New-York tribune., 1921-05-04
Nomination OF
Blair Sent Back
To Committee
johnson, IN Stormy Execu-
tive Session OF Senate,
Fights Appointec for In
ternal Revenue Chief
Supporters Fear Defeat
Failure to Vote for Primary
Choice and Relatives Tax
Refund Claim Brought Up

l =
| WASHINGTON, May S.--After a
stormy session of the Senate behind
closed doors late to-day, the Senate
referred back to the Finance Commit
tee the nomination of David H. Blair,
Iof North Carolina, for Commissioners
Of Internal Revenue. The action was
due to the charges which Senator John
son made in executive session that
Blair, as delegate to the Chicago
convention last June, though instructed
in the primary to vote for johnson for
President. violated the mandate of the
primary and thus violated a state law.
Senator Johnson also alleged that Blair
as Commissioner of Internal Revenue
would have jurisdiction over refunds
OF income taxes due to his father-in-
law and other relatives.
The reference back to the committee
was taken in the face of defense of
Blair by Senator's Smoot and Frelinr-
huysen. There was no roll call. but II
is understood most of the support for
referring the nomination back came
from Republicans. AS a matter of fact
the leaders who supported Blair feared
after Senator Johnson had made his
charges. that if the question of con-
hrmatlon went to a vote Blair would
be rejected.
Committee to Investigate
The fight against Blair had beer
foreshadowed for some days and is the
most serious controversy which has
! yet arisen in the present Administra-
tion over nomination. 1t is expected
the Finance Committee will investigate
the charges and tonight it is not
deemed at all certain that Blair can be
confirmed.
Senator Johnson, though he would
not make statement as to what went
on in executive session, issued the fol-
lowing In explanation of his attitude:
Il am not speaking at all about what
| occurred in executive session. | am
opposed to the confirmation of Mr..
Blair. Ny objection is based upon two
grounds: First, he was a delegate to
the Republican National Convention
bound under the law of North Carolina
to vote for the candidate receiving the
majority votes in the Presidential pref
erence primary there. l received in
that primary three times as many votes
as my opponent Blair, as delegate to
the national convention, did not obev
tne mandate of the primary. He yio-
lated the law and betrayed his people
he is now nominated to the most i'm.
portant administrative Office in the
Unlted States He administers tax. pro.
hibition and other laws. A man who
Will violate his own states laws is unt;t init
70 administer the nations laws.
Claim for Refund PENDING
"The second objection to Mr. Rla;r.
because Of the secrecy maintained con,
cerning tax returns, is involved in
some obscurity. Mr.. Blafr's father-in-
law is one Of the richest, if not the
richest, men in North Carolina. He
sought BY forming partnership with
his family to lessen the amount of his G
income tax. He was required to nav
and it Is asserted he did paw. the mi
amount claimed by the government. and
tne members of his family as partners
bave sought refund Some hundreds
stake. There is a dispute about tho
present exact situation. At any rate
Mr. Blair ought not to be nut in -
position where he is in the sliohtes+
degree connected with refunds dna ~
his wife, his father-in-law and M otbor ~
relatives" o'ner
The circumstances with respect 70