The Washington times., 1925-03-14
ERNST ASSAHS COUZENS FOR
ATTACKING MELLON
INTERNATIONAL NEWS REEL

has forgotten his personal feelings
toward Secretary Mellon" declared
Ernst. From the first to last he
has been seeking, not facts that
would permit constructive legfsla-
ton, but things that would be
harmful to the bureau.
1.-THE entire investigation has not
brought out one single fact that
will reflect against Secretary Mellon
or any of the officials Of the
Treasury" said Ernst.
80 Companies PrObed.
Ernest said the Couzens commit
tee had Investigated thirty-eight
Mellon companies at the Michigan
Senator's instance. In every case,
Ernst said, Couzens wanted to
''pry into the case as soon as he
heard the name Of Mellon"
Ernst said Couzens had shown
great interest" when evidence re-
vealed that Mellon signed agree
ments settling tax disputes between
his own companies and the Treas
ury Department.
THE real motive" said Ernst
''of this investigation, as conducted
by Senator Couzens, was to dis
ClOSG SOIlCtIIIl6 Hal IIAA VI aAN hui -
full to Secretary Mellon"
COuzens Replies
Couzens made a brief but heated
reply to Ernst. He again charged
he was being prosecuted" by the
treasury because of disclosures in
the Senatorial investigation.
Regarding his own tax. Couzens
said the valuation of Ford stock
was fixed, mot by me, but by Dan
iel C.. Roper. commissioner of in
ternal revenue, with the approval OF
my colleague, Senator Glass. who
was then secretary of the Treas.
ury." He read a letter from Roper
saying the bureau had valued the
stock at $9.489 a share. The de-
partment now contends it was worth
$12 500,
MIR. Ford requested that the
valuation be made" said Couzens.
/ II did not know about it from the
time of Mr.. Roper's letter, in May,
1919, until / sold the stock to
Mr.. Ford in the following Septem-
Der or November. This proves I
had nothing to do with valuing the
| stock, contrary to what the Senator
from Kentucky has said"
Mellon Asked Probe
i Melons companies were investi-
gated by the committee at the
Secretary's own request, said Cou-
f., zens.
1.-The secretary specifically invited
| the committees attention to tho
| thirty-eight or forty so-called Mellon
companies he was interested in, to
determine whether the Secretary's
companies had received special ia
vors from the bureau" declared
| Couzens. 1T is in justice to Mellon
that the inquiries were made, for his
companies had been attacked by EN-
| ployes in the bureau. And now the
! representatives of the Treasury on
the committee Senator ERNST as.
sails that which Melon asked US
| to do.
Many offers Of support were
made to Couzens today in the
| Senate.
One came from Senator Dupont
Republican Of Delaware, multi-mil
| Iionaire powder king, who Volun.
/ teered to go the entire bond. An
other was from Senator Norris, Re
publican of Nebraska, who offered
to join a pool Of Senators to raise
! the bond.
Bond to Equal Assessment.
Under Treasury rules, Couzens
must put up bond equal to the
assessment, $1O,S61.131, before he
can appeal the case, which he an
nounced he would fight to the limit
To get the money from a bond
ing company would cost $50, 200
Couzens said, and he would be
| ...ohIo to oat fhaao cOata hack ever
If he won the appeal.
The Senate was aroused that one
of it's members should be forced tC
pay $4,000 for the privilege of ap
pealing an assessment OF more
than $10,000,000.
! Couzens must first carry his ap
peal to the bureau itself, which an
nounced 10 was Investigating his
| 1919 tax to determine whether
through under appraisement of Ford
Motor stocks, the assessment should
be made permanent.
Failing in the bureau, Couzens