The Washington herald., 1922-06-17
MELLONSAYS
NO TREASURY
CHANGES DUE
Personnel Will Remain
AS 1t Is Now, He
! Declares.
ENDS CONTROVERSY
OF BLAIR AND DOVER
G. o. P. Chiefs Regard
Publication of Blacklist
AS Unfortunate"

drew W. Mellon. in a firm statement
that the conduct of the Treasury
Department in the future would
not deviste from that of the past.
and that there would be no change
in the employe personnel, brought
to an abrupt end the so-called
Blair-Dover controversy yesterday.
Unless the matter is reopened by
President Harding. who is now in
possession of a petition signed by
16S Republican Representatives.
approving the Dover plan for the
decentralization of certain bureaus
of the Treasury. the Blair Dover
matter. which had been bobbing up
on frequent occasions recently. Is
settled Only a breach between
Mr.. Mellon and Mr.. Harding. which
Is declared unlikely. would result
in further action.
The linking of an unofficial
black list"-in which the names of
alleged Democratic hold-overs in
the Treasury are set forth as be-
ing marked for dismissal in favor
Of Republicans with the official
petition was characterized last
night by Republican Senators and
Representatives as "untimely anG
unfortunate"
List Full of Errors.
This 'blaSk list" which is replete
with erTors-in many instances in
Guiding the names of ardent Re-
publicans-has been made public as
a part of the Congressional petition
by parties unknown" it is stated.
Representative James T. BeEE, OF
Ohio. who presented the official
ConCressional petition to President
Harding yesterday. denied anv
knowledge of the black list" and
declares that IL il was established
aS is generally reported. that these
lists rad been circulated IN House
or Representative envelopes bearing
ms frank. the stationery had been
stolen.
The petition which I presented
TO President Harding was a simp's
Endorsement of Dover" Representa-
tive Begg said. and contained no
condemnation of anyone nor any
list supposed to contain the names
Of Democrats still in the employ OF
the Treasury Department"
Lenroot -DepIores Publication
Senator Irvine L. Lenroot, Repub-
would have been bad enough to
would have been bad enough 70
have published such a list had II
been accurate, but the fact that IL
was full Of errors made its publ
cation far worse
One of the men listed as a DEM
ocrat in this black list J. c. Halls.
was for many years my secretary.
Senator Lenroot stated. land a MAN
who has always been a Republican
l have conversed with many Re
publican Senators on the subject
and find most. if not all. have Re-
publican constituents listed as
Democrats.
II cannot imagine what could have
prompted the publication of this
black list in connection with the
mention Of the official petition. hut I
feel certain that it has brought about
the untimely end Of the Blair-Dover
affair"
Many members OF both Houses Of
Congress expressed the opinion that
any good results that might have
accrued through circulation OF the
Congressional petition would he neu-
tralized by the unfortunate associa-
tion Of il with the mysterious black
list"
Undersecretary Indignant.
An example Of the inaccuracies o.
the unclaimed black list" and an in
dication that it is generally under
stood that the list was broadcasted
by Representative Fegg. is contained
in A letter sent to the Ohio Repre-
sentative by P. Gilbert. Undersec-
retary Of the Treasury. The letter
reads as follows:
Hon. James T. Begg.
House of Representatives.
Washington. D. c.
sir:
Through the courtesy of various
Republican Senators and Repre-
sentatives have had brought to
nv attention a statement entitled
The Treasury Observation-Disclosures
Of the personnel OF the Bureau of
Internal Revenue. The key posi-
tions largely held by officials of a
former administration and named
and checked from the official rec
ords of the department. which is
being circulated in envelopes bear
ing your frank. Item l of this
statement under the heading Per-
sonnel Of Secretary Melons ONCE
contains the following paragraph:
"1. Mr.. Paul Gilbert, active DEM
ocratic politician. taking the stump
for Gov. Cox in the campaign Of
1920. At present holding the po-
sition of the Cndersecretary OF the
Treasury
Even Name wrong.
Il do not know Mr.. Paul Gilbert.
but ! assume from the context that
the item may have reference to me.
The statement Is o. n" concern
whatever to me, but / should like
to state for your own Information
that IL II does refer to me it is abb
solutely false in every respect.
Since you are lending your name
to its circulation you may possibly
be interested in the facts.
i am not a Democrat: and not
a politician, and have never been
active in politics. 1 did not take
the stump in 1920 for Mr. Cox, and
had no Interest whatever in his
campaign. l am a lifelong Repub-
lican: have never voted anything
but the Republican ticket, and my
father was for thirty years one Of
the most active Republican leaders
in the State Of New Jersey. / was
appointed Assistant Secretary of