Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-08
Urges the President to Re-
move Present Members and
Appoint Others.
INSISTS INQUIRY REPORT
WAS MlLDER THAN FACTS
Mr.. Jones Intends to Make It an Is
sue Unless Corrective Action
Is Taken.

be made acquainted with the facts
brought out in the investigation OF the
District excise board by the Senate
committee appointed to make the In
auiry. so that he might act and save
himself and his administration from
attack because of action of the board,
Senator Jones Of Washington today gave
out a statement declaring that the mem
bers of the excise board should be re-
moved from Office without delay
Senator Jones was a member OF the
committee which made the investiga-
ton of the excise board. His state
ment was as follows:
Rests With the President.
What will be the result of the Sen
ate investigation of the excise board?
Whether there will be any direct and
immediate results I do not know. This
rests largely with the President. He
appoints the board and he can change
it if he will. 1t is suggested that he
may make an independent investiga-
ton If he does, and gets an impartial
report after a careful exa rlination. he
will receive more severe arrangement
of the board than was made by the
much more severe condemnation than
we gave.
Why didn't We make it stronger?
Simply because we did not desire to
give excuse for any one TO charge
US with bias or with an undignitied at
tack on the baord. I myself very ear
nestly desired to close the report with
a positive statement that the board is
wholly unfit to be left longer in charge
of the execution of the law I am sure
that the members who Joined in the re-
port strongly felt this to be true. but
the majority of them believed 1T would
detract from the force and dignity of
the report to say this. and so it was
omitted.
No Evidence of Corruption.
TT was true as We said that there
was no evidence-evidence that would
be admissible in court of law-that
the board has been influenced corrupt1y
in It's action, but the action which it
has taken in the execution of the law
Is most difficult to explain upon any
theory that excludes corruption unless
we conclude that they are under the
control Of some strong political in
public or moral responsibility. Every
charge that I made against them as
board in my speech In the Senate and
more is fully proved. II they are con-
responsible.
bringing this matter into politics or
from criticising the President in re-
tempt to bring it into politics I did
not encourage this Investigation. I
urged that the President be made
acquainted with the facts. that he
his administration from attack because
of the action of the board. I believed
that II the facts that had been gath
cred could be presented directly to him
Attempts were made to do this. but
failed.
Holds the Board Unfit.
IAN official investigation, therefore,
has been made; the report has been
submitted He cannot avoid the re-
eponsibility now.
The facts are disclosed fully and
clearly. The unhtness of the present
board is demonstrated. To continue 1t
is to approve its conduct. including as
it does the perversion and notification
of law enacted in the interests of
temperance, morality and good govern
ment and for the proper administration
of which the President is made Pc
culiarly responsible.
The present board has made the ex-
else law Missing and a by-word' and
brazenly their power and contempt for
the law in the face of Congress, the
President and the people of the Dis
trict If this board is continued I shall
not hereafter refrain from placing the
responsibility where 1T belongs. Re
spect for law. II nothing else. should
lead to the removal of it's members
without delay. II they are to be shield
ed and encouraged In their disregard of
the law, why should any one be held
to its observance in any case and why
should we hesitate to place the blame
where responsibility restso
Urges New Board.
The only plea which the board MEM
bers make Is that they have observed
ths law In all respects. Against this
assertion we place their acts. BY
these they must be judged rather than
by their protestations, and the facts
found by this committee, duly consid
cred. furnish the strongest possible
denunciation OF the board and proclaim
more clearly its unfitness than any
words that can be uttered
For the cause Of prohibition il
would be well II the present board is
continued. but out of respect and re-
gard for law which should control us
all new board should be appointed
without delay"
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