New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-25
Widely Known Pacific Coast
Lawyers To Be Engaged to
Push the Diggs Cami-
netti Matter to Quick
Conclusion.
CABINET MEMBERS EXPLAIN
Attorney General Lays Full Facts
Before His Chief, Who Heartily
Indorses His Course, and Sec
retary Wilson Tells Why
Delay Was Desired.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau.l

From The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, June 24-President VIII
son accepted tonight the resignation
Of John L. McNab. United States At
torney for the Northern District of Call
ifornia. upheld the course Of Attorney
General McReynolds and announced
that immediate steps would be taken
for the diligent prosecution Of the
Diggs- Caminetti white slave" cases
and the Western Fuel Company case.
President Wilson and the Attorney
General will confer tomorrow on the
matter Of selecting special prosecutors
10 press the cases. Three well known
lawyers on the Pacific Coast are under
consideration for appointment, and it
was asserted that all three might be
named. They are Francis j. Heney.
Matthew j. Sullivan and Thomas Hay
den. all Of San Francisco. Mr.. Sullivan
assisted Mr.. Heney in the prosecution
of Abe" Ruef and the San Francisco
Board of Supervisors.
Letters and recc-Cs in the Diggs-
Caminetti and the Western Fuel Com
pany cases in California were given out
at the White House tonight. 4 full
explanation of the circumstances Of the
pos;ponement Of the cases by the At
torney General and the Secretary Of
Labor is contained in the correspond
ence.
Secretary Wilson explains that he
interceded in the case because the
presence Of the Commissioner General
OF immigration. Mr.. Caminetti, father
Of one Of the alleged white slavers,"
was needed to esta blish the new de-
partment. Attorney General Mercy
nolds sets forth all the records in the
two cases.
McReynoIds's Course Approved.
The possible embarrassment of the
Attorney General, who ordered the
postponement Of the Caminetti-Diggs
cases at the request Of Secretary Will
son. was obviated by a letter from
President Wilson. who expressly ap-
proved the course taken by his subordi-
nate. although at the same time an
nouncing that there would be no fur
ther delay in bringing the cases to
trial.
The matter was discussed al length
at the Cabinet meeting this morning.
and a definite line of action 10 Offset
the sensational allegations Of McNab
was worked out. II was recognized
that the administration had been
placed in an embarrassing position by
Mr.. McNab's action. and President
Wilson directed MIR. McReynolds and
Secretary Wilson to prepare full ac-
counts Of their part in the two cases.
President Wilson has no censure for
Mr. McReynolds. and makes ii clear
that he approves his action under the
circumstances. Neither is Secretary
Wilson criticised for his request for
DELAY in the prosecution OF the Digs
Caminetti case. The tenor of the cor
resnondence is that there has been
misunderstanding Of the circumstances
and that the administration is anxious
TO make amends.
chairman Clayton of the House Com
mittee on Judiciary announced to-day
that the committee would hold hear
ing ON Thursday on the Kahn resolu-
tion demanding publicity of the records
of the Department of Justice in the
san Francisco white slave" cases and
the delayed action in the Western FusA
Company case.
Such action by the judiciary Com
mittee will constitute an Investigation
Of the executive branch of the Demo-
cratic government by coordinate
branch Mr.. Clayton denied rumors
that other House leaders were opposed
to such an investigation, or that an
attempt had been made 10 pull on
the committee from the proposed in
quiry
Kahn Insists on Action.
REPRESENTATIVE Kahn said to-day he
would appear before the committee
and demand the production Of the files
of the Department of Justice. IL the
committee fails 10 act, Mr.. Kahn as
serted, he would call up his resolu-
ton in the House within six days. in
accordance with the rules.
The House to-day referred 10 the
Rules Committee the Hinebaugh res
olution directing an investigation OF
the entire subject. II is not believed
the Rules Committee will act on this
resolution. as the inquiry already
planned by the Judiciary Committee
will be sufficiently broad. and specific
instructions for an investigation are
regarded as unnecessary. The adop-
ton Of the Kahn resolutions calling