From the Harrisburg [Pennsylvania] Telegraph:
Man Refuses to Pay Tax Because of Faith
A gray-haired, Campbellstown storekeeper, Amos M. Brandt, has refused to pay Social Security taxes because he believes it would be contrary to the principles of his faith, the United Christian.
Consequently, he was arraigned before United States Commissioner Sidney E. Friedman and released under $1000 bail for trial in the United States Eastern District Court. This charge is violating the United States tax laws, resulting from his alleged refusal to make returns and payments under the Social Security Tax law.
The United Christian Church is closely related to the Church of the United Brethren. If they had an official policy at the time about Social Security or similar programs, I haven’t been able to find it.
I wasn’t able to dig up much more about Brandt and his tax battle. Here’s a follow-up from the Evening Times of Sayre, Pennsylvania:
Charge Failure to Pay Security Tax
Philadelphia, (UP) — Amos M. Brandt, Campbelltown hardware and paint dealer, was under federal indictment today, the first employer in this district charged with failure to comply with the social security act.
Thirty counts of a true bill returned by the federal grand jury charged the Lebanon county merchant with failing to make social security deductions from wages of his employees or to contribute himself.
Quarterly payments Brandt should have made range from $12.80 to $42.04, according to the indictment.
