Evening star., 1945-06-15
sonFavorsCaI
Roosevelt, Hartford
To House Inquiry
BY the Associated Press.

lican, of Minnesota said today h,
will propose that Brig. Gen. Elliot
Roosevelt and John Hartford b,
summoned before the House Way!
and Means Committee.
Mr.. Knutson said he wants 8
complete explanation" of published
reports that Mr.. Hartford, presiden
of the Great Atlantic 81 Pacific Tes
Co.. loaned the late Presidents sec.
ond son 100000, recovered only
$4,000 and listed $4,000 bad debt
for tax deduction in his 1912 incom.
tax return.
Ranking Republican member ol
the committee, Mr.. Knutson's asser.
ton to a reporter came after Chair.
man Doughton announced plans tt
call the group, probably Tuesday, tc
decide whether to investigate the
hatter.
Tax Return Under Study.
Mr.. Doughton disclosed in House
speech yesterday that Mr.. Hartford,
1912 income tax return is under
scrutiny of the Internal Revenue
Bureau, and that the bureau so fal
has not approved a s228,50O "bac
debt" item listed in it.
AS chairman of the committee
which initiates all tax legislation
Mr. Doughton said he became con.
cerned about the reports and sent g
special messenger with a letter ask
ing Secretary of the Treasury Nor
genthau for facts in the matter.
In reply. Mr.. Doughton told the
House, he received a letter from
Acting Secretary Joseph J. O'Con-
nell, jr., saying:
Our records show that in 1941
Mr.. Hartford claimed losses from
'uncollectible notes of $228,500, but
none of the items has been allowed
by the Bureau of Internal Revenue
as a proper deduction.
Deduction Questioned.
TO the contrary, the bureau has
questioned the propriety of the de.
duction and, on May 80. 1945, in con-
nection with its pending examina-
ton of Mr.. Hartford's returns foI
1912, requested its field Office to in
vestigate this item"
Mr.. Doughton told the House he
did not know whether Mr.. Hart
ford's return specifically lists a loan
to Gen. Roosevelt as part of the
claimed deductions.
Mr.. Knudson, following his COL
league to the floor, said I'VE might
be able to find way to compel Gen
Roosevelt to report that $4,000 as
income" adding:
The whole matter seems to be
somewhat involved. There are
rumors and rumors. and of course
that is inescapable"
Mr.. Hartford's attorney earlier in
the week said the loan was made in
1889 to finance Texas radio net
work and that it was settled for q
payment of $4,000. Gen. Roosevelt
has not been available for comment
Planned National Network.
At Fort Worth last night, Gen
Roosevelt's attorney, r. K. Hanger
said he remembered a movement
begun several years ago by the Presi.
dents son and several associates tc
set up new coast-to-coast radio
network. but that the propose
washed up" He added he would
not know whether the project hac
any relation with the loan and sale
he knew nothing about the trans.
action.
Mr.. Hanger added that except fol
three Arabian horses, three colts ane
a bulldog, Gen. Roosevelt turned
over all his Texas property to a 20.
year trust for his three children
Chandler, II; Elliott, jr., 9, ane
David Boynton, 8.
The attorney said the Continenta
National Bank at Fort Worth ane
Ruth Goggins Edison, Eluott's for
mer wife, were named trustees fol
the property, which included Gen
Roosevelt's share in Texas radio in
terests as well as all other commun.
ity property he and his formea6f
owned. They were divorced in q
1914.