Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-04-14
WAR OVER MELLON
AND PROBE POLICY
RENEWEDIN SENATE
G. 0. P. to Fight Heney En-
plOyment to Finish With
Democrats.
WATSON REVEALS VIEW
OF COOLIDGE ON ISSUE
Tax Inquiry Resolutions Go Over.
Edge Bitterly Arraigns
Minority Patty.

trenq'ImentS thrown up over the week
endF the Senate today resumed it's
war over Secretary Mellon and the
cation program.
Senator watson, republican. Indiana,
chairman OF the special committee in
Nesttgating the internal revenue bu-
reau, told his colleagues and demo-
cratic leaders privately, after a con-
ference with President Coolidge and
III. Mellon, that the President had
not intended by his message last
week To strike at any of the Senate
inquiries except that directed against
the Secretary of the Treasury.
Administration opposition to the
empi oyment of Francis J. Heney as
special counsel for the revenue bu-
reau committee would be continued,
the Indiana senator said, regardless
OF the fate of the democratic move
to make that employment legal by
formal Senate resolution.
Asks Supplemental Note.
When the Interpretation placed on
the Presidents message by Senator
Watson was communicated to Sen
ator Robinson of Arkansas, the dem
ocratic leader, the latter declared
the President ought in that case to
send supplemental message" ex-
planning his exact purpose.
Senator Watson after the White
House conference said he would not
press Immediately his resolution to
end the inquiry, and that he saw no
occasion now for a reply to the state
ment made public last night by Gov.
Pinchot of Pennsylvania.
49,. g.. 4 - 7 i
In the Senate Saturday" Senator
Watson said, that he had suggested
to Senator Couzens of Michigan, the
employment of Heney. ! see no occa-
sion for reply"
COuzens Seriously Ill.
With Senator Couzens seriously i'll
in a hospital at Baltimore, the in
Quiry has been suspended Temporal
rily, and it is not likely that there
will be an effort to press it before
his return to the Senate. There is
every indication, however, that the
part taken by him ard by Gov. Pin
chOt in the controversy will have
prominent place in the Senate de-
bate until the issue is settled.
The impression was given in admin
istration circles that the opposition
TO employment of Mr.. Heney lay
much deeper than the technical legal
in his message, and that the fight
against any such step would be con-
tinued regardless of democratic pro-
pOSalS to make Mr.. Heney's retention
legal by formal Senate resolution.
Sees Mud Singing.
The President pointed out in his
message that to employ the famous
California prosecutor with the UNDER
standing that his expenses would be
paid out of the pocket of Senator
Couzens, republican, Michigan, would
conflict with the revised statutes
There appeared to be a complete
agreement today. however, that Mr.
Heney's employment under any cir
cumstances would not only be objec-
tionable to the White House, but
would be regarded by Mr.. Coolidge
and Secretary Mellon as d proof that
the inquiry was actuated by destruc-
tive and not constructive motives.
Senator Watson charged in the
Senate Saturday that such a step
would mean that every piece of scan
day and gossip afioat on the turbulent
political waters of Washington would
be dragged out to public view, and
that ''mud-slinging' campaign I'M
paraileled in American history would
result.
Beyond that the President and his
advisers appear completely con-
WINGED that if Mr.. Heney is permitted
10 direct the course of the investiga-
tion il will amount to nothing less
than a war to the knife between Mr..
Mellon and the elements of his
party represented for the moment by
Senator Couzens and Gov. Pinchot.
Sees Treasury Breakdown.
President Coolidge was told today
by Mr. Mellon that the Senate in
vestigation had developed nothing
that was not disclosed two years
ago. The only result. he declared,
had been a serious breakdown in ef-
ficiency of the internal revenue
bureau.
The Secretary strenuously opposes
any inquiry that will keep Treasury
officials and employees engaged In
digging up records and appearing be-
fore committees instead of applying
themselves to the masses of work
that awaits their attention in the
bureau, unless some remedial leglsla-
ton is to result from the study. .
Mr. Mellon reiterated that he will
not take responsibility for the break
ing down of Treasury efficiency by
Investigations of the UNDERTAKING
kind" He feels responsibility for
any breakdown must rest on the
shoulders of Congress.
TeSS at private conferences and in the
Senate cloakroomS, debate on the presi-
GENITAL admonition to the Senate to stay
within the law broke out afresh on the
floor. Senator Edge, republican, New
JERSEY, declared democratic criticism of
Mr.. Coolidge's message was based on
disappointment that the revenue bureau
inquiry had not disclosed improper tax
refunds to the Mellon companieS.%
Senator Edge reopened the discus
sion with prepared address almost
as soon as the Senate convened. He
declared the standing of the Senate
in the country today is at the lowest
ebb in the history of the nation"
There must be reason" he said,
adding that "the Senate's Fictitious and
purie resentment of protests from the
executive is shown by its ily-concealed
efforts to break down the morale of
important departments Of the govern
ment."
Says Message Justified.
I'm my judgment" Senator Edge
declared, 1.-The Presidents message
was not only justified, but if he had
failed to so assert his responsibility
he would have been convicted of
supineness and hesitation absolutely
3nexcusable- He unhestatingly and
tContinued on Page 2, Column So