Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-09
BY THE REV. JOHN BAKER
Minister, Unitarian Church Of
MONTGOMERY County
By ROBERT X. WALSH

Colin F. Stam-a name to con-
jure with at the Capitol and to treat
with respect at the Treasury-prob-
ably holds official Washington's
record for avoiding the public
prints.
Mr.. STAN, as chief of staff of the
Joint Congressional Committee on
Internal Revenue Taxation. sup
plies the factual basis for how
much income taxes you will pay.
His name is natural for headline
writer's, and his bulky form could
hardly be overlooked as he sits in
deep concentration in a Capitol
hearing room or ambles along a
corridor. But he successfully prac-
tees self -effacement to a degree
almost unknown on The Hill.
AS Congress No. technician on
tax matters. Mr. STAN has built a
solid reputation for exceptional in
fluence in that field When he
speaks. which is seldom and softly,
congressional tax-writers are in
clined to listen.
For example. just a few weeks
ago Mr.. STAN and his staff issued
estimates showing lower expected
budget SURPRISES for the 1857 and
1858 fiscal years than had been
predicted earlier. The report had
an immediate and pronounced
dampening effect on a Democratic
drive for enactment of a tax reduc-
ton bill at this time. In fact,
there are some who say it dealt the
death blow to that project.
A 30 Veteron
Mr. STAN has been with the joint
committee 30 years-just one year
less than its age. He has been its
chief of staff since 1888, and there
are many who regard him as the
Governments leading tax expert.
If he ever consented to talk
about himself ian event Capitol
correspondents never expect to re-
port, he undoubtedly could tell of
declining far higher paying out
side business offers because he pre-
fers the job he has. House men,
bers who have worked closely with
him through the years say the
often abused title dedicated public
servant" seldom is used more ac-
curately and justly than when
applied to him.
Certainly he is one Of the most
silent public servants-at least on
personal matters. Mr.. STAN is
articulate, clear, friendly and
patient in explaining intricacies Of
tax legislation or fiscal reports.
But he pleaded with a reporter
not to reprint even the sketchy
Who's Who" account of his career.
please" he said nothing personal
about me. This is a staff opera
ton"
This is not pose. any more than
is his refusal to accept gifts Of
any kind in the course Of his pub
lice service. His staff follows suit
by declining gifts. even though
they may be only cigars or candy.
Years ago an organization sent
Mr.. STAN an expensive briefcase
deliberately initiated &C. F.. S." 1t
repeatedly still reposes in his Office.
as good as new because 1t has
never been used. Similarly, he sell
dom II ever attends cocktail parties
or social functions which by the
farthest stretch Of the imagination
might seem to put him under pro-
fessional obligation.
He Loves the Work
This native OF Chestertown, Nd,
has spent over IS OF his so years
in the Government His work is
literally his life and he once
summed 1t up simply and directly:
Il love it,
He is so bound up in his Job
that many people closely associated
with him for 10 or 20 years con-
fess they know little or nothing
else about him.
Il can assure you he knows taxes
backwards and forwards and is the
best tax authority in the Govern
ment II not in the whole country"
said another congressional au-