Evening star., 1939-11-19

BOSTON, Mass-When Gov. Leverett
Saltonstall. perfect type of wealthy old
family and respectable Republicanism.
came into office last January he inherited
an unholy mess. Discreetly and cau-
tiously, determined not to be put down
as just another reformer, Saltonstall is
trying to straighten out that mess. He
has found it extremely difficult, If only
because the bosses in his own party have
had their connections, too, in the division
of the spoils during the past decade.
All this has somewhat familiar ring.
Corruption in State government has
come to light again and again, particu-
larly in the lush times that followed the
first World War Boston, in Lincoln
Steffens' view, had merely come to take
corruption for granted. Even in 1915 it
had passed beyond the simple stage in
which single boss can so organize his
power as to levy tribute from business.
What is really extraordinary today is
that the Federal Government has thus
far failed to move in the Massachusetts
situation as it moved, for example, in
Missouri. For at least year and half
income tax cases have been prepared
against big politicians, contractors and
fixers. But no action has been taken
except in two or three comparatively
minor instances.
Delay Publicly Unexplained.
While no one here will venture publicly
to explain this delay, it is a matter of
widespread knowledge in Boston, the
subject of rumor and gossip. The facts
appear to be as follows
Federal agents investigated reports of
of former Gov. James M. Curley and
his successor, Charles F. Hurley. A whole
series of cases was prepared not touch
ing either Curley or Hurley, but involving
men who had been close to them.
In the course of routine, these cases
were sent by the Treasury to the Depart
ment of Justice. At that time Homer S..
Cummings was Attorney General. The
cases were held up and not passed on
to the United States Attorney in Boston
as would normally have followed. Those
familiar with the circumstances believed
that considered effort was being made
to protect party leaders in Massa-
chusetts.
Important politicians here had been
led to believe that the income tax cases
would not be pushed. This was limited
at in Boston papers last spring.
1t was at this time that Cummings re-
signed as Attorney General and Presi-
dent Roosevelt named in his place Frank
Murphy, former Governor of Michigan
Within few months after he had
taken Office, Mr.. Murphy sent the cases
on to the United States Attorneys Office
here. A new United States attorney,
Edmund Brandon, had just been named
to the Office.
Brandon Silent.
Brandon will not discuss the income
tax cases, insisting that all information
must come from the Attorney Generals
Office in Washington.
Thus far only minor figures have been
moved against. Charles H. McGlue, for
mer Democratic State chairman and at
one time Curley's campaign manager,
was indicted for willful failure to file q
tax return in 1885, misdemeanor. The
charge of tax evasion, which is felony,
was not pressed. McGlue was given a
probationary sentence and ordered to
file correct return.
Harold A. Leventhal, former county
prosecutor, has been indicted on income
tax charges growing out Of his private
loan business. The amounts involved
total close to $150,000
Attorney General Murphy has said
that he was fully aware of the delay in
prosecution of the Massachusetts income
tax cases, but declared that it had re-
suited merely because the Department of
Justice was necessarily concentrating
forces elsewhere for the time being.
No one in Boston need assume that
city has immunity, the Attorney General
said. Some cases, he pointed out are
more difficult than others, more highly
technical. But he paraphrased the ia
miliar quotation to say that while the
mills Of the gods grind exceedingly slow,
they nevertheless continue ceaselessly to
grind.
Department of Justice forces, Mr.
Murphy pointed out, have been concen-
trated on cleaning up Missouri and
Louisiana. Now the Missouri job is al
most completed. The Justice Depart
ment is operating at top speed in Louisi-
ana. Perhaps, he. suggested, Massachu-
sets turn would come next.