The Washington herald., 1918-06-01
M'ADOO HURLS
BACK CHARGES
KITCHIN MADE
Did Not Recommend Reve-
nue. Legislation at Lobby
Instance, Says.

CLAUDE kitchin, chairman OF the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House. who asserted that a pub
fishers lobby had forced the enact
ment of a new war revenue bill at
this session of Congress. heard from
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo
yesterday.
Mr.. McAdoo, in his letter to Mr..
Kitchin made public yesterday, asks
that he be held responsible for urg-
ing war legislation in pursuance of
his plain duty. and makes the blunt
denial that he was influenced by
any other consideration except the
welfare of the country at . vital
period in its hisory.
McAdoo's Letter.
Secretary McAdoo wrote in part
as follows:
Dear Mr.. Kitchen-The very
cordial relations, personal and off,
cial. which have always existed be-
tween you and myself assure me
that you would not Intentionally do
an injustice to me or to any mem
bers of my loyal and efficient stan
in the Treasury Department. I
should be much more willing to suf-
fer an injustice myself than to have
them suffer an injustice.
TT is for these reasons that I
should like to refer to the follow
ing passage which the papers re-
port as having been contained in
your speech in the House of May
IS.
Objected to This.
81 do not think that Secretary
McAdoo thought about the press,
the newspapers and magazines one
way or the other. However. / do
believe that away back, hidden
somwhere. unseen by most of US,
there was an influence OF one of
the shrewdest and most powerful
lobbies that ever infested the COR
ridors of the Capitol or the lobbies
of the hotels here. which made it
self felt with some in whose judg-
mept the. Secretary of the Treasury
has great faith
The implication is that someone
in whose judgment I have great
faith has been influenced by a
powerful newspaper lobby. and that
may have heen Influenced myself
Indirectly thereby.
Conditions Change.
1T is true that in the early part
of the year I had hoped that ad-
ditionaI revenue legislation would
not be required at this session of
Congress-; but in a great war like
this conditions change rapidly. and
as the war has proceeded. the actual
expenditures Of the Treasury have
steadily grown until they will ex-
ceed $500, 900. 900 in the month of
May. The records show that they
have been increasing at the average
rate of $10o.000.000 per month
with these facts before me and
with the new estimates OF the War
and Navy Departments, the Shipping
Board and other governmental agen-
cies involving immense additional
outlays. could not look upon the fu-
ture without genuine concern unless
prompt steps were taken to strengthen
the position of the Treasury.
II am positive that the financial and
business situation would be gravely
imperiled without additional meas
Gres. I claim no infallibility Of judg-
ment; perhaps may be wrong, but
at least ] have discharged my duty
by submitting to the President the
facts in the case, and making such
recommendations as 1 thought neces-
sary to meet the situation.
1T is with the greatest reluctance
that / have been obliged to suggest
additional measures to protect the
Treasury. In doing so I am solely re-
sponsible and should alone be charged
with the consequences. whatever they
may be-"
Letter Has Not Come.
81 have not received any letter from
Secretary McAdoo," said Representa-
tive Ritchin, chairman Of the House
Ways and Means Committee last
night, declining to discuss the Secre-
tarys request that Kitchin withdraw
his statement that great publishers
brought about the revenue bill.
Asked IL he had any reason to re-
tract or modify the statement to
which McAdoo took exception, Kitchin
replied with emphas sis that he did mot