Evening star., 1952-01-06
Byrnes Demanding
Full Data on Truman
Tax Bureau Changes

Representative Byrnes. Repub-
lican. Of Wisconsin, yesterday de-
manded detailed information from
the Internal Revenue Bureau on
President Truman's plan for a.
far-reaching reorganization Of the
Governments tax collecting sys-
TEN.
Mr.. Byrnes is a member of the
House Ways and Means subcom-
mittee investigating tax scandals.
The subcommittee was ignored by
Mr.. Truman in advancing his re-
organization proposal last week.
The technique they've used in
announcing the reorganization
proposal and by-passing the sub
committee, Mr. Byrnes said in an
interview. leads one to wonder
how sincere they are in getting
congressional approval of the plan
and, in fact, putting the agency
on a more efficient basis"
Other Developments Listed.
Other developments bearing on
the tax Scandals matter that
may be major issue in this
years presidential campaign-in-
cluded:
/. The bureau was disclosed to /
have sent out instructions to it's
field offices to survey all tax
fraud cases closed for health reas-
ons and to reopen and forward to
the Justice Department those not
barred by the statute of limita-
tfons for prosecution.
2. The House subcommittee
headed by Representative King,
Democrat, of California, went
ahead with plans for public hear
ings in San Francisco starting
January 81. The hearings will ex-
plore irregularities in the COL
lector'S Office there and charges
that the Justice Department in
terfered in two grand jury in
VeStigationS into the San Fran
cisco Office.
Mr.. Byrnes' request for detailed
information on the reorganiza-
tion proposal was made in letter
to Commissioner of Revenue John
B. Dunlap. He wrote:
ION Wednesday, January 2, I
learned from the newspapers that
a proposal for a reorganization of
the Internal Revenue Bureau has
been announced. According to the
newspaper accounts, it would ap-
pear that the proposal is quite
far-reaching.
L had thought that as mem
Der of the subcommittee of the
Ways and Means Committee
studying the administration of
the Internal Revenue code that Il
would be advised as to the details
of any proposal of this nature
which was made by the bureau.
AS Of this date, however, have
received no information whatever
from your Office.
DCtduS ATc AShCus
"I would appreciate it sincerely
If you would furnish me at your
earliest convenience with as much
detail concerning the proposal as
is available"
Mr.. Byrnes, in an interview, was
critical of the administration for
not consulting with the House
subcommittee before announcing
the proposed reorganization.
Until the Presidents sudden an
nouncement of the reorganization
proposal, Mr.. Byrnes said, there
had been cooperation between
the bureau and Treasury officials
and the subcommittee. This" he
added, places a different light on
the matter"
Mr.. Truman indicated he would
submit the reorganization plan to
Congress soon after it conveneS
for the second session starting
Tuesday.
The reorganization plan, when
submitted, would go in the ordin-
ary course of events to the House
Committee on Expenditures in
Executive Departments. according
to the lawmakers. There have
been some suggestions that the
House Ways and Means subcom-
mittee headed by Representative
Doughton, Democrat. of North
Carolina. might ask for and re-
ceive jurisdiction in the matter
owing to the nature of its work
and the activities of the King
subcommittee
In any event, it seems likely
that protracted hearings will be
In order before whatever commit
tee obtains jurisdiction.