Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-23
Postponement of the Trial of
Diggs-Caminetti Subject
of Resolutions.
SON OF PUBLIC OFFICIAL
ALLEGED WHITE SLAYER
Investigation Demanded by Two
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Brought
to the Presidents Attention.

Two resolutions to probe the delay
OF the Caminetti case to the bottom and
70 bring to publicity the inside work
3ngs of any political pull that may
have been exercised in the behalf of
Drew Caminetti. son of the new COM
Ilissioner general of immigra ton. and
who is charged with violating the
white slave law. were introduced in
the House today. One came from Rep
resentative Kahn. republican. of Cali
fornia. and the other from Representa-
tive Hinebaugh. progressive, of Illi-
noiS. Representative Kahn wants pub
lication made of all letters in the case
OF Drew Caminetti and Maury Diggs
and Mr. HinebauSh wants the judiciary
committee to investigate the matter in
public hearings and to report the find
iugs.
There is not the slightest doubt that
republicans and progressives are going
To- make all they can out of the fact that
this white slave case has been held up
at the request of a cabinet officer. Rep
resentative Kahn would not talk much
for publication. but he evidently has
some inside knowledge on the situation
which might spoil his program II he said
ANYTHING about it just now.
| Representative Hinebaugh. however.
made a statement following the introduc-
charges that the white slave crime was a
most heinous one and that the whole de-
lay is nothing but the bold workings of
political pull.
Mr.. Hinebaugh's Comment.
Discussing his resolution, Represent
ative Hinebaugh said:
one of the most frequent criticisms
urged by people generally against the
courts is the delay in bringing cases
to trial and the powerful influence Of
money and politics in the rendition of
justice Frequently 1t is boldly asserted
&c hntn,S Si Mea,.m or poiiucaa .iu iniuehoS
criminal law.
We are now presented with the alarm
ing spectacle OF member of the Presi-
dents cabinet requesting the Attorney
General of the United States to delay
the trial of the son of still another high
government official. the son being held
under indictment for a most heinOuS
pfense.
And the reason given by the cabinet |
officer in question for requesting the
delay is that it is in the interest Of the
public service.
Since when has the demand of the
public service operated to the extent of
hullifying an act of Congress?
And how does the public service ex-
tend to the son of the commissioner gen.
oral Of immigration?
Tn my opinion the interests of the
public service as well as of the nation
In its entirety, hinge on the strict en-
forcement of the criminal code The
law should take its course without re-
gard to the wealth or political connec-
tons of the defendants
Regarded as Every Strange
The postponement Of the case at the
order of the Attorney General was the
Cause Of much sharp comment by repub-
| at "A itnl
mildest expression offered was that the
| proceeding was very strange" to say
| the least. Some of the republicans de-
cidred that they wished more light on
the matter before expressing themselves
fully.
ready prepared resolution this morning
v hich ne had intended introducing in the
Senate, calling upon the administration
for all of the documents and correspond
ence in the case, which finally culmi- |
hated with the resignation of District
Attorney McNab, sent from California to
President Wilson.
But Senator Works learned that Repre- |
sentative Kahn OF California, whose home
Is in San Francisco, the city in which
l. gss and Caminetti were to be tried
Intended taking the matter up in the
House. and he deferred To Mr. Kahn
Il wish To get more information regard
ins the whole matter before expressing
myself fully on the subject said Sena-
tor Works. ''and that was my purpose in
Il aiming resolution.
Views of Other Senators.
Senator Bristow of Kansas declared
that the case would bear the keenest
scrutiny and said that on its face it
looked rotten
Senator Smoot of Utah, while stating
that he had no further information re-
garding the case than that contained in
the newspapers. said the reason given by
Secretary OF Labor Wilson for asking to
have the trial of young Caminetti post
poned seemed hardly To till the require
ments.
However" said Senator smoot, Il do
hot wish to make statement in regard
10 the matter until l have all the facts
before me-.
senator Perkins of California when
|tigRs- Caminetti trial postponement said
be though IT would be in very bad taste
Tor him TO mix up in the matter. He
cf nsidered 1t purely an administrative
patter he said. for the departments to
deaI with, and that TO bring it into the
Senate would merely lead to a political
q scussion-
President to Call for Report.
President Wilson said today he would
ASK Attorney General McReynolds for
report of all the circumstances which led
4, The postponement of the case in Cali
t"rnia-
The President said he had no knowi-
edge of the affair until he read ii in the
newspapers, but IL appeared to him at
frs, glance that the reason for the post
ponement of the case-that the commits
sioner general of immigration might at
tend the trial of his son-was humane
one The President was of the opinion
that the delay would not embarrass the
case though he declared that he would
look into the matter.
MIR McNabs resignation was put on the
Presidents desk today. and IL was said
Il would be acted upon promptly.
David Starr Jordan called a the White
House and talked with President Wilson
about the case
81 told the President that Mr.. Nc
Eabs statement was not we'll founded,
said Dr. Jordan. when his conference
was ended.
McReynolds Has Statement.
n was said again today at the Depart
ment of Justice that Attorney General
EcReynolds would later give out a
Formal statement on the affair, but it
vas intimated that il might not be
lone until after making a report to
President Wilson. White House officials