Evening star., 1924-03-13

ward those matters and appended the
indictments returned by a Chicago
federal grand jury against Forbes
tions Of the criminal code In con-
nection with Veterans Bureau affairs.
AS to the statement of the res0iu-
ton alleging failure to prosecute or
defend "all manner of civil and GRIM
fnai actions" the statement called
: attention again to the indefinite"
! character Of the accusation and en-
/; tered a denial "in general and in par
ticular." demanding at the same time
the titles Of the cases involved
or the names OF criminals referred to.
Failure of the resolution to set out
specific charges, the statement de-
clared, demonstrates either one OF
two things:
i the possession OF any one upon which
TO base specific and definite charges,
or,
Second. that these charges are
made without evidence and with the
| hope and purpose that, without as
suming, any responsibility for the
same. irresponsible, discredited and
biased witnesses may be placed upon
| the stand for a daily sensation In the
| newspapers. and disappointed titi,
| gants. discharged officeholders and
employees. and possibly some person.
al enemies of the Attorney General
! and political adversaries in his own
party. might be dragged into the
poison the public mind and substan-
tiate general and indefinite charges
! which are false in fact"
Criminal Division Work.
| As to activities Of the criminal divi-
sion OF the Department of Justice
! the statement recalled the report
made for the year ending June 30
n n s~f IL
disposed of than during any similar
| period OF time" in the divisions his
tory.
''The record is beyond criticism .
the statement added.
AS to civil cases. attention was d.
rected to proceedings before the court
of claims in the same fiscal year, when
claims aggregating $46,416.000 had been
defended with, such success that judg-
rnents against the government amount
turned. Candid examination of this
record disclosed. it was added, that
the pubic interest has been most sue
cessfully protected in each and
every instance"
Record On Dry Law.
/ AS to prohibition enforcement viola
tions, the statement declared that
convictions, mad been obtained in 80
per cent of the $4,000 criminal pro-
ceedings already terminated and $15,-
726.00O in fines collected. 1t was also
asserted as to other cases before the
United States Supreme Court, briefs
had been submitted in 3I5 cases be-
tween the beginning of the October,
1921, term and the present date. the
governments stand being sustained in
|211 cases, with fourteen still undecided.
Attention also was called to the
report submitted TO the Senate under
a resolution on war fraud cases, as of
February s. this year. The commit
tee was warned that confidential mat =
ter on these cases, publication of
which would embarrass the legal pro-
ceedings involved. was contained in
this report, which it was asked TO
safeguard. in the interests Of the
government"
THE Attorney General has now an
swered every direct charge or criti-
cism contained in the resolution" the
statement said in conclusion. He
has answered every indirect or in
ferential charge in the resolution. II
yestiga'iop any matter or thing
should come to the attention of the
committee which. in your judgment,
demands an explanation or warrants s
the formulation of an express charge
against the Attorney General, he de-
mands that it be formulated in di-
rect and express terms by the COM
mittee and opportunity at once given
him to answer said charge or criti-
cism, and hearing had thereon imme-
diately.
THE Attorney General resents and
condemns the indiscYiminate broad
casting of unSubstantiated rumors,
whispered criticisms. and false and
scandalous statements. for which no
one is responsible, and welcomes this
opportunity, before this responsible
committee of the Senate of the United
States, to expose, falsehoed and scan
dal and to establish truth"