The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-27
WATTS CHARGE
STIRS HOUSE TO
WARM DEFENSE
Ulinois TO Be Prominent In Daugh-
erfy Matters Pastors Ask
sPrehib Judge.
WASHINGTON News Buresu.
Rock Island Argus.

" AsHfuSAbu LIiiD HGEh HdS TIC AlG1A'
ton OF names OF down-state Iii
nois congressman with Attorney
General Harry Daugherty, who Is
under fire at the hands OF Demo
Gratis and nti-administration Re
publfcans in congress.
Whether or not the investigation
of the attorney general demanded
by these elements is voted, IL was
evident today that the Illinois con-
gressmen will play leading part
in whatever action Is taken by con-
gress in respect to the department
of justice.
The doWn-state I1linoisans were
referred to this week when Sena-
tor caraway. Democrat, Arkansas,
resumed his attack upon the alter
ney general.
Senator Caraway named particu-
larry Representative William J
Graham, Aledo, and Representative
John G. Mckenzie, Eliza beth, as
the sfgners OF a letter urging the
appointment to place in the war
department of Major w. o. Watts,
who was later transferred to the
department OF justice and few
weeks ago removed by Attorney
General Daugherty charged with
"disloyalty to the department"
Referring to the letter of recon-
mendation signed by Representa-
tive Graham as chairman of he
select committee which Investigated
expenditures of the war depart
partment, Senator Caraway men
toned the Illinois congressman as
a Republican who, | understand.
is to be appointed a Judge to sue
coed Judge Landis." Caraway re-
ferred to Mckenzie as "a man of
high character and long service,
and q high ranking member of the
house committee on military al
fairs"
Senator Caraway bitterly criti-
cized the action of the attorney gem
erat in removing Major Watts
charging that it was an affront 20
the lllinoisans, from whom he read
on the senate floor two letters, ad-
dressed respectively to Secretary
Weeks and Attorney General
Daugherty. strongly commencing
Major Watts.
x,
GaiesbuFg, is another Illinois CON
gfessman who has become involved
IN the storm raging about the de-
partment of justice. King took the
floor last week to defend Major
Watts. declaring that he saved the
government millions of dollars in
the infamous harness contract
alone"
Since Representative Graham
was chairman of the principal COM
mittee of the house which probed
war expenditures it appears newt
able that he will have a hand i'm
Whatever action congress takes to
speed up" prosecutions of alleged
war frauds.
Congressman Graham submitted
an exhaustive report to congress
Ia 1919 in which he charged that
the government had been robbed of
hundreds of millions of dollars and
called upon the attorney. general
under Wilson and Harding to bring
Criminal and civil proceedings in
the courts.
IT was recalled here this week
that the late William E. Mason for
Illinois, was the first member of
either house or senate to rap the
department of justice for failure 10
institute legal proceedings in the
war contract cases.
In his last important speech in
the house before his death he de-
ciared he would, if he lived. see
the incoming attorney general pros
ecute the war fraud cases, or de-
mand his impeachment by congress.
Both Mason and King have criti-
cized General Dawes of Illinois on
the floor of the house, declaring
that his hell Marian" speech. rid;-
ching the congressional probe, was
an obstacle to prosecutions by the |
government.
The reduction in freight rates !
ordered here this week by the in I
terstate commerce commission was
The subject of conference among
Illinois members of congress, who |
recalled the efforts of Illinois OF !
hcials to remedy the rate situation
n down-state Illinois.
Chairman Frank l.. Smith of the
lilnols commerce commission, has
appeared in Washington a number
q times IN recent months, both be-
ore the interstate commerce COM ]
MISSION and the house and senate
committees having Jurisdiction OYER {
'ailroad matters, to argue for new d
classification of Illinois territory.
!. u der present rules. the state is I
iVioed INTO several rate groups and )
ecent charges in rates for the @
astern, southern and western
foups, Illinois shippers claim, has .
nrown the rate structure in down u
tate Illinois into confusion. The Z
ppeal OF Chairman Smith. backed p
y Representatives Edward E Dam U
SON. Marion, and William ]. Ora q
an Aledo, that the present com ~
iieated rate classification be rene q q
ied, is still pending before the in II
srstate commerce commission II
ere. II
The rate reduction ordered this
eek is expected by Illinois mem g
srs OF the house to prove an OBJ -
acIe IN the way of repeal during 10
te present session of congress of y
e rate section of the Esch-Cum- :,
ms law. Repeal of this section ~
3 oeen demanded by the Illinois =,
I'm bureau, the Grange, the rail
'ao protherhoods and other farm A,
q iapor organizations in down
ate Illinois.
president Harding and admins
mate ha,-a ~ Tue mouse and Ill
CtlOn 15a the rate roal;, - ~