Evening star., 1936-02-13
TAX SUITS BESET
FOESOF NEW DEAL
5 of G. o. P. Committee and
7 Liberty Leaguers Un-
der Pressure.
BY CARLISLE BARGERON.


worries at all.
That, at least, is indicated by the
fact that while five members of the
Republican National Committee ana
seven persons prominently Identified
with the Liberty League have tax lti-
cation pending before the Board OF
/ Tax Appeals. No pending case IN
wolves a member of the Democratic
National Committee.
OF the five Republican national
committeeman, two cases are hold
overs from the previous administration
and were appealed early in 1888, just
as the Democrats were taking off1ce.
The Liberty Leaguers are contesting
assessments made by the present ad-
ministration, although in the case OF
John ]. Raskob and Pierre S. du Pont
they were made on the tax returns Of
1929.
Others May Be Pending.
The information obtained relates
only to cases which have been ap-
pealed and are matters of record be-
fore the Board of Tax Appeals. No
information is available on cases still
pending before the Internal Revenue
Bureau.
The outstanding litigation is the
ease involving Andrew w. Mellon,
former Secretary Of the Treasury,
whose appeal against an additional
assessment of more than S3,000,000
has just been heard by the board.
On March II, 1884, the Department
Of Justice announced that it was seek
ing indictments for tax evasion
against Mellon, Thomas S. Lamont OF
the Morgan firm, Thomas l.. Siolo,
law partner of Newton D. Baker, and
former Mayor Jimmie Walker OF New
York Sidlo and Walker are Demo-
Gratis, Mellon and Lamont are Repuo-
licans. At the time the Justice De-
partment's announcement was widely
interpreted as a political move against
Mellon. At the Treasury the off-the-
record comment was that the an
uouncement was most irregular.
MELONS is the only case OF the
four now remaining. 1t was made
known on May 26 that the cases OF
y Sidlo and Lamont had been COM
promised. Before Walker would re-
turn to the country, friends got the
assurance that no tax prosecution
awaited him. The explanation at the
Treasury is that an exhaustive in
vestigation revealed no case against
him. Melons indictment was sought
In Pittsburgh, but the grand jury re-
fused to return a true bill.
Mrs. Hert Has Troubles.
Outstanding among the members Of
the Republican National Committee
having their tax troubles is Mrs. Alvin
r. Hert of Kentucky, vice chairman
of the committee. An additional levy
Of $16,l34 on her 1882 return is being
contested. Similarly, an additional
levy was made on the joint 1882 re-
turn of MIR. and Mrs. Paul Fitz-
Simons of Rhode Island, of 1851.
Mrs. FitzSimons is the Republican
national committeewoman from that
State. Former Senator Lawrence c.
Phipps, Republican national commit
teeman from Colorado, Is fighting a
gift tax Of 81, ,108, assessed late in 1884.
An assessment of $1,708 on his 1880
return is being contested by Edward
F. Colladay, national committeeman
for the District, and James E. David
son, committeeman from Michigan,
has a case pending involving $44706l.
It has been before the board in one
form or another for years. Colladay
carried his case to the board early in
1933-just as the Democrats were
coming in.
The same thing was done by Fred
, 6. Peck, who until last Summer was
Republican national committeeman
for Rhode Island. His case involving
$18,772 is based on his 1880 income.
~ Senator Metcalfe succeeded him as
national committeeman. His nephew,
Rowe Metcalfe, had an additional
assessment of $12,2l5 applied against
his 1882 income.
Besides the cases against Pierre
du Pont and Raskob, which were given
wide publicity Just before the recent
Liberty League dinner, other Liberty
Leaguers having tax trouble are La
mont du pont. an additional assess
ment of $128,524 filed in 1885 on his
returns Of 1880 and 1881; Henry B.
Lamont, an additional assessment Of
$53,359 on his 1882 return. In Au-
gust, 1885, an additional assessment
Of $3,029 was made against the joint
1881 return of Mr. and Mrs. Henry B.
Joy of Detroit. Mrs. Joy is a men,
Der of the leagues Executive Com
mittee, and James M. Beck, one of
the leagues most active members, had
ban additional assessment of $2,465
levied against his 1882 income.
Frank C. Rand, member of the
leagues Executive Committee, Is con-
testing along with Joseph and Fred
L. Rand, a gift tax of s188, ,504 placed
in 1885 against the estate of Jessie
n. Rand. Noble Brandon Judah, who
was Ambassador to Cuba under Hoo
yer, incidentally has an appeal pend
ing from a levy in 1884 of SIS, ,174
against his return of 1881.
It is not known just what the
Young Massachusetts, Republican Club
h. A. McNIathewson is carried as sec
retary. Anyway, there was an assess
ment Of $4,158 made in August, 1888,
against its 1881 return.
Treasury Explains.
At the Treasury, it was explained,
opponents of the New Deal would
naturally show up more prominently
In any such list, as the Republican
party organization and the Liberty
n League contain more men of wealth.
At the time publicity was being given
TO the income tax prosecution
against seven members Of the Huey
Long faction In Louisiana, 1t was
said, there was also a prosecution
against most prominent" admins
tration supporter. This case, how
ever, attracted no attention.
OF the seven Longites, incidentally,
one has been convicted, one ac-
Quilted and five cases are pending.
In connection with these latter, there
have been overtures from the Long
machine. Offers to support the ad-
", rnfr1,-,, foy. THAR SotiS.