New-York tribune., 1919-09-26
House Is Asked
ToInvestigate
Gifts to Wilson
Resolution by Rodenberg
Says. ''National Scandal
Might Result Unless the
Reports Are Disproved
NeW York Tribune
TV0sIin0fon Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25-Represent-
ative Rodenberg, Of Illinois, to-day
introduced in the House a resolution
asking Congressional investigation
of reports that President Wilson had
accepted gifts, said to be valued at
$5oo,ooo, from foreign rulers and gov
ernments, in violation of the Constitu-
ton.
The Illinois Representative pointed
out that the Constitution provides that
no government official may accept pres
ents from any "king, prince or foreign
state" and urged that if Mr.. Wilson
had not violated this provision he
should be exonerated
Representative Rodenberg declared
that national scandal" might result
unless the reports in the press of gifts
made to the President could be dis
proved. Yhe text of the resolution
reads:
"Whcreas, during the month of Feb
ruary, 1919, the American people were
informed by cablegrams from Paris
that PRIOR to his departure from the
Murat Palace in that city the President
OF the United States had received and
accepted gifts from various European
kings, princes, foreign states and mu-
inequalities, and from other sources,
public and private; and,
Newspaper Story Quoted
"Whereas on April 18, 1919 The
Washington Times one of the leading
newspapers of this capital, published
the following account of the receipt
and deposit of such gifts of presents
IN the White House:
&C
"A carload of European gifts to Presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson has been re-
ceived at the White House. The ship
ment is in about forty large boxes and
Will not be unpacked until the Wilson's
return; and,
"Whereas, it is the grave constitu-
tional duty of the House of Repre-
sentatlves to ascertain whether any or
all of such riffs or presents were re-
ceived and accepted by the President
OF the United States in violation of the
Constitution and laws; therefore be L
Resolved by the House of Repre-
sentatives, That the Judiciary Commit
tee are hereby instructed to investi-
gate such reports, and that they have
power to send for persons and papers
and to administer the customary oatrs
to witnesses to the end that the truth
or falsity of such reports may be fully
ascertained In the discharge of that
duty said Judiciary Committee are in
structed:
Ito obtain complete inventory
of all such gifts or presents, if such
have been, in fact, received and ac-
cepted, as alleged
Identity of Donors Sought
"2-To ascertain the source from
which each gift or present was so
received and the value thereof;
"3-To ascertain at what custom
house, or custom houses, said gifts
or presents were entered, what value
Of appraisement was put upon each, and
what customs duties, if any, were paid
upon the same;
"4-To ascertain whether or not
said President has unlawfully received
any other gifts from foreign sources
during his term Of office
Said Judiciary Committee is fur
Their instructed to report all Of such
facts to the House of Representatives
to the end that the House, in view of
the facts and the law, may be able
to determine what further action it
may be its constitutional duty to take
in the premises"
81 have introduced this resolution
for the purpose of clearing up the
rumors that have been current for
months that the President and the
members Of his family were made the
recipients of gifts while in Europe
aggregating in value more than a half
million dollars" said Mr.. Rodenburg.
IF there should be no foundation for
these rumors. great in justice is being
done to the reputation of the President
and he is entitled to an eXoneratiOn