Evening star., 1924-04-10
HENEY' HIRED, in QUIZ
Of REVENUE BUREAU
Couzens to Pay Prosecutor for
Heavy Work of Senate
-. q. ..
d. ~ Committee.
PLAN MEETS OPPOSITION
Watson and Ernst Vote Against
Action-Letter From Mellon.

Francis J. Heney OF California,
widely known for his work as pub
lie prosecutor, has been selected to
do most OF the heavy work OF the
special Senate committee investigat-
ing the intrenal revenue bureau. His
fee as special counsel for the commit
tee is to be paid personally by Senator
Couzens, republican. Michigan, who in
troduced the resolution under which the
inquiry;is. being conducted.
Senator Couzens' proposal yester-
DAY for employment of Mr.. Heney
brought vigorous opposition from
Senator Watson, republican. Indiana,
chairman of the committee, and Sen
ator Ernst of Kentucky. the other
republican member, but 1t was adopt
ed by vote of three to two, with
Senators King of Utah and Jones OF
bers, supporting its sponsor. Inc
new unofficial prosecutor of the
committee has been in Washington
several days.
Predicts More 1.Muck Raking."
Senator Watson predicted during
the discussion that empl oyment OF
Mr Henry would result IN anotner
Couzens denied this was his purpose
and also insisted he was not after
somebody" as charged by Senator
Ernst who suggested he was aiming
Tho investigation at secretary Mel,
lon because he had been spanked"
by the Treasury head in thir con-
troversy over taxes.
The committee members finally
agreed verbally to hold flrm control
over the public hearings by consld-
what evidence might be admitted.
Then all except Senator Couzens
withdrew and the days inquiry got
under way, to adjourn subject to cali
OF the chairman after an hour or
technical testimony by Chief Engi-
neer Greenadge of the bureaus amor
Lization section.
When it was brought out that Senator
Couzens, one of the richest men in
the Senate, proposed to pay all
tho Investigation, Senator Ernst
sharply questioned the propriety OF
that action. Senator Jones, however.
defended Senator Couzens' action and
Senator King appeared to take tho
the same view.
Question of Party.
Senator Watson huntly declared
that he knew Heney well enough
to know that the hearing would be
turned into a muck raking" IL Heney
was given a chance" Senator wat
son asked Senator Couzens why he
had consulted with democratic COM
mittee members on his plan and not
with his republican colleagues"
Senator Couzeus replied that he
recognized no republican or other
colleagues" when he was going aft
er government business" They all
look alike to me-" he said.
Senator Couzens admitted that he
had resented from the first the ap-
pointment of four members OF the
busy finance committee to compose
,,r1aft 700 EHyff n
himself. He left the inference that
he considered this an attempt TO
hamper the investigation, and charged
specifically that. Senator Ernst had
tried to "block" his efforts in the
committee. The Michigan senator
conceded, however, that Chairman
Watson had not sought to curb the
hearings thus far had
This work is not going to be stop
ped" Senator Couzens declared hedt-
edly. II do not propose to be block :
ed, sidetracked or diverted py. any
senator or group of senator's.
Mellon Sends Letter.
Secretary Mellon informed the COM
nittee Yesterday that the bureau had
addressed inquiries 10 several com
panies in which he is minority
stockholder, seeking waivers on prl-
vacy of their tax returns. me con
Germs were named by Senator Couz-
ems.
Mr.. Melons letter to Chairman
Watson said the Secretary had never
heard" of the Elliott Machine Tool
Company, but offered to supplement
the bureaus request as to tax returns
of the other companies by personal
letters" to the directors.
Another company named by the
Michigan senator as a Mellon com
pany" was the Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Company, and he put in the record
today a letter from that company say
ing that Mr.. Mellon was only a small
stockholder and that 1t had received
no special" treatment on amortiza-
ton "either before or since" Mr.; Mel
lon became Secretary of the Treas
ury.