The Washington herald., 1919-02-26
SENATE ORDERS
PALMER'S OFFICE
Be INVESTIGATED
Act Regarded as Political
Move in Preparation for
1920 Campaign.
CHARGES ARE GENERAL
Calder Declares Americans
Have Been Made to Suffer
in Property Sales.

By unanimous consent the Sem
ate yesterday voted investigation
OF the office and activities of A
Mitchell Palmer. enemy alien GUS
todian- The resolution calling for
the action was introduced by Sem
ator Calder, of New York.
The step by Senator Calder was
hailed last night in Republican
circles as one of the most adroit
political moves in the contest be-
ing waged in preparation for the
Presidential campaign of 1920. 1t
Is said the investigation is des-
tined to be a body blow not only
to the administration, but to the
aspirations of Mr.. Palmer for a
place In President Wilson's Cabinet
as successor to Attorney General
Gregory.
II has been charged that in no
place in Washington were politics
more openly played than in the
office Of Mr.. Palmer. 1t has been
said by some Senators that the of
tice was the home for every lame
duck" in the Democratic party
This has been denied by friends of
Mr.. Palmer. who point to him as
one of the ablest administrators in
AAE war bureaus. bul IL Is con-
Ceded by the same supporters that
Mr.. Palmer's office is months be-
hind in its work. that thousands of
dollars in invested capital are lying
idle. that hundreds of men have
been thrown out OF employment
because adjustment of properties
taken over has been delayed.
Will Subpoena Lawyer.
Investigation will not stop at the
effort of aSCertaining whether or not
the bureau has been wisely admins
tered. 1t was openly stated today
BY well-informed that much evi-
dence relative to Mr.. Palmer's ac-
tivities before and during the war
would be brought out. In this con-
HectlOn il is said that Archibald F.
stevenson. New York lawyer. has in
his possession data bearing upon Mr.
Palmer's attitude toward various
German interests. Mr.. Stevenson
probably will be subpOenaed TO ap-
pear at the hearing.
When II was announced that At
torney General Gregory had resign
cd, friends OF Mr.. Palmer were quick
10 put his name forward as the log
Ical candidate for the post MIR
Gregory. according to generally ac-
cepted reports, does not favor Mr.
Palmer as public official. 1t is
said that Mr. Gregory threatened to
resign several months ago because
of differences with Mr.. Palmer's Of
flee At that time President Wilson
was forced to intercede, it is said
IL Is known that Mr. Gregory. in
recommending a successor, named
George Q. Todd
In discussing the investigation to-
day Senator Calder said
THE law provides that report
shall be made the first Of January
each year. So far as I am able
TO learn, no report ever has been
made by the custodian. For a num-
bcr Of reasons I am desirous that
such report should be made
Says Americans Suffered.
For one thing I am informed that
a great deal of German-owned prom
orty is being sold in this country, in
which Americans are minority stock
holders. and that the interests of the
Americans are injured greatly. Fur
thermOre. I am told that much of
the property owned by Germans has
been sold at much less than value,
some Of it at a loss of as much as
80 per cent. Now the government NAV
be called upon to make good this
property after peace is signed, and
we may have to dig deep into the
Treasury Of the United States. l pre-
sumo. Of course, that the money re-
ceived from the sale of the properties
has been deposited in the Treasury,
but l do not know"