New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-12
Representative Calls Reye-
nue. Cutters His Fleet
of Pleasure Craft.
USES THEM TO GO
TO SUMMER HOME
Violation of Law, Says Minority
Member of Appropriation
Committee.
from The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, July H. Representa-
tive Good, of Iowa, charged in the
House to-day that Secretary McAdoo
was constantly violating the law in
using revenue cutters for private jun
keting purposes, and should therefore
be removed from office. Mr.. Good is a
minority member Of the Appropria-
tions Committee
How can the President expect the
ordinary citizen to obey ard respect
the law when his Secretary of the
Treasury violates the law with i'm
punity?" asked Mr.. Good.
Representative Fitzgerald, Of New
York, entered defence of the Secre-
tary, although admitting that he was
| without knowledge concerning the vio-
lations charged by Mr.. Good.
1T is not pleasant duty TO call at
tention to violations of the law by OFF,
Gals whose sworn duty it is TO enforce
the law" said Mr.. Good. But while
VIC are considering this appropriation
bill, it is most appropriate that Con-
gress should know how some of the
bicn'y "uitn app Nefu
by those in charge of its administra-
ton.
81 refer, gentlemen, to the revenue
cutter service. We appropriate every
year about S2,500.000 for this service.
1t was first instituted to enforce the
revenue laws of the United States, to
prevent smuggling into this country.
and we have a great feet under the
control of the Secretary of the Treas
ury to-day.
Joy Rides on the Prairie.
at is a notorious fact that every
Friday, or whereabouts, at this time OF
the year, the revenue cutter Prairie
leaves Boston, comes to Washington
and is loaded with Democratic officials
and they are taken for a cruise down
the Potomac. But that would not be
so bad if the violation of the law
stopped there. ] have here a news
paper dispatch, which will read"
Mr. Good then inserted in THE Rec
ord" the following dispatch from Mat
taposett. Mass, under date of July 3;
William G.. McAdoo, Secretary OF
the Treasury, and Mrs. McAdoo ar
rived at their summer home here to-
day. They came on the revenue cutter
Onondaga. Charles S. Hamlin, Assist
ant Secretary of the Treasury and his
guest Assistant Secretary Baldwin,
who were in Mattapoisett for the
Fourth. left to-day for Washington
Continuing, Mr.. Good said:
a statute enacted in 1884 provides
that and hereafter revenue cutters
shall be used exclusively for public
service, and in no way for private Dur-
poses
ION June "a Congress appropriated
sA75,000 to purchase two additional
revenue cutters that will be added To
this great feet of pleasure craft for
the Secretary of the Treasury and
those to whom he may desire to extend
the courtesy of violating the law OF
the United States.
Law Enforcement Needed.
THE Secretary of the Treasury is
not responsible for this statute, but
he is responsible for the administration
of that law, so far as the revenue
cutter service is concerned. We have
had in the past ten years period o.
law enactment. What we need to-day
is a renaissance of law enforcement
How can the President of the
United States expect the ordinary citi-
zen to obey and respect the law when
his Secretary Of the Treasury violate,
THE law with mpunity? Public sen,i-
ment should demand the removal from
office of every official. whose sworn
duty il is 10 enforce the law, who re-
fuses TO enforce it and himself vio-
lates it,
"And if the public to-day had the
power it would in 10 uncertain terms
demand the removal from Office Of the
Secretary of the Treasury. who not
only refuses to enforce this law but
himself violates Il. ! commend to hin
the words of Abraham Lincoln on the
responsibilities OF law enforcement
Taft's Name Brought In.
Mr.. Good. interrupted by Democrats,
said he understood that Secretary NC
Adoo also went at times from New
York 20 his summer home or Cape
Cod on a revenue cutter. Representa-
tive Frank Clark. Of Florida, sought
10 weaken the effect of the attack bY
alleging that Mr.. Taft, when Secretary
of War. improperly used an army
transport TO take party 70 the
Philippines.
Mr.. Fitzgerald said he had not in
vestigated Mr.. Goods allegations. but
thought the Iowa members criticisms
were entirely too harsh. Mr. fitz-
gerald said he remembered that ne
once saw an international yacht race
while aboard revenue cutter and that
he was aboard the revenue cutter b.
permission of Republican Secretary
OF the Treasury.
Mr.. Goods speech caused members
on both sides OF the House TO grow
attentive and the sentiment among
minority members is to demand an
official investigation If there are fur
Their instances when revenue cutters
are used for soy rides by the seer'-