Evening star., 1952-02-12
Revenue
Continued From First Page.)

the action of Attorney General
McGrath ordering the Brooklyn
grand jury convened. According
| to the subcommittee, there had
been a specific understanding with
the Treasury Department that
such a move would be held on
until the subcommittee completed
Its own Investigations in the New
York area which have been on a
continuing basis for many months.
The investigations conducted
thus far have indicated the poSsi-
bility of disclosures. which are
sensational and possibly politi-
cally explosive.
This was indicated by the for
mer revenue officials subpoenaed
Iby the subcommittee. Mr.. Bolich
was one of the bureaus top off,
cials when he resigned suddenly
last November. Mr.. Nunan. now a
Ipracticing attorney in New York.
was commissioner of revenue from
|1944 to 1947 and before that was
Brooklyn collector Of revenue. Mr..
Mealey, who also resigned a few
months ago, was in charge of the
alcohol tax unit. and Mr.. Olson
headed the units New York dis
Itrict before he resigned last Au-
gust before the subcommittee
began an investigation of his
activities.
The subcommittee hopes to
complete its current phase of the
West Coast inquiry by the end OF
the week and leave other matters
for later hearings possibly in
Washington.
It's hearings yesterday centered
largely around the testimony Of
Charles O'Gara. 34-year-old as
sistant United States attorney and
Ibis efforts to bring about a grand
Jury investigation of conditions in
the once of James g. Smyth, in
dicted former revenue collector
here.
Mr.. O'Gara testified that he
said nothing to his superiors about
plans for a grand jury inquiry OF
IMr. Smyth's regime as collector
because he feared the investiga-
ltion would be "torpedoed" or
begged down."
"I had lost confidence in the
staff of the United States attor-
lney's Office on the basis OF my
Experience with other cases." Mr..
lO'Gara told the Ways and Means
subcommittee. IT didn't think
others would take very enthusi-
astic view of the necessity for an
investigation of the collectors
office"
Representative Keogh. Demo-
crat, of New York, accused Mr.
tO'Gara of circumventing the dis
Itrict attorney. his superior. He
said Mr.. O'Gara had been MEM
|ber of the bar for only four years
and on the United States attor-
1ney's staff for only two years and
lin his efforts to push the investi-
CATION had conferred privately"
with members Of the grand jury.
Calls Him an "Upstart."
The New York Representative
wound up a scathing cross-exami-
nation of the witness by declaring
that If he had been the United
States attorney there would have
been mo place in my office for
such an upstart." "
Representative Byrnes, Repub-
llicaa, of Wisconsin, made point
of saying that he did not share
Mr.. Keogh's views but would not
Ecomment further on the record at
this time. Sc.
Representative Curtis, Repub-
llican, of Nebraska. said the rec
lord showed no reflections on Mr.
lO.Gara's efforts to- present the
matter to q Federal Grand jury.
/ Saw High Time for Action.
+ At another point Mr.. Curtis
Isaid he did not know whether
1.-THE hearing was IAN inquisition
Iof Mr.. O'Gara" or an inquiry
into revenue matters. Another
time he said he thought the hear
ling record should imply no cen.
IsureShip Of Mr.. O'Gara as "it
was a high time some official die
something about conditions ir
1.-THE San Francisco Office.
! The tenor Of the hearing was
IA wide departure from the hear
Iings held in Washington which
seemed unmarked by any qties.
Itioning along partisan lines.
Under questioning by Adrian
IW. DeWind, the subcommittee.
counsel, Mr.. O'Gara acknowledged
,Ihaving grand jurors in his home