The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-08
TAX-RICH BILLS
AUTHOR is NEW
GIANT KILLER
Robert Jackson. Revenue
Bureau Counsel, Likes
to Fight 'BIgneSS.'
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times special Writer

WASHINGTON. AUG. beside
the names Of Jack the Giant Killer
and David who slew Goliath. history
might well inscribe that Of Robert
II. Jackson. general counsel for the
Internal Revenue Bureau
Nobody ever selected more for
midable foes than has Mr.. Jaskscn.
He began with Andrew w Mellon
who. he SAYS. owes the government
S3.075 lob in back taxes He con-
tinUed with Frank J Hogan, who
has probably extricated more rich
men from the law than any other
attorney in the United States
Finally he worked up TO a drive
against the citadels of all concen-
tratcd wealth. a drive the like OF
which Washington has not before
witnessed from an official of the
government.
Whipped Details Into Shape
Early last winter Mr.. Jackson
began work on plan to tax cor
porate bigness. Others worked with
him and the plan was one with
which President Roosevelt had long
been in sympathy. but it remained
for Mr. Jackson TO whip the details
into shape and 10 make the most
persuasive presentation of the case
for his plan that the Senate Fl
r,ar-~0 CsN,,- r,,9ffoC hoard
On the other SIDE are arrayed the
large corporations, not OF one in
dUstTv but Of all
This Robert HOuchWout Jackson
is 43 and describes himself as
country lawyer. He comes from
jamestown. n. Y. where he had a
lucrative law practice. and still las
a farm and a number of saddle
horses-ridIng is his principal recre-
alton He wouldn't at all mind le-
turning TO that pleasant mode of
life. And he SAYS that is one rea-
son why. in Washington. ne in
tends 10 60 exactly what he thinks
ne should 90 and give ground to no
one.
Close Friend of Roosevelt
There is little danger of his being
asked to do that so far as his two
Immediate superiors are concerned.
He and Secretary of the Treasury
Henry MOrgenthau and President
Roosevelt have been friends for years
and trust each other.
This latest champion of the
theory that small business is es-
Scntial to the economic well-being
Of the United States. and must be
protected against the encroach-
mcnts Of bigness. did not absorb
the doctrine as a disciple of Justice
Louis BrsndeIs or Felix Frankfurter.
He has never been associated with
either Of them.
He Is in no sense a brain truster"
He made up his mind about bigness
during the years he was Corpo-
ration lawyer. representing the
jamestown Street Railway Co.. the
jamestown. WeStfleld d North
western Railroad, the Bank of
jamestown and the jamestown
Telephone Corp.
This last corporation. an indie
pendent. has been in conflict many
times with the A. T. & T. md in
defending it. Mr.. Jackson & served
the advantages enjoyed b bigneSs
over littleneSs in business.
As a result he wants to see tax
on intercOrpOrate dividends. as
method of inducing large concerns
to simplify their corporate struc-
lures. as well as the graduated cor
pOratiOn tax. increasing in rate with
the size of the business.
Mr.. Jackson was educated at AL
bany Law School In his twenties
he was corporation counsel of
jamestown. Later he was a men,
Der of the New York commission 10
investigate administration of justice.
but these have been his only pre-
- y