New Britain herald., 1927-11-08
q Am Representing Respectable Hig h Grade Citizens' He Replies to Questions Put to Him.
Connecticut Official Cross Examined in Inquiry h. to Charges Made by Democrats.

N'oiliiStoii' t>o'' v NSi " A liam H. Blodgett. tax commissioner of Connecticut. was cross examined by members Of the house ways and means committee today i'll It's pre- liminary inquiry into the charge of Representative Rainey, democrat H. linois, that highly financed lobby is working here for repeal of the fed eral estate tax.
 Blodgett said his expenses here were paid by the state of Connecti- cut and denied knowledge of any contribution from millionaires or others interested in repeal of the in- heritance levy.
 II am representing respectable high grade citizens," Blodgett told the committee when Rainey asked him if a secret meeting last night at a hotel here had decided to have only those witnesses appear before the committee today who paid their own expenses .I have no knowledge of that. l attended no secret meet ing"
 Rainey called for J. A. Arnold but no one responded.
 Well even if he doesn't answer his name, l understand he is here and I want him put on the stand.' Rainey said without attempting 10 identify Arnold.
 Blodgett said he represented the council of state legislatures which is financed by private solicitation of s10 subscriptions. An assessment of S100 was levied on each of the states and that amount was raised by in dividualS.
 Says Power is States
 Blodgett contendcd states should be permitted to set their own es- tate tax, adding the present law places states fin strait jacket"
 Blodgett followed Senator Tram mell, democrat, Florida, and Repre- sentative Ton, democrat, Florida, who presented briefs arguing that congress had no right to interfere with state taxation.
 Raincy Makes Charge
 The charge that a highly financed lobby is at work about the capitol for repeal of the federal estate tax was made by Representative Rainey, democrat, Illinois.
 Representative Rainey made the charge and announced he would in- troduce resolution for q formal in- quiry if house republican leaders do not undertake that task.
 Tt is the richest lobby I ever l, p,i, told the United Press. T don't know where they get their money but they seem to have plenty of it.
 Publicity is furnished the news papers on a lavish scale, and letters and telegrams are being sent to of fees of representatives.
 T intend to ask every witness be- fore the committee on the estate tax question who brought him here and whether he is paying his own ex- penses.'
 Rainey's announcement cam" prior to the scheduled appearance of six witnesses on the estate tax question. Those listed include: Sen- ator Trammell, democrat. Florida: Representative Thomas Yon. demo- crat. Florida: William H. Blodgett, Hartford, Conn: Lee Satterwhite, Texas: John M. Murphy, New York city and John l.. Darrouzet, Calves ton. Texas.
 There was a similar fight during he tax hearing two years ago when a biz delegation again the estate tax appeared from many sections of the country.
 Both Republican Chairman Green and the democratic leader, Garner of Texas at that time manifested deep interest as to the source of funds of witnesses and an inquiry was threatened but nothing ever came of it.
 President Favors Repeal
 Washington, Nov. 8 P-President Coolidge favors repeal of the fed cral inheritance tax, it was said to- day at hte White House. The presidents position was made clear even while q heated controv- ersy over the inheritance tax was going on before the house ways and means committee where lobbying accusations have flown thick and fast. The president believes, as the treasury recommended that the United States should withdraw from this field of taxation to permit the | states to have this revenue which the president 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 i; president believes that it becomes a | minor revenue measure and that the ! states should have the entire bene- i fit of this form of taxation.
 The White House today denied | that any person outside of govern ment officials had discussed the tax {. with the president. Reports had been ! circulated in Washington that lobby ists had called at the White House in an effort to influence the presi- dent.
 Kirby directed his assault on the
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