Evening star., 1951-10-09
Tried ; Times
Ito Quit Tax Job,
Finnegan Says
Ex-OfficiuI Testifies
White House Asked
Him to Stuy On
By Cecil HolIond and
George Beveridqe

George Beveridee
James P. Finnegan testified to-
day that he tried three times to
resign as st. Louis Collector of
Internal Revenue and in each
instance the White House asked
me to stay on"
In at least one of the instances,
Mr.. Finnegan said he talked with
President Truman and the Presi-
dents secretary, Matthew Con-
nelly. He added they told him
they were not in a position to
appoint a successor at the time
and advised him he Should re-
main" in the position.
He testified before a House Ways
and Means subcommittee investi-
eating his activities as st. Louis
collector before resigning last
spring as grand jury inquiry of
his Office got under way.
The subcommittee, headed by
Representative King, Democrat, of
California. is looking into Mr..
Finnegan's activities in the st.
Louis Office as the opening part
here of fullscale investigation of
reported scandals and laxity in
the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Prestige Increased Practice.
Mr.. Finnegan told the House in
vestigators he had sought to re-
sign in order to devote more time
to his law business. In earlier
testimony he said he had spent
three or four hours a day on the
duties Of collector and acknowl-
edged that the prestige" of the
office had increased his practice.
He brought the White House
and the President into his testi-
mony reluctantly during a series
Of probing questions by Adrian w
DeWind, the subcommittee's coun-
sci. At one point he appealed
unsuccessfully to Chairman King
against questions along the line of
his attempts to resign.
The witness said one Of the
times he tried to resign was last
October. At another time, he said
he telephoned to Key West while
President Truman was vacation
ling there and talked with Mr..
Connolly.
In his attempt last October, Mr.,
Finnegafl said he talked first with
George ]. Schoeneman. then
Commissioner of Internal Rev.
Ienue. He added that MIR. Schoene-
man told him he was a presidential
lappointee and had better take II
lup through channels"
Might Have Talked To Snyder.
Pressed to tell with whom he
then discussed the matter Mr.
Finnegan replied:
II spoke to Matt Connolly and
also the President Of the United
States"
What was the outcome?" Mr.,
DeWind asked.
"The outcome" Mr.. Finnegan
replied. "was they said they weren't
In a position to appoint a success
Isor at the time and asked me to
stay on"
Representative King asked the
witness If he had discussed the
matter with Secretary Of the
Treasury Snyder since the bureau
Is part Of his department.
Mr.. Finnegan said he had talked
with the secretary last October,
he thought, and added:
IT wish to qualify it-say that
I'm not certain If I did or not"
Mr.. DeWind asked Mr.. Finnegan
II there had been any discussion
of his appintment as Commission
Ter Of Internal Revenue replacing
Mr.. Schoeneman.
II don't recall that" the witness
replied.
No Discussion Of New Post.
did you discuss with any one
or any one discuss with you an
appointment as commissioner of
revenue" Mr.. DeWind continued.
mo. sir" Mr.. Finnegan replied.
He added a little later, however,
there may have been some cas-
ual conversation" along that line,
but insisted: II never entertained
that idea"
MIR. Finnegan repeated that he
wanted to give up the Office to
have more time for his law prac-
ltice.
Were the hours too 1ong?" Mr..
IDeWind asked.
Nov you're being facetious, u
Mr.. Finnegan replied.
During more than two hours as
a witness. Mr.. Finnegan also:
/. Flatly contradicted testimony
given by John Martin Brodsky of
st. Louis that he and Mr.. Finne-
gan had discussed forming an in
surance partnership.
2. He denied the Brodsky tes-
itmony that Mr.. Brodsky retained
(See INTERNAL REVENUE. A-6.)
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