Show I RETURNS BARRED FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER ACT OF 1882 President Taft Writes Letter Con Concerning Concern ConS S cern ng Collection of the Cor Corporation Corporation Corporation Tax Washington Feb 16 Returns made by corporations under the law taw imposing a tax of 1 per cent on their net incomes are not to tI be open to public inspection unless Congress makes an appropriation specifically spec providing for accommodations and clerical help Somebody has discovered that an act passed in 1882 expressly pro prohibits prohibits prohibits hibits the secretary of the treasury from using any part of the appropriation tion of made by Congress for the expenses of collecting incorporation incorporation tax in the employment of persons within the District of Co lumbia I President Taft thinks that Congress Intended intend d that the returns original and corrected should be open to tion and in a letter to the secretary of the treasury he has suggested that if the construction which seems to him to be the right one Is to be carried Into execution there must be an tion of for the specific purpose Follow Following Inc the Presidents suggestion e o Charles CharM D Norton acting secretary s of the treasury treasur has line submitted to th the speaker of the House an estimate fot foi an appropriation of the amount stated Strong opposition has developed to the publicity feature of ot the corporation tax The issue now is squarely before Congress and much interest is marl mail Continued on Page SIx RETURNS BARRED FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER ACT OF 1882 Continued from Page One as to whether that body will re reenact reenact reenact enact the existing publicity provision by granting the appropriation recommended recommended recommended mended Mr Tafts attitude Is voiced In the following letter to the secretary of the treasury Letter Leter of Mr Taft The White House Washington Feb 16 1910 My Iy Dear Der Mr Secretary On the question queston as to the meaning of para paragraph paa paragraph graph 6 of the corporation excise law lawin lawIn lawin in section seton 38 33 of the tariff act of August 5 1909 1900 I have very little doubt It I seems to me that it was Intended by b Congress that tat the returns original anu ant an corrected but not the documents documentS and evidence taken upon Investigation should be open ope to Inspection as are court records I 1 understand the difficulty that pre presents presents presents itself Itel to you ou towi That Con Congress Congress Congress gress in the urgent appropriation bill bi of August 5 1909 appropriated for the expenses of collecting the cor corporation corporation tax and that it i was wa assumed that this would enable you to use a proper part of the sum sum for increasing your clerical and other assistance need needed needed needed ed to give the opportunity for the pub public lie lic lc inspection specifically provided In Inthe Inthe inthe the act act It I will wi require at least lest properly to Index and display the re returns returns returns turns of more than corporations to house them in rooms convenient of access for the public and to provide clerks cerks for the care and custody of them under such conditions Prohibited by Act of 1882 It I now turns out however that by section 4 of the act of August 5 the secretary of the treasury Is ex expressly expressly expressly pressly prohibited from using any part of the appropriation of made In the words of the statute already quoted d for the betterment of persons within the District of Columbia In other words therefore no appropriation tion ton exists with wih which to make the re returns returns returns I turns of corporation a true record I available for publication In any differ different different ent manner from that In which other internal revenue records are public rec records records records In my judgment the tho failure to make a specific appropriation for the purpose was an oversight due duo to the supposition supposition tion ton that the might be applied in part to the purpose under discussion and that It i was as ab already said the tho Intention of Congress to make these rec records records records different from the ordinary In Internal revenue records and really realy sub subject subject subject to general public Inspection But with wih the situation as it I is noth nothing nothIng nothIng ing remains to be done except for you to state the case cae to the House of oC Rep Representatives Representatives where appropriation bills bis bisare are properly introduced and to suggest that if I the legislation which seems to tome tome tome me to be the right one Is to be car carried ned ried red Into execution there must be an appropriation of for the specific purpose and with wih a further statement that if I no such appropriation is made the only course open to those who are the law in the department will wi be to treat the returns as other internal revenue records |