The Washington times., 1924-02-14
Dad TASTE,
VIEW Of
VETS
Legion Holds Support of Mel
lon Is Blocking Bonus
Legislation.
BY GEORGE E. DURNO,
International News Service.

1nUefU8blOuAl NeWD SOEVlCos
Maj. Gen. John R. O'Ryan, chief
counsel for the Senate committee
that Investigated the Veterans Bu-
reau scandal, was charged today
by the American Legion with
using his official position to &C.
complish the enactment Of the
Mellon tax bill and the defeat of
the soldiers bonus.
The legion based it's charges
upon a form letter written by
Organ to the hundreds of doctors
and lawyers throughout the coun-
try who voluntarily aided him in
the Forbes investigation, urging
them to form committees in their
districts to support the Mellon
plan.
Legion Charges Bad Taste.
, THE American Legion must con
slider it extremely bad taste that
General O'Ryan makes use of his
committee that lately worked in
the cause of the disabled soldiers
to now work for certain tax re-
duction plan." said a legion state.
ment. I'VE consider it particularly
bad taste that the tax reduction
plan advocated is one that conflicts
according to its author-with the
payment of adjusted compensation
to world war veterans"
The letters in question were writ.
ten by O'Ryan in his capacity as
chairman of the Citizens National
Committee in Support of the Mel
lon Tax Reduction Program" That
made public by the legion was ad.
dressed to Col. Henry j. Sites, of
Louisville, Ky.
"You were one of those recon-.
mended to aid me in the investiga-
ton of the Veterans Bureau, and
who accepted the CALL" the letter
opens. II am writing to ascertain
whether you will now enlist in
another cause"
Mellon Plan Outlined.
The letter then outlines the Mel
Ion plan, calling attention to it's
desirable features, and then con-
tinues:
''If you feel as I do concerning
the Mellon plan, would you under
take, either directly or in cooper
alton with others, to help organize
q committee in your state or Sec
ton Of the state, to aid our Ma
tional Committee in furtherance of
the Mellon plan?"
O'Ryan, the legion statement
charged, is well known as a foe Of
the bonus. John Thomas Taylor,
Legislative chairman, declared 1t
was unfortunate that the general
should undertake to make use Of
the organization that had STIR
rounded him ''in his work for the
disabled veterans to now work
against their biggest cause"
"The task of Investigating mis-
management in the Veterans Blu
reau," he said, was one that en-
listed the sympathetic support Of
all American citizens. General
Organ performed his duties as
special counsel for the Senate COM
mittee with skill and efficiency and
won nlgn praise. 1t is unfortunate
that he should now use the senti.
ment surrounding his late work, and
use the same organization that sup
ported him in this work, to advo-
cate tax reduction plan that is
aimed against adjusted compensa-
tion."
High Praise for Plan.
The Organ letter paints the Mel
Ion plan in glowing terms, expatiat-
Ing on the benefits to big and little
incomes alike.
''Mr. Melons proposal would re.
duce the aggregate of income taxes
to the extent of, 1929, 100000 annu.
ally" 1t says. Seventy per cent of
this total would go in reduction of
taxes on incomes of $4,000 and
under.
but the Mellon plan also pro.
poses a very substantial reduction
in the rates now assessed on the
larger incomes. The proposed re.
duction in the assessments upon the
large incomes is essential in the in.
terest of the mass Of the people. and
II is Tecause this fact is not at pres.
ent clear in the minds Of the mass
that we have undertaken to develop
their. understanding Of the matter