Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-02-17

IN. CO. Klavern Of the Ku KIu
flOgging a white man and won
Tax Prober Charges
Committee Kept Him
Of lis Action
A Democratic member of the
King investigating subcommittee
charged last night that he was
excluded from full information"
on whether the Treasury Depart
ment ever agreed to hold up a
grand jury inquiry into New York
tax scandals until the subcommit-
tee finished its own probe.
The member, Representative
O'Brien of Illinois, issued a state
ment disclaiming knowledge of
any such agreement.
He said that If one was made
as has been alleged by Subcom-
mittee Chairman King-''it shows
that some members (of the sub
committee) are excluded from full
information"
At the same time. Mr.. O'Brien,
only member Of the House Ways
and Means Subcommittee still in
Washington, indirectly scored his
colleagues for criticlzing Federal
officials ''for doing their duty"
King Cited Violation.
Chairman King. whose group is
in San Francisco investigating tax
matters. charged Thursday that
Treasury officials initiated the New
York inquiry-due to start this
week-"solely for the purpose of
the investigation of this
committee" :
He charged that the action was
Fin clear violation of an agree
ment that there would be no such
action. which could interfere with
the investigation of the subcom-
nittee, without prior consulta-
tion."
Mr.. Kings statement was is
;ued after Treasury Secretary
Snyder denied any agreement to
withhold a grand jury inquiry
nto the politically explosive New
York picture until after the House
group finished its own probe.
Mr.. King also defended the
of records to the House
Office Building here from SUBJ
committee offices In New York.
bending the subcomrnittee's start
II hearings in washington on the
New York situation. Included
we're reports of Internal Revenue
agents working with the
committee.
Knows of No Agreement.
Mr.. O'Brien's statement follows:
During the past several days,
have been issued by
members of the Ways and Means
subcommittee on Administration
Of the Internal Revenue Laws in
protest against the action Of the
Department of Justice in calling
q grand jury to consider evidence
in the possession of the Treasury
of possible tax vio-
Iations in the New York area.
These statements, issued 5000
miles from the scene, have Sug-
gested that Secretary of the
Treasury Snyder and Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue Dun
lap are guilty of improper motives
N recommending to the Depart
ment of Justice that such action
be taken.
"It has further been asserted
oy members of the subcommittee,
now on the West Coast, that
Treasury officials entered into an
agreement with members of the
subcommittee not to prosecute
certain cases pending completion
Of Investigations thereof by the
subcommittee. I personally dis
claim any knowledge Of any such
AS a member of the
subcommittee, I have no knowl-
edge of any such agreefl, ent. and
I one was made. it shows that
some members are excluded from
full information.
Defends u. S. Action.
Indeed, it seems to me that
neither the Secretary of the Treas
lry nor the Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue could enter into
any such agreement with members
If Congress or with any one else
consistently with their RESPONSE
,ilities for administration and en-
'orcement of the Federal tax laws.
"As the only member Of the
Ways and Means Subcommittee
low in Washington, I believe that
t i'll becomes members of Con-
yress to criticize the heads of
executive departments and other
ley Government officials for doing
heir duty.
Certainly, whatever action our
might take would
ultimately. if charges of wrong
ioing should prove well founded,
require the presentation Of all
available facts to a grand jury.
This is precisely what the Treas
Try Department and the Depart
nent Of Justice are now doing. ;"
$1,000 Bond Holds Suspect