San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-11

down, the prohibition against what
amounts TO a government charge of
criminal action without the formal
presentment of a grand jury is evad-
ed, the rules of evidence which have
been adopted for the protection of the
innocent are ignored, the department
becomes the victim of vague. unfOrmu-
lated and indefinite charges and in
stead of government of law we have
government of lawlessness.
Against the continuance such a
condition. i enter my solemn protests
and give notice that in my opinion the
departments ought not to be required
to participate in it. If il is to be con-
tinued, if the government is 10 be
thrown into disorder by it, the respon
sibility for it must rest on those who
are undertaking it. 1t is time that we
return TO a government under and in
accordance with the usual forms of
the law of the land. The state of the
union requires the immediate adoption
of such soursc."
Melons Letter TO Coolidge.
The letter of Secretary Mellon, adj
dressed TO the President under date of
yesterday. follows:
"On March II, 1924, by Senate
resolution 16S, the Senate appointed a
special committee to investigate the
Bureau of Internal Revenue and sug-
gest corrective legislation. Senator
Couzens was the moving spirit of the
resolution. In urging the appoint
ment of the committee his purpose was
ostensibly to obtain information upon
which to recommend to the Senate
constructive reforms in law and in
administration. With such a purpose
/ am entirely in accord. From the
line of investigation selected by Sem.
ator Couzens, and by the atmosphere
which he has seen fit to inject into
the inquiry, it is now obvious that his
sole purpose is to vent some personal
grievance against me. All companies
in which / have been interested have
been sought out. l have aided in OBJ
tanning from them the waiver of their
right TO privacy and in the delivery
of their income tax returns in COM
plete details TO the committee. This
investigation has disclosed that no
company in which l have been inter-
ested has received any different or
better treatment than any other tax
payer. The inquiry, so far as show
ing that l favored my own interests,
has failed completely. Any >construc-
tive purpose of the committee has now
been abandoned.
COuzens Back Of Probe.
AT meeting of the committee yes
terday. Senator Couzens carried
resolution, against the objection of the
two Republican members. empowering
Francis J. Heny to assume charge of
Francis j. Heney to assume charge of
examination of witnesses. with the
understanding expressed and stated in
the resolution that neither the COM
mittee nor the government payHeney's
compensation. In effect, private in
dividual is authorized to investigate
generally an executive department of
the government. This individual is
paid not by the Senate or its COM
mittee, but Senator COuzens alone.
"As secretary of the treasury 1 have
charge Of the finances of the nation.
The treasury touches directly or in
directly every person and in
the second conduct of its business
United States. Already the present
lHNcsllsullOH has sTtdll. iHJuTtu inc
efficiency of the income tax organiza-
ton and the sufferer is not the gov
ernment, but every tax payer. Attacks
such as these seriously impair The
morale of the 10000 employees of the
department throughout the country.
Cannot Be Responsible. o.
Government business cannot con-
tinue to be conducted under frequent
interference by investigations Of Con-
gress, entirely destructive in their
character. If the interposition of pri-
vate resources be permitted to inter-
fere with the executive administration
Of government, the machinery of gov
eminent will cease to function.
Il owe to you and the people of
the United States the duty to see that
the treasury conducts efficiently and
faithfully the great tasks continuous
ly presented to it, that its integrity
be preserved, and that its future be
insured. This has been my sole thought
as head Of this department. When
through unnecessary interference, the
proper exercise of this duty is rem
dered impossible, must advise you
that neither / nor any other man of
character can longer take responsible
ity for the treasury. Government by
inuaotf Oa ti0,, Re