New-York tribune., 1921-01-19
Asserts s'Most Morifying
Scandal That Ever Has
Befallen Our Country''
Perhaps Would Result
Probe of Secret
Service Demanded
Lax Methods i'm Capital
Blamed for All Evils
Now Blocking Industry

Samuel Unterrnyer, in an address at
the Citizens Committees testimonial din
ner to Nathan Hirsch, former chairman
of the Mayors Committee on Rent
Profiteering, at the Hotel Comm odore
last night, placed the main RESPONSE
bility for the conditions which the
Lockwood committee has been investi-
eating and the criminal combinations
which he alleges are blocking every
avenue Of industry directly on slack
methods in the Department Of Justice.
Mr.. Untermyer also charged that an
investigation of the Attorney Generals
Office, the Alien Property Custodian
and the Secret Service of the Depart
ment of Justice would disclose what
he characterized as "a series Of the
most mortifying scandals that has ever
hefal.en our country"
Only Loophole In Exposure
With every desire not to do any in
justice to the office Of the Alien Prop
erty Custodian or to the incumbents Of
the Department of JUSTICE" said Mr..
Untermeyer, II am satisfied that there
are very few more important duties
resting upon Congress than a thorough
ventilation of the activities of these
two closely related departments.
"If the rumors concerning their man.
agement, that are increasing in volume
as time goes on and as people who are
terrorized into silence are again learn
ing to speak in terms of personal lib
erty, are unfounded. these rumors
should be silenced after those con-
cerned have an opportunity to present
their grievances. But If q fraction of
the stories told is true there are grave
wrongs to be righted.
II have no direct legal evidence" he
continued, "but if fraction of what
comes to me is true {and believe tha.
much Of it is true) such an investiga.
ton will disclose to the eyes of the
world a series Of the most mortifyine
scandals that has ever befallen our
country. There is but one decent loop
hole Of escape for us, and that is by a
merciless exposure of the facts by
Congress.
Zone of the. most surprising results
OF the disclosures of the committee that
am representing is the apparently
genuine surprise of the public to find
that almost every avenue of industry is
clogged and glutted with criminal COM
binations in restraint of trade, and
that they are SO firmly entrenched in
the business life of the country that
whilst few of them may and will be
punished, the csnker has become so
deep-seated that it can no longer be
uprooted.
Responsibility in Washington
II place the main responsibility for
this monstrous condition squarely at
the door of the Department Of Justice
It's record of the last eight years is
one of incompetent supineness and
worse-that is, unspeakably bad. To
its persistent inaction we owe largely
the stranglchold of these com mbinations
and the accompanying extortion that
is being practiced upon the people in
almost every line Of endeavor, although
the Department Of Justice has asked
and secured millions Of dollars from
Congress for the avowed purpose of
enforcing the antitrust laws
"But as bad as is the record of the
department. or Justice In its enforce
ment Of the antitrust laws, the hope
less and humiliating blundering and
inefficiency of the Attorney General in
dealing with these combinations are al
most 8 brilliant success compared with
his accomplishments in other direc-
tions, such as in the administration of
the alien property custodian act, the
s~dition laws and the internment Of
alien enemies.
"There has never been govern
mental department, national OK state.
so urgently in need of Immediate and
painstaking investigation as are those
of the Alien Property Custodian and
the Department of Justice dating from
CONTINUED o. psse thrse)