The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-04-09
C0UZENS TAX
PROBE GETS
MORE PUNCH
Opponents Warm Up For Hot
Fight on Prohibition and
Income Returns
BY CHARLES =. STEWART
NEA Srvice Writer

Washington. April Ex-senator
QUEENS investigation of the intern
al revenue bureau of the Treasury
Department took a long time to de
vclop much heat, but when it finally
did begin to warm up 1T reached the
boiling point in hurry.
1t was obvious from the first that
here was an inquiry with ginger in
it, potentially.
Its aim was to open up such scan
dals as might exist in the collection
of income taxes and in prohibition
enforcement In the former subject
large numbers of people are deeply
interested. In the latter, nearly
everybody is. Rumors have been
current of abuse in connection
with the former. In connection with
the latter, rumor isn't strong
enough word.
Consequently it was little disap-
pointing when the Couzens investl-
cation ran along for weeks and
months and no sensation came to
the surface.
Reason for This
There were several reasons Tor
this.
To begin with, a lot Of digging in
to embarrassing figures had to pre-
cede the Investigators arrival at any
definite conclusions. While this dig
ging was going on there was nothing
to give out
In the second place, considerable
doubt existed as to the amount OF
income tax information it was le
gally permissible to make public.
The present law does, indeed, pro-
do far "a
of assessments is concerned but most
authorities hold that further de
tails, such as Senator Couzens be-
gan to rake int more and more the
farther he went, cannot be revealed,
under penalty of fine, imprisonment
or both.
Thirdly, the cold guard senator's,
including some of Couzens' fellow
committeem IN, opposed the investl-
cation all along and hampered it all
they could. Cou2cns himself has
been bitterly blamed for persisting
in it that lie was denied a place on
the powerful Senate finance COM
mittee and is classed almost as q
member of the La Toilette Brook.
hart -Ladd-Frazier group.
These things explain why, during
its earlier stages, the inquiry has
dragged.
Gathering Punch
When Senator Couzens finally die
get around to making a few dis
closures, however, they had plenty
If punch.
He prefaced them by mentioning
"many millions" as having been lost
to the government through misman
agement in income tax collection
He referred to the settlement of ;
$9,913,S41 claim against the Atlantic
Gulf & West Indies Steamship Co
and its subsidiaries for $2,600.00O
He specified the United States Stee
Corporation as big beneficiary o
similar compromises. What perhap.
hurt worst of all, he accused thu
treasury of having made the same
kind of an arrangement with Secre
tary of the Treasury MELONS owl
Aluminium Company of America.
1t was the very day after this tina
Internal Revenue COMMISSIONS
Blair, a subordinate of Secretar,
Mellon, reopened Couzens' 1919 in
come tax, on the ground tina
Couzens had underpaid it by some
thing like 10 or III millions.
That was when CouZens droppe,
the remark. "This shows what hap
pens to you when you try to cleal
out rotten methods in government
departments"
So at last the fight has started
With so thorough a slugger as Sen
perienced a warrior as Secretar