Evening star., 1933-12-21
Certain Political Associates
of Senator Also Are Be-
ing Investigated.
PROMINENT LOUISIANA
RESIDENTS BEHIND MOVE
Check on Finances of "Kingfsh"
Begun During Hoover Admin
istratiOn, but Dropped.
BY REX COLLIER.

The Federal Government has
launched comprehensive inveStiga-
ton of income taxes paid by Senator
Huey P. Long of Louisiana and by GER
tain other members of the so-called
Long political faction in Louisiana.
Actually the inquiry is a resumption
OF an investigation started in the
Summer of 1882 by special agents of
the Internal Revenue Bureau, but sus-
pended a few months before the ex-
Piration of the past administration.
A. D. Burford, who directed the
earlier investigation. was sent to New
Orleans about two weeks ago and has
been placed in charge of force of in
come tax agents who have orders to
make a thorough probe of the finances
OF the "KingfiSh" and a number of his
political leaders
Action in the case came close upon the
appointment Of Henry Morgenthau, jr.,
as Acting Secretary of the Treasury
and the assumption by the latter of
personal direction of internal revenue
matters. MorgenthauS transfer of
internal revenue and secret service
jurisdiction from an assistant secre-
tary to the Secretarys Office resulted
in the resignation recently of Thomas
HeWes, an assistant secretary.
Elmer L. Trey, chief of the Intelli-
gence unit of the Internal Revenue
Bureau. who has general supervision of
the Long investigation, and Guy Helver-
ct &c ty,te al
refused today to discuss the Louisiana
inquiry Helvering explained that all
investigations of the bureau are conf
Dental"
Former Probe Brings Storm.
The preliminary inquiry in 1882 pre-
clpltated a storm Of criticism from
friends Of Senator Long. Income tax
of opening the Senator's private mail.
tapping his telephone lines and shadow
ing him at all hours.
Repetition of these charges about a
year ago prompted the then revenue
commissioner, David Burnet, to deny
that any special investigation" was
being made of ANY Senator" or that
wires we're being tapped or other criti-
cized methods being resorted TO-
Not long after this announcemnt the
bureau, upon direction of Secretary of
the Treasury Mills, it was reported,
withdrew its force of income tax agents
from Louisiana and dropped the Long
investigation.
Reason for Dropping Inquiry.
1t is said the suspension of the in
quiry was due to the fact that the
agents could not complete their work
prior to the change in administration.
and that the Republican administra-
ton did not desire to be placed in the
position of prosecuting a Democratic
Senator who had supported the in
coming President.
Since that time the Long case has
lain dormant in the files of the Inter
nal Revenue Bureau here awaiting ac
tion that would definitely close it or re-
open it,
Delegations of prominent Louisiana
citizens recently have brought ire
mendous pressure on the admin1stra-
ton to proceed with the income tax
inquiry it is known. The order from
higher up" which revived the case
came through from the Treasury De-
partment a fortnight ago. The Star
learned.
Independent Probe Likely.
Internal Revenue agents are said to
have collaborated with Senate investi-
gators in the early inquiry into the
Overton election. The present inveSti-
cation, it is believed, will be conducted
independently.
officials point out that conclusions
should not be drawn" because a Fed
eral investigation of income taxes IS
undertaken IN any case.
I'VE are making a great many in
vestigationS, because it is our duty to
do So one official said.
The Internal Revenue Bureau is re-
ported to have obtained records OF the
testimony by many anti-Long witnesses
before the Senate Committee investi-
eating the election of Senator Overton.
OficialS are known to have expressed
Interest" in testimony regarding large
sums of money alleged to have been
given to Senator Long in connection
with political activities in his State.
Senator Long at one time was quoted
as inviting" the Government to investi-
gate his income. The Senator was in
New Orleans today.
LONG NOT INTERESTED"