Evening star., 1951-12-03
His Tax Investigation
Is Being Censored,
Williams Charges

Senator Williams, Republican,
Of Delaware charged today the
administration was trying to
hamper his own one-man investi-
cation of tax scandals by what
he described as a censorship pro-
cedure.
He said he had been informed
by Commissioner of Revenue John
B. Dunlap that reports he has
requested on the activities of
Internal Revenue Bureau en-
ployes will be returned through
the Democrats who are committee
chairmen in Congress and not
directly to him.
Declaring such a procedure has
handicapped his own inquiries,
Senator Williams told The Star:
I'm not going to let them get
away with it."
u WV SuAACSSOAos
The Delaware Republican, cred
tied by his colleagues with spark
ing the current widespread house.
cleaning in the Governments tax
collecting system, also revealed he
is investigating the activities of
two regional collectors of internal
revenue apart from six of the
presidentially appointed officials
who have resigned under fire or
have been ousted in the spreading
investigation Of tax scandals.
Senator Williams statements
were contained in a copyrighted
interview with the U. S. News
e. World Report and revealed
that what the Delaware Repub-
llcan thought was an agreement
with Mr.. Dunlap reached several
weeks ago had been reversed.
The whole thing is going to
move into the Washington level
soon." Senator Williams said. You
couldn't have conditions such as
have been exposed now through
out the country if there wasn't
somebody in Washington involved.
1t couldn't exist"
Released Letters to Star.
Several weeks ago in connection
with his efforts to obtain the re-
ports. Senator Williams released to
The Star copies of his correspond
ence with Mr.. Dunlap, Secretary
of the Treasury Snyder and for
mer Internal Revenue Commits
sioner George j. Schoeneman.
Later he asked that the story be
withheld since he thought he had
Preached an understanding on get
ting the reports.
Senator Williams revealed that
the Treasury officials had informed
him his requested reports would be
returned through Senator George,
democrat, of Georgia, chairman
Iof the Senate Finance Committee,
and Representative King. /
He said he had the utmost con-
:tidence in Senator George but
added:
I'VE never know who is going to
be the chairman of a committee,
and if we are going to adopt a |
procedure here whereby a member
of Congress can get information
out of the executive branch only
by obtaining the approval Of the
chairman of the committee who is
a member of the opposite party.
that is rather rigid censorship"
Senator Williams did not re-
veal the names of the two col
lectors whose activities he is
investigating. But he said he had
received enough information to
feel there is enough back of
them that they should not be
overlooked"
Says He Still Lacks Reports.
The Delaware Republican took
the Senate floor last May to re-
veal the activities of James P.
Finnegan, former St. Louis COL
lector and close political friend 4
of President Truman. Finnegan
has since been indicted on bribery
charges.
Senator Williams said that when
he threatened to carry his efforts
to get the reports he has request
ed directly and not through the
chairman of the Finance Com
mittee. of which he is a member,
Mr.. Dunlap asked him not to do
SO. Recently. he added, "Mr. Dun
lap has been cooperating" but he
insisted he is still not getting the
reports.
How do I know" he asked,
that they are not covering up?"
Senator Williams revealed that
last July IL he wrote Mr.. Schoe-
neman, then the commissioner,
asking for information about q
former assistant collector.
Gets Reply From Dunlap.
He received a reply dated July
26 from Secretary Snyder in which,
the Secretary said:
Information of the character
you request was the subject mat
ter of recent discussion with the
Finance Committee and we are
awaiting a further talk with the
chairman of that committee toI
develop a procedure for the Or
derly handling of such informa-
ton"
After subsequent requests for
information, including two letters
dated November in which he
called attention to the activities
of two additional collectors, Sem
ator Williams said he had re-
ply from Mr.. Dunlap in which,
the commissioner wrote:
If the Finance Committee so
desires, a complete report of our
Investigations will be furnished
them"
Senator Williams said that '1eft
me hanging" and after tele-