Evening star., 1952-03-02
Tax Scandal Probers
ToDecide onMoVes;
t-s ~
COP. Grds for Fiqhi
By Cecil HoHond

House investigators of tax scam
dalS are scheduled to. meet this
week to decide on a program Of
inquiry, with Republicans threat
ening to "yell like hell" against
any move to Soft-pedal a pending
investigation into revenue offices
In the New York area.
There have been reports that
some members of the House Ways
and Means subcommittee headed
by Representative King, Democrat,
Of California. wanted to call of
an investigation of scandals in
the New York tax Offices since al
Federal grand jury has been con-
vened to look into those matters.
As backstage differences within
the subcommittee that has dis
closed widespread irregularities
within the Governments tax-col-
lecting system reached a show.
down stage, Representative Reed, =,
Republican, Of New York, rank
minority member of the House
Ways and Means Committee, de-
manded the resignation or re.
moval Of Secretary Of the Treas
ury Snyder.
Hits "Winking" by Snyder.
Mr.. Reed charged In @ statement
that Mr.. Snyder has "winked" at
conditions In the revenue service
despite the fact that as long as
two years ago he was informed
that q "Soriy situation" existed
m the New York office. The scan.
dal.hit Bureau Of Internal Reve-
nue. Is under Mr.. Snyder's respon.
Sihility as head OF the Treasury
Department.
with such q secretary In
ONCE" Mr., Reed said, "the vol.
untary tax collection system Is In
jeopardy. It just will not work
unless confidence is promptly re-
stored In the honesty and integ-
rity OF Federal officials who
administer the system and collect
the taxes. The removal of Snyder
and the dismissal and punishment
OF revenue agents who have be-
trayed the Nations trust is essen
tial to the restoration Of that
confidence"
Mr.. Reed said conditions
brought to Mr.. Snyder'S attention
included those in the st. Louis
collectors office formerly held by
James P. Finnegan, now under
indictment. He said Finnegan was
allowed to remain in office l0
months after official reports had
been received about irregularities
in his Office. and added:
"Finnegan was one of the
Presidents Missouri gang. Incl
dentally, so is Snyder"
Showdown Expected.
The showdown on the New York
inquiry and the future course of
the subcommittee work is ex-
pected at closed meeting early
this week. Mr.. King, who has
spanked the far-reaching inquiry
that may have an important ef-
feet on this years presidential
elertion, was reported standing
firm for the subcommittee going
ahead with it's investigation re-
gardless of the political implica-
tions that are involved.
The New York inquiry, 1t is said,
will involve the names of several
prominent former high officials of
the Revenue Bureau. These in
clude Joseph D. Nupan, jr,, New
York attorney and former COM
missioner of revenue, who has
been the target of Senator Will
ltams, Republican, Of Delaware,
in Senate speeches on tax cases
handled by the former official.
Republican members of the i
seven-man investigating subcom-
mittee said they would vigorously
oppose any move to stop the in
quiry regardless Of the grand juryE
investigation that was ordered
while the House group was con-
Quoting West Coas. hearings.
Jury Move Attacked.
Representative Kean, Republi-
can, of New Jersey, said he in
tended to yell like hell" If there
was any interference with the
subcommittee's projected inquiry
into the New York situation.
Earlier he said the grand jury was
a conspiracy to cover up" the
New York situation until after the
presidential election.
Representative Byrnes, Republic
can, Of Wisconsin. said he would
resist any effort which might be |
made to stop the investigation,
either inside or outside the sub.
committee"
A third Republican member Of
the subcommittee, Representative
Curtis Of Nebraska. said he was
violently opposed" to the sub.
committee stopping its investisa-
ton because there are q number
of situations which should be