MORRIS SHEPPARD, TEX., CHAIRMAN ROBERT R. REYNOLDS. N. WARREN R. AUSTIN, VT. ELBERT D. THOMAS, UTA STYLES BRIDGES, N. H SHERMAN MINTON, IND. CHAN GURNEY, S. DAK. EDWIN C. JOHNSON, COLO. RUFUS C. HOLMAN, OREG. JOSH LEE, OKLA. JOHN THOMAS, IDAHO HARRY H. SCHWARTZ, WYO. ERNEST LUNDEEN, MINN. LISTER HILL, ALA. SHERIDAN DOWNEY, CALIF. JAMES M. SLATTERY, ILL. ALBERT B. CHANDLER, KY. WILLIAM H. SMATHERS, N. J. VICTOR RUSSELL, CLERK W. I. SMALLEY, ASST. CLERK United States Senate COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS March 23, 1940 Dear Mother: Your letter of the 21st is especially interesting. Your reference to the Tobey Resolution moves me to express the opinion that nothing further will occur in the Senate about it. Nevertheless, the publicity connected with the hearings, and the obvious unwillingness of the New Dealers to give the resolution a chance on the Senate Floor, has started something among the people which may have political conse- quences of importance. The questions objected to are not an isolated case: they are an episode in a series of snooping acts put on by the New Deal. The most conspicuous instance was the case of Mr. McCracken, who was sent to jail for ten days because he protected his client's privileged communications. This was caused by Mr. Justice Black. Another episode was the seizure of telegrams and private letters, caused by Mr. Justice Black, which the Supreme Court denounced. Wire tapping and violating the privaccy of the United States mails has been common, and I think the whole program is aimed at finding new means of financing the Government. Constitutional history is littered with the wrecks caused by efforts of rulers to find new sources of revenue when they have exhausted the people. In our case, we have a bill, called the Lee bill, which would give the President power to have a special census to ascertain the net wealth of the United States, and the wealth of every individual. Thereupon in time of an emergency created by the imminence of war, a forced loan would be made, and if any person refused to answer truthfully in the census, or to loan the money to the Government when called upon, he would have to go to prison. This is the sort of thing that caused the beheading of Charles I, and ultimately brought about Magna Charta. The importance of putting an end to these snooping performances is likely to be understood more clearly because of Senator Tobey's gallant fight connected with the census. No matter what Congress does, or fails to do,