Evening star., 1936-05-25
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

DR.. Francis E. Townsend, leader Of
the old age pension movement, must
face trial for his action in walking
out on the House Investigating Com
mittee last week. Speaker Byrns made
plain today, when questioned about
the possibility of letting the doctor
get away" with his defiance
THE House of Representatives can
not afford to be houted," Byrns said.
What would be the use of attempting
investigations for any purpose if a
committee could be defied success
fully?"
Representative Bankhead, Demo-
crat, of Alabama, the majority leader,
pointed out that the issue goes beyond
the Townsend incident alone.
This sort of thing hits at the eff
fectiveness of any congressional at
tempt to seek information" he said.
I'VE cannot allow any such precedent
to go unchallenged."
Favors Court Trial.
Speaker Byrns again too kthe posi-
ton that he would favor holding the
l trial before a court rather than before
/ the bar of the House.
/ There is no telling how long the
/ trial would last if brought in the HOUSE
l with ABS members all trying to ask
questions and take part in the pro-
ceedings." he said. Besides, since the
House is the complaining body, IL
would seem more fair to take the issue
to an impartial court"
! The Investigating Committee Is
scheduled to meet tomorrow morning
/ to consider its recommendations for
/ handling the Townsend trial. and also
| will make some plans about interim
proceedings. Chairman Bell said five
Townsend leaders are under subpoena
and the question must be settled as to
whether to call them to the witness
stand at once or hold proceedings in
allowance until disposition is made OF
DR. Townsend's case.
Although the pension leader has ad.
vised his key officials not to testify,
one of them, DR.. Clinton L. Wunder,
has informed the committee he will
be on hand tomorrow.
Meanwhile, James r. Sullivan, COM
mittee counsel. charged today that Dr..
Townsend made deceptive returns i'll
his Federal income tax statement.
The House probers were given au-
thority by President Roosevelt to ex-
anime Internal Revenue Bureau re-
turns made by all key officials of the
Townsend organization,
DCwney Defends Townsend.
From the Townsend camp came a
denial by Sheridan Downey. counsel,
that the doctor was afraid to testify
further when he walked out on the
committee last Thursday.
DIR. Townsend actually testified for
two and one-half days and this made
ample time for the committee to have
secured all information about the
Townsend organization or the per-
sonal connection of DR.. Townsend
Herewith"
Downey also requested the COM
mittee to allow him an hour on the
stand to present some statistical data
and economic arguments" on behalf
of the Townsend plan.
Sullivan, daring the doctor to re-
turn to the witness stand, promised
to show "that the Prosperity Publish
ing Co., which he controls, has ad-
vertised through its paper, Townsend
Weekly, the communistic doctrine OF
Soviet Russia and has carried sad-
vertising matter offering for sale
magazines advocating communism
The attorney also charged that the
Townsend walk-out was staged for
the purpose of stimulating contri-
buttons, which he claims have fallen
off sharply since the inquiry began.
The shocking disclosures brought
forth in the sworn testimony; the
evidences of Misrepresentation and
broken trusts; the quick fortunes and
fat commissions made by leaders were
all so enlightening to the people that
many quit contributing. Although
six weeks ago they had S130,O0O IN
the banks, today their treasury Is
rapidly approaching depletion"
Payment TO wife Cited.
OF the income tax matter, Sullivan
said:
THE evidence will show the decep-
ton Dr. Townsend took advantage of
in his Federal income tax return when
he set out $6,94l.50 had been paid
from the Old Age Revolving Pensions.
Ltd, to his wife. not an employe of
that organization. This was done to
mislead the public and his contribu-
tors into thinking DR.. Townsend re-
ceived only $3.50 and expenses for
his share"