a days dur
ing a quarter, and receives $50 or
more for the period of his or her
employment. If one of these
specifications is not met, no social
security return need be made.
Doctor Refuses I'd Pay All.
Paul Beseler, deputy collector
in the Washington Office, told Of
one doctor who explained that
long time servant was quitting
rather than have ~ per cent Of
her wages withheld. The en-
ployer said he wouldn't pay it all.
A woman called to ask how her
maid could get a social security
number. Mr.. Beseler added. Told
the maid would have to apply in
person. the woman replied, ''Well,
I'm certainly not going to give
her half day off to come down.
town for that"
A. Parks Raisin, assistant to
the deputy collector for this dis
trict, said it was impossible at
this time to estimate the number
of District employers who are
making returns, since all are
mailed to Baltimore. A few per-
sons were lined up at the cashiers
desk, making payments in person,
but these were not all servant
employers, since today IS a quar-
terly deadline for all types Of
social security payments.
$4,000 Apply for Forms.
Nearly $4,000 employers of SER
wants in Maryland and the District
have written to ask for social
security payment forms, it was
said.
Officials pointed out. every
effort was made to provide SIM
plifled form, which requires only
the name of the employer, the
name of the employe. the en-
ploye's social security number, the
total wages paid and the return
due.
Noticed on a waiting room
table at the local Office was copy
of current magazine. on the
cover of which was printed in
large letters the title of the lead
article-"Why You're Broke"