Evening star., 1953-02-03
Liquor rTaxChief
Swears Politics
Hampers Work
House Group Probing
Tox Scandals Hears
Head of Division
By Cecil HoIIond


cial today testified that politics
the wrong kind of politics.
had interfered with the Govern
ment's administration of the al
cohol tax agency.
The testimony came from
Dwight E. Avis, head of the AL
cohol and Tobacco Tax Division
OF the Internal Revenue Bureau.
He told House tax scandal in
veStigators that there had been
political interference in both the
appointment of individuals to
administer the alcohol tax di-
vision and in the handling of
cases.
Inquiry Resumed.
Mr.. Avis. a veteran of many
years in the revenue service, was
the first witness as the House
Ways and Means subcommittee
resumed, under Republican con-
troll, its investigation of tax mat
tiers. Under direction of Repre-
sentative Kean, Republican, of
New Jersey the subcommittee is
undertaking a far-reaching =
and possibly senSational-inves-
tigation of the Alcohol Tax Di-
vision.
Mr.. Avis had been testifying
for less than five minutes when
he dropped his bombshell charge
of political interference in the
operation of the division. This
division supervises and admin
listers the tax laws on the alco-
hol industry.
Chairman Kean interrupted
the reading of a prepared state
ment by Mr.. Avis to ask if the
witness considered that politics
had interfered substantially"
with the operations of the di-
vision.
Il do, sir" Mr.. Avis replied.
Suggests Closed Session.
He added that he thought that
In fairness to the person to whom
he would have to refer, the COM
mittee should first hear him in
a closed session regarding polit-
ical interference. He remarked
that there is an old saying that
politics and liquor don't mix,
and added:
THE trouble in the alcohol tax
division has been politics-the
wrong kind of appointments"
Mr.. Kean told reporters after
the hearing that a closed sub
committee meeting would be ar
ranged as soon as possible to
take testimony from Mr.. Avis on
the political interference and
the persons involved.
Chairman COncurS.
He was asked if, on the basis
of information received by the
subcommittee, he agreed with
Mr.. Avis that political interfer-
ence involved both personnel and
cases.
Definitely" Mr.. Kean replied.
Committee Counsel John Tobin
was asked what was the source
of the political interference
whether it came from the White
House or from Congress.
wait and see," Mr.. Tobin re-
piled.
Mr.. Kean commended Mr..
Avis for his frankness about the
matter and said the matter of
holding a closed session to take
his testimony regarding political
interference would be given care
full consideration. Meanwhile,
he said, the subcommittee would
hear Mr.. Avis prepared state
ment giving the background and
history of the Alcohol and To-
bacco Tax Division.
Pledges Cooperation.
Mr.. Avis, in his statement,
promised the subcommittee the
full co-operation of the bureau
in it's investigation.
"I regret that the committee
has found conditions in the
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Divi-
sion which have neceSsitated a
public hearing" Mr.. Avis said.
Mr.. Avis, who since November
13, 1851, has been responsible
for the administration of the
liquor and tobacco taxes. was
one of the officials promoted
and given increased responsible
ity during the shakeup and re-
organization which followed the
subcommittee'S disclosures start
ing about 18 months ago of
widespread irregularities and
corruption in the Governments
taX-collecting system.