The Washington herald., 1912-07-24
TO AIR
MEXICAN SCANDAL
Both Houses Probably VIII Ask
Thorough Investigation
Of Conditions.
DEPARTMENT IS SILENT
IN ABSENCE OF KNOX
Pending Further Details Congress
Withholds Judgment on
Falls Charges.

| Aa 'ho dcsehcc Ut secretary Knox and
Assistant Secretary Wilson. the State
Department yesterday declined to make
| omcial answer to the charges Of dere-
liction made against that department in
| connection with alleged atrocities against
American citizens in Mexico made by
| Senator Fall of New Mexico In the SEN
ate Monday.
Upon the return to Washington Of the
Secretary 1t is believed the attack will
be answered by a detailed statement.
| showing Just what cases OF outrages
against Americans In Mexico have been
reported to the State Department and
what disposition has been made Of each
casa
Senator Smith Of Arizona, who supple
mented the remarks of Senator Fall on
Monday by an attempt to have passed
his resolution directing the War Depart
ment to investigate and report claims
against Mexicans by American citizens.
failed to call up his resolution yesterday
because OF the sundIy civil bill. on
which the Senate deliberated until late
in the afternoon. Senator Smith will
call up his resolution at an early day.
1t directs that the Secretary Of War
shall make or cause to be made a thor
Stsh -hNCsbASabLoH VI al Va
American citizens for damages for in
juries to their persons or property re-
ceived by them by means Of gunshot
wounds inflicted by Mexican federal or
lnsurgent troops during the late insur-
rection in Mexico in l9ll.''
Commission to Probe.
The resolution authorizes the appoint
ment OF a commission Of three army
officers, who shall have power to admin
lister oaths, require the production of
books and papers. and compel the at
tendance OF witnesses II this resolution
Is passed 1t is hoped by Senator Smith
and those who feel that the State De-
partment has not been as jealous in pro-
tecting American citizens as 1t might
have been that the entire matter will be
opened up and aired.
In the absence of more specific infor-
nation than was contained in his SEN
sational speech of Monday. Senators and
members OF Congress yesterday withheld
Judgment on the situation. Though there
are many who believe that the State
Department. through fear Of precipitat-
ing an armed invasion OF Mexico by our
troops. has proceeded too timidly in the
handling of claims by Americans arising
from the political unrest there, many yes
Mexican's charges. setting them down
largely to report and hearsay.
A number OF members in both Houses
have been the victims of wild goose
chases. resulting from messages sup
posedly from Americans in distress in
Mexico. One member. after receiving a
letter from an American, who said he was
under sentence OF death and could not get
justice, became real excited. and set the
yChaaIS IN motion a tho State Dana YfmRDt
in rapid-fire order. half dozen tele-
grams developed the fact that the man
had written his fearful appeal for help
while winding up a prolonged drunk with
mild case Of delirium tremens.
Killed in Feud.
Two of the cases in which names were
mentioned by Senator Fall have been in
vestigated by the State Department, 1t
was learned yesterday. Investigation into
the case OF William Adams who was shot
while guarding the body of his wife. is
said to have indicated that. Adams was
shot as the result OF private feud and
not by Mexican soldiers, as charged by
Senator Fall The other case mentioned
by name. that OF a farmer named Harvey.
who was killed in his field, was investi-
gated by the State Department. Harvey
was found to be a naturalized Mexican
citizen
Officials of the State Department who
have been handling the claims arising
from depredations against Americans in
Mexico stated yesterday that none of
the other cases which Senator Fall de-
scribed but in connection with which he
mentioned no names, is familiar to the
Department. Senator Fall charged that
all the cases he mentioned had been re-
PORTED to the State Department
In view Of these contradictions, 1t is
possible that both houses of Congress
will take steps to clear up the charges
or prove them. II the State Department
has been derelict in its duty and has per-
mitted the prestige of the United States
to suffer in consequence, Congress wants
to know 1t. II. on the other hand. the
State Department has been duly Jealous
in protecting American interests, Con-
gress wants the world to know II.
In consequence Of this feeling, a joint
resolution introduced some time ago by
Chairman Sulzer, OF the Foreign Affairs (,
Committee of the House, and which had !
been favorably reported by that COM
mittee, probably will be called up and
passed within a few days. The resolution |
Is Identical with the one now awaiting |
action in fhe Senate. except that II calls !
upon the Secretary OF State to make !
the investigation and adjudicate the |
claims. The resolution probably will be |
changed on the floor Of the House to /,
conform to the Senate resolution.