Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-06-12
REMOVAL OF FIX
ANDF|VE OF STAFF
URGED IN REPORT
Civil Service Group Would
Gust Collector and Aide,
Suspend Others.
POLITICAL SOLICITATION
IS CHARGED IN OFFICE
Findings of Commission Given to
Morgenthau for Final
Action.


puted political activity in the office OF
the collector of internal revenue at
Philadelphia. involving solicitation of
contributions, the Civil Service Com
mission today recommended that the
collector, Alvin T. Fix, and the as
sistant collector, William E. Brown,
be removed from office.
The commission also recommended
that four workers in the Office be
suspended for one year without pay
and that a one-month's suspension
be levied against another.
The four are:
Robert M. Black, chief of the
narcotic division.
John j. Gegan, cashier.
Henry L. Haines chief of the field
division. who is a son of Representa-
tive Haines, Democrat, of PennSyl-
vania.
Patrick J. Reilly, chief of the in
come tax unit.
The one-month's suspension was
proposed for Randall H. Roberts, chief
of the tobacco division.
Sent to Morgenthau.
The commissions findings were pre-
scented to Secretary of the Treasury
Morgenthau by the three members
of the commiSSion-Harry B. Mitchell,
the president; Mrs. Lucille Foster Nc
Millin, and Leonard D. White, and
announcement of the action was made
shortly after their return to the COM
mission from the Treasury.
The commission said that in its
investigation, which was conducted in
cooperation with the Treasury De-
partment, more than 100 persons
were questioned and At of these testi-
fed it had been suggested 1T would
be wise for them to make political
contribution"
The impression apparently was
created the commission said, that a
shakeup in the Office was impending
and those who did not contribute
might lose out.
Raised Republican Ante.
The commission said also this po-
litical solicitation apparently had
been taken as a matter of course in
Philadelphia, in that it had previ-
ously been carried on in the Repub-
lican administration. According TO
testimony however. the commission
said the Republicans had generally
asked for 3i4 per cent, while the
Democrats have raised the ante to D
per cent.
The text of the commissions state
ment announcing the proposed pen
alties, which are subject to action of
the Secretary of the Treasury, fol-
lows:
In reaching this decision the COM
mission has before it rather volumi-
nous testimony. This testimony was
gathered by representative OF the
Treasury Department and a repre-
sentative of the Civil Service Com
mission More than 100 persons were
questioned. Of these, Al testified that
it had been suggested that it would
be wise for them to make political
contribution. The testimony of a
number of others gave an impression
of evasiveness. Five per cent of the
salary was frequently suggested as
an appropriate amount. Some of the
people made contributions and some
Of them did not.
Group Held Responsible.
"All of the men named above have
supervisory positions. All of them are
implicated by the testimony given.
Responsibility necessarily rests on
those having the most authority; the
greatest responsibility on those hav-
ing the greatest authority.
1T is quite apparent from the testi-
mony that during the time of this
solicitation the collectors Office was
the seat of considerable uneasiness
Everybody was talking about it.
many Of the witnesses say. In the
Hobbies and the rest rooms, it was the
subject of conversation.
Have you been up to the Franklin
Trust Building? was daily question
The impression was apparently
created that there were to be many
changes in personnel and that those
who did not make contributions might
soon be without jobs.
I'm the face of all the talk and all
the turmoil it is rather difficult to
believe the head of the Office did not
know anything about it. 1t is rather
difficult to believe the man directly in
charge OF the Office force, the assist
ant collector thought all the talk was
occasioned by desire on the part of
the men and women under him to
make voluntary contributions. 1t is
quite easy to believe that heads of
DIVISIONS who we're the most active in
urging contributions thought they
were doing what their superiors de-
sired.
Called Regular Thing"
at is quite evident from the testi-
mony that this was not a new ex-
perlence for many of the older en-
ployes of the office. Apparently it
has been the regular thing in the
Philadelphia collectors Office. One
witness said he always contributed
to the party in power-to Republicans
before, and now to Democrats. An
other witness testified that the only
difference between the system now
and in former years was that the
Republicans asked for only ga per
cent-2H4 for city and l per cent for
a ward while the Democrats asked
for per cent.
ASKED why the Democrats wanted
more. the witness replied: Wei, they
had less funds to go on. 1 didn't
mind my 5 per cent. had worked
hard in my department and I wanted
to stay if could
"In order to find precedents which
might guide it in the method of penal
ties for these offenSes; the commission
had search made through it's files
for similar cases, going back more
than 20 years Among these there
have been many recommendations for
lC0ptirr,ad ~, Dora