Evening star., 1927-11-08
PRESIDENT AGAINST
INHERITANCE LEVY
Executive Said to Favor Re.
peal of Federal Tax as
Aid to States.

BY the Associated Press.
President Coolidge favors repeal of
the federal inheritance tax, 1t was
said today at the White House.
The Presidents position was made
clear even while a heated controversy
over the Inheritance tax was going
on before the House Ways and Means
Committee. where lobbying accuse.
tons have flown thick and fast.
He believed, as the Treasury recon-
mended. that the United States Gov.
ernnent should withdraw from this
neid or taxation to permit the States
to have this revenue which the Presi
gent believes is needed to care for the
increased cost of State government.
With the provision allowing the
states so per cent of this tax, the Pres
ident believes that it becomes a minor
revenue measure and that the States
should have the entire benefit of this
form of taxation.
The White House today denied that
any person outside of Government Off.
Gals had discussed the tax with the
President. Reports had been circu.
iated In Washington that lobbyists had
calied at the White House In an effort
to influence the President.
Council Income Probed.
The source of income of the Ma.
tional Council of State Legislatures
and organizations advocating repeal
OF the Federal Inheritance tax was In.
quired into closely today by the House
ways and means committee,
After William H. Blodgett, tax COM
missioner for Connecticut, and spokes.
man for the organization, had urged
elimination of the tax on the grounds
that it infringed upon State rights. a
number of committee members asked
concerning the body and its financing
These questions were in line with
charges that big lobby has been or.
ganized to force repeal of the tax.
Representative Garner of Texas.
ranking minority member of the com.
mlttee. asked what steps had been
taken at an organization meeting in
washington to finance its work.
So far as l know there wasn't any
matter of finance" Blodgett replied.
MY state paid my expenses. 1t pays
them every time am called away on
tax matters"
Rainey to Ask Inquiry.
Representative Rainey, Democrat,
Illinois. who intends to ask for a con.
gressional investigation into charges
| that lobby is being maintained here
| In behalf of repeal of the inheritance
| tax, quizzed Blodgett on the subject
| of the council Of legislatures.
Blodgett said he could not give any
information about the number of
| council delegates here, and the din
ners, breakfasts and sightseeing eX.
cursions arranged for them, and de.
Il. yDns,
suggested that the expense must be
around $4,000.
"Well." Rainey pursued, 'it cost me
| 500 to make round.trip to Illinois:
| it must cost $4,000 to bring this dele.
cation here"
Rainey then asked Blodgett il he
| had not received a letter saying his
expenses would be paid.
II did not"
Perhaps you overlooked 1t in your
mail"
II frequently overlook much of my
mail" was the rejoinder.
Green Charges Packing"
The charge that advocates Of the
repeal Of the inheritance tax had
| packed" the House ways and means
| committee room was made today by
the chairman. Representative Green,
during the testimony of witnesses on
tax revision.
A burst of applause had greeted
q statement by John II. Kirby, Hous-
ton, Tex. president of the National
Council of State Legislatures, In favor
of elimination of the tax, when Green
leaned forward in his seat and de-
clared:
This room has been picked by
your organization" Before the wit
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