Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-23
LAYTON COMES TO
DEFENSE OF MILLER
On Floor of House Refutes At
tacks on Alien Property
Custodian.
Special Dispatch From Every Evenings
Washington Correspondent.

Special Dispatch From Every Evening \
Washington Correspondent
Washington. June 23.-Representa-
tive Caleb Il. Layton, Of Delaware. to-
day came 90 the defense OF Colonel
Thomas w. Miller in n vigorous speech
on the floor Of the House. in which he
paid the allen property custodian n
high tribute. Representative Layton
said:
Yesterday Representative Wood
run.. of Michigan. made an attack up
on the. alien property custodian,
Thomas W. Miller. Inasmuch az Mr..
Miller is citizen of tho State of Del
aware. which state have the honor
10 represent II is not so much n duty
as a pleasure for me IN make some
reply to the attack made upon him.
I am I'm accord with what think is
the purpose of Mr.. Woodruff in the
prosecution Of the perpetrators OF
frauds against the government during
tho war. l do not think. however, Il
is fair or commendable to attempt by
inuendo implication. covert insinua-
ton. or misleading allhsion to as
perse the character of n high public
official In an indirect way and without
the most positive proof. Too often
the immunity of a Congressman leads
10 gross defamation Of personal
character. which the perpetrator
would not he willing to make in pri-
vate life. where he could be held re-
sponsible for the loss sustained there
by.
Thomas w Miller is a young mar
standing within the threshold Of e
promising life. He has been a mem.
Der of this body; ne was in actual ser
vice in Europe during the late war
He was in charge OF the eastern al
vision Of the speakers bureau Of I'll,
Republican party during the las
campaign He is strong and forcefu
and possesses great executive ability
which those who know him best ap
prec!ste the more II rs not possibl,
that such man would mar IN.
prospects Of an exceedingly PROMISING
career by deliberate maiadministra
ton Of his Office
1T is Impossible 70 understand tn,
animus Of the gentleman from Michi
gan, seeing that by no rule Of justic,
could Thomas w. Miller. the alier
property custodian. be held respons
ihle fr the acts of his predecessor O
for the prosecution Of any fraud which
/ his predecessor may have committed
such prosecution being clearly an,
solely within the sphere of authority O
/ the Department OF Justice Moreover
| no delay or disinclination on the psr
OF the Department of Justice, assum
/ Ing that such exists. can In fairrles
! he laid at the door of the alien prop
dty custodian. The duties Of his Of
tice are purely administrative and de
fined by the law. which imposes n
duty on him of usurping the func
tions Of the Department OF Justice.
The immunity OF a Congressman !
a rare power and should be used wit
/ the utmost carefulnese It was grant
ed for the public good; II should no
be used against the public good an.
for the destruction of individual char
scter and reputation. Inasmuch a
the charges OF the gentleman fror
Michigan were made from the floor O
the House. and will therefore appea
In the Record for public dissemination
i am including in this address, for N
purposes of equal publicity, certai
statements made in an answer theret
by the alien property custodian, Nj
Mille"
Col. Millers' answer IL on page
OF today's paper.