The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-16
QUOTES REVISED
STATUTES TO PROVE
HIS STATEMENTS
Says Secretary of the Treasury
Can Be Impeached When
the Senate Sees Fit.
PRECEDENT DURING
GRANTS TIME TOLD
Declares Republican Party Is Go
ing TO Have to Answer for
It at Next Election.
fnx rh. AssoeIated rres.l

(By The Associated Fressl
WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-secretary
Mellon is holding the office of secre-
tary OF the treasury in violation of the
law and can be arrested for retaining
the place if any one sees fit to swear
out warrant charging him with the
offense. Senator Watson. democrat
of Georgia, declared in the sem
ate late today. The law which Mr..
Mellon Is violating, Senator Watson
said. prohibits the secretary of the
treasury from engaging in any kind OF
business or commerce.
Senator Watson told the senate that
Mr.. Mellon could be impeached "any-
time we see fit and read to the sem
ate the provision of section 243 of the
revised statutes which, he declared,
expressly forbids Mr.. Mellon 10 retain
his place. He declared that by stay
ing in office the secretary was vio-
lating the law, adding that it was gem
orally known that Mr.. Mellon was one
OF the wealthiest individuals in the
country.
Assertions by the Georgia senator,
were made in connection with general
kspeeches Of the accomplishments of
the two major political parties. He in
formed the senate in the course Of his
romarks that the law now listed as
section 243, was passed in the first
congress of the United States and that
during the administration of Presi-
dent Grant the name of A. L. Stew
art had been withdrawn as nominee
as secretary of the treasury when at
tention was called to provisions OF the
act.
Senator Watson asked Senator Hef-
lin democrat, Alabama, for his opin-
ION on what the people will think Of
the way our government is being run
when a criminal, unconvicted but dis
obeying the penalty openly and no
toriously, committing a crime. is left
in charge of our national funds and the
refunding of debts OF eleven billion dol
lars"
Senator Heflin said that Senator
watson had shown that Secretary
Mellon was violating the law and that
II was time for senators to speak.
MIR. Watson stated that Mr.. Stewart
had resigned three days after his cor
firlnation by the senate and after
President Grant had learned OF the
provisions of the law.
"And II Mr.. Stewart resigned" con-
tlnued the senator. 'why should not
Mr.. Mellon resign? why should no
continue in office In insolvent viola
tion OF the law7 He knows it; so
does President Harding know it, and
the republican party Is going to an
swcr FOR Il this fall for I do not be-
lleve the people win stand for open
violation OF the law by a member OF
the cabinet when persons Throughout
the country are prosecuted for trivial
offonscs"
Asking why the president did not re-
spect "the statutes" Senator Watson
said that Mr.. Mellon was 'impudent''
for retaining tho office and ought 20
resign.
If he doesn't resign" he added.
'-'then tho president ought to ask for
his resignation"
The Georgia senator referred 70 tho
recent passage OF the allied~deht fund
ing bill and said that never before in
history had so much money been
~ltaStu IN lne HhlaA NA Nhe hitA ~
handle. and that man is violating the
law every day OF his life" He chal-
lenges "ail OF the lawyers in tho sem
ate" 10 rcfute his statements relative
10 MIR. Melons right TO remain as sec
retary.
Mr.. Watson referred to Mr.. Mellon
as "a colossal figure in the business
world and declared that he had no
more right to be secretary of the
treasury than had J. p. Morgan or
John D. Rockefeller or a member OF
the firm of Sears. Roebuek, IL you
please"
BE also read James C. Blain's
Twenty years IN Congress" q ref
srenee to the circumstances sur
rounding the nomination OF Mr.. Stew
art. This told how Mr.. Grant had
asked congress first 10 amend the law
10 except aIr. stewart and then after
1t was seen that congress was un-
willing 70 make the change, the pres
ident withdrew the request and the
newly named secretary resigned.