New-York tribune., 1920-03-05
House Orders
Palmer Sugar
Price Inquiry
Campbell, of Kansas, Says
in Urging Resolution
That He Has i'm Mind
Question of impeachment

WASHINGTON. March "a hot po-
litical row broke out in the House
to-day, when the Republicans forced
through resolution authorizing inves-
tigation by the Judiciary Committee
of the acts of Attorney General Palmer
in connection with prices charged for
Louisiana sugar. The Democrats bit
terly opposed the project, charging re-
peatedly that it was designed as an in
direct impeachment of Mr.. Palmer and
only intended as means of checking
the growing popularity" Of Demo-
cratic Presidential aspirant.
In reply the Republicans charged
that the President and Mr.. Palmer
were directly responsible for prevail
ing high sugar prices, that Mr.. Palmer
had no authority to recognize the high
figure at which Louisiana sugar sold
and that he had failed to press action
against profteers.
In two hours of debate on the reso1u-
ton, offered by Representative Tink-
ham, Republican, Massachusetts,, Demo-
cratic members asserted it was "cov-
ert" attack on Mr.. Palmer and was
calculated to divert public attention
from failures of the "incapable" Re-
publican leadership in Congress. When
was put through, 162 to 124 by party
vote, and the committee will proceed
with its inquiry.
Inquiry Into 18-Cent Sugar
The resolution directs that the in
1~4 Il 70 Il
mitted concurrence of the Attorney
General in maximum fixed prices" of
II and 18 cents a pound for Louisiana
sugar, the basis on which the prices
were fixed, and whether immunity from
prosecution for profiteering was given
any one for charging these prices.
Republicans asserted that the action
Of the Attorney General in regard to
the Louisiana growers caused increased
prices for the Cuban crop, but this was
denied by the Democrats, who in turn
asserted that his action was "saving
to the consumers"
"The Louisiana crop was just enough
to supply the United States with sugar
for one day." commented Representa-
tive Martin, Democrat, of Louisiana.
Question Of Impeachment
Representative Campbell, Republican,
- Ati'9S@-o' III ~ 8 i'iS ei'S ANot'1ioA u
the resolution declared: Get the At
torney General before the judiciary
Committee and then let the Judiciary
Committee make such report to the
House as it sees fit" He explained
later that by this proceeding he had
in mind the question Of impeachment.
Representative Martin declared Louis
lana growers would have obtained 25
to 27 cents a pound for their product
had the Attorney General "taken no
action" He said it was an "absurdity'
to claim that the price fixed for Louis
lana sugar affected that for the Cuban
crop. He said the investigation was
unnecessary and unwarranted," and
charged that Representative Tinkham
was pushing it because he wanted to
get in the newspaper headlines"
Representative Tinkham replied that
passage Of his resolution would "serve
notice on the Department of Justice
that law and order cannot be sunk
without a trace"
No Authority to Fix Price
The Attorney General, he said had
no authority to fix or concur in q
price for Louisiana sugar. The investi-
cation, he added, would emphasize
"that this is a government of laws and
not of men; that responsibility for the
increased cost Of living may be judi
cially determined, and that laws shall