Evening star., 1960-06-09
LETTERS TO THE STAR
So-CoIIed 'Nit-Pickers' Storm Freedom Wall

time. However. as you will
remember, one of the reasons
that Congress rejected the
proposal before was because
of the high-pressure tactics
used by the promoters.
No doubt you may have
been the subject of pressure
and attempted influence, and
I wish to express to you my
feeling of deep respect and
warmest admiration for you
and your newspaper for the
way you have continued to
consistently stand by your
convictions in this matter.
Nit Picker.
I wish to congratulate you
on your fine editorial Nit
Picking?" relative to building
of a monstrosity to be called
the Freedom Wall.
Just who is this important
in dividual named Harry
Thompson? He seems to be in
the category of other public
officials we have had in the
past. Given positions of minor
authority their hat bands i'm
mediately tighten on their
swelling heads. He may not
like these words and, as a
veteran of two World Wars,
I don't like his attitude or
statements made regarding
members of the AmvetS and
American Legion.
Let him advise us why the
sponsors Of this monstrosity
have reneged on their prom
Use to Congress that not one
cent of Federal money would
be asked for this project.
I fully agree with Mr..
Ralph Kaul of Virginia. If
this Mr.. Thompson insists on
working with private pro-
moters, he should resign from
the Government and put full
time in their behalf.
William A. Walsh.
What was the purpose of
the Freedom Wall sponsors
in reintroducing bills so late
in this session of Congress,
and at the same time an
nouncing that they expect
no action to be taken on
them this year? Could this
have been done to justify
prolonging the life of the
M num ent Commission
which was supposed to have
ceased to exist when it made
its final report to Congress?
AS is well known, they made
a report approving plans for
the monument in 1857, and
Congress rejected the monu-
ment that they had reported
as being approved and rec
commended. in 1858.
The monument promoters
have said mo doubt it will
be introduced in the next
session of Congress-" and
further that "the nit-picking
of a few with a personal ak
to grind, won't be much of
a deterrent"
1t was also stated by one
Of the promoters that he did
not know just how much has
already been collected from
public subscribers. This in
dicates a definite need for
investigating the financing
methods being used by the
promoters to finance their
current lobbying campaign,
any income tax deductions
that are being claimed in
connection with this, etc.
1t is impossible to see how
the Treasury Department
can justify approving tax de-
ductions made for contribu
tions to a cause that has
already been turned down by
Congress as being unaccept-
able to it. Especially is this
true, since such contributions
would be used either directly
or indirectly for purposes of
lobbying the Congress fur
ther on this once-rejected
proposal.
This whole matter of con-
tributions and Federal in
come tax deductions, as
related to the Freedom Wall
promotion, should be investi-
gated and examined without
delay, in order to prevent any
possible abuses of our tax
laws by an organized group
Of promoters.
Tax COnsuItant.
Harry Thompson, in hypo-
critical tones. and from a great
height, condescends to tell
the people they are going to
have this Freedom Wall be-
cause THE President loves
it,"
And to add insult to great