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Show Revenue Service Improves Methods To Aid Taxpayer The nation's No. 1 ta collector collec-tor announced a program this week designed to improve service serv-ice to taxpayers, according to word received by Roland Wise, Acting District Director of Internal In-ternal Revenue for Utah. . Dana Latham, Los Angeles tax attorney, who was sworn in an U. S. Commissioner of Internal Revenue less than three months ago, said among his basic aims is a program to improve what he terms "taxpayer morale." "One of the best ways to carry out this objective is to continue and to expand personnel develop- j ment programs within the Serv J ice as our basic approach to better bet-ter taxpayer service." The first step already has been takenMr. Leatham said. Hf explained he has filled or is taking tak-ing action to fill all of the major vacancies within the service sc as to provide direct and responsible respon-sible leadership for employees. Appointments already made include the assistant commissioner commis-sioner for operations, three regional re-gional commissioners and four district directors the top executives ex-ecutives who supervise or direct employees dealing with taxpayers. taxpay-ers. All involved merit promotions promo-tions of career officers in the service. His next step is to strengthen the so-called "Blue Ribbon" program, founded and developed by former Commissioner Rus- sell C. Harrington. This program provides for an efficient and smoothly functioning function-ing Service of high quality. It aims at improving the organization organiza-tion of work, upgrading physical facilities and equipment, and strengthening the qualifications and productivity of personnel. It includes extensive career training activities ot enable employees em-ployees to work more effectively effective-ly and advance up well defined promotion ladders. "The worth of this program is proven. Under it employee pro-; duction has increased materially and employee turnover dropped substantially. I think it is so essential to better service for taxpayers tax-payers that I am prepared to go ahead with it even at the cost of further curtailment of work force," he said. , Concerning employee training programs already underway, Mr. Latham added: "A well trained employee is the taxpayers' best friend in the administration of tax laws. I want particularly to make sure during my administration that our fine training programs will assure adeauate technical competence com-petence on the part of those who must finally determine the tax Habilites of the American public." pub-lic." Mr. Latham said he is a firm believer in the policy of keeping his fellow employees fully informed in-formed of IRS problems, actions and programs. Accordingly he "'ill continue to impart this information in-formation every month through a personal letter from him to ecah employee. Other planks in his platform of better employee relations are full cooreration with emDloyee organizations, personal visits to field offices so he may meet as many workers as possible where tbey work, frequent conferences with top field executives to check the status of the employer improvement programs and full recognition of employee accomplishments. accom-plishments. Teacher: "Since pro means the opposite of con, can you give me an illustration of each?" Student: "Progress and Con-j gress." I |
