The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
DRY LAW PROBE UNDER COUZENS
 SET FOR SEPT. 2
Michigan Senator To Head Inquiry Into Mel
 lon Enforcement

|. WASHINGTON, July 26.a-Secre- tary Mellon enforcement of prohibition is to be investigated coincident with the national campaign, but the sudden de- cisiOn of the Senate committee charged with the task to go ahead brought for mal statements today from Senators Watson, Indiana, and Couzens, Michi- gan, republicans, explaining their con ception of events leading up to it.
 Senator Couzens was elected during the day as chairman of the committee, in place of Senator Watson, who indi- cated his desire to retire, but not until he had concluded a twO-hour interview with President Coolidge. Senator Wat son then went to the White House and later the two senators made public their statements
 Democrats Oppose Delay | Meanwhile, democratic members of the committee, Senators King of Utah and Jones of New Mexico, although of ficially silent, made it clear that they were for investigation, full and immedi- nte, and had been all along. The com mittee rejected the proposal that Francis J. Heney, California graft prosecutor, be retained as special coun- sel, but authorized selection by Sena- tors Couzen and Jones of some one else for the work. September was fixed for open hearings in Washington.
 Heney's name had been brought for ward originally when the committee was holding hearings during the session of Congress and it had aroused bitter de- bate in the Senate. At that time the committee was devOting it's attention to an investigation of the thermal revenue | bureau and tax questions in general, and the charge was made and denied that there was a ,'drive" on against Secre- a tary Mellon s, I Explains Decision .. 1 Explaining the committee decision, Senator Couzehs, who, with the two democratic members, holds the majority vote, said
 ''On Tuesday, July 9, Senator Wat son called me at Detroit on long dis tance telephone and said that Senators King and Jones were in his office and that they were all desirous of having meeting and wanted to know when could attend.
 T was in the midst of my campaign and told him that if the meeting was wanted at once I could come. So I cancelled several engagements to at tend a meeting Friday of this week. The date was. satisfactory to Senator Watson, who was on tn telephone, so l left Detroit Thursday and we met in Senator Wats0n's office Friday morn ing, July 25, at which time Senator Watson, who was on the telephone, so to going ahead with the investigation, and, if the committee decided to go ahead, he would have to resign as chair man, which he did. The committee then accepted his resignation and elected me as chairman. Senator Watson wired Senator Ernst (republicah1, Kentucky, at Denver, and got his permission to cast his ballot.
 @ Minds Are Open :.
 Considerable discussion was had as to the selection of the income tax unit and the prohibition unit of the internal revenue bureau, for the purpose of see ing whether the laws are being properly carried out, and if any amendments to the law would improve the functioning the internal revenue bureau. The com mittee is going into tn ematter with an entirely open mind as to conditions, and as to what they might find or recommend to Congress when it con venes again."
 Senators Couzens and Jones lefgt Washington immediately after the ses- sion, but Mir. Cozens said he would re- turn within ten days. Senator Wat son, on learning of the Michigan sena- tors public statement, also summarized the events leading up to the commit tee meeting, in statement of his own.