Evening star., 1924-04-13


when a prosecutor, under government
authority and private pay, may haul
him before a committee and pillory
him on the stand. The morale OF the
entire organization is destroyed. Un-
less some end is brought to this un-
necessary interference, government
will cease to function"
Secretary Mellon said that the pur-
pose of the investigation-to recon-
mend improvements in the law and
its administration-was 'laudable,"
but declared Its real purpose seems
to be a personal attack upon me or
an effort to develop scandal"
Declares No Fraud shown.
'The committee has made inquiry
into every company in which I may
have been interested" he declared.
Nowhere has 1t been shown that a
company has been favored because 1
happened to be a stockholder. On
the contrary, it is probable that the
reverse has been the case. AS a mat
ter of fact, 1 think the investigation
has shown that favor through con-
riVance of government employees is
practically impossiblei Too many
different divisions and too many en-
ployes in each division, each jealous
of his opinion. have to pass on every
claim. Certainly, no fraud has been
shown, although nearly every dis
charged employe has. rushed to pre-
sent his suspicious to Senator
Couzens."
In opening his address. Secretary
Mellon presented what he termed the
ordinary difficulties" OF administra-
ton and declared that added to these
I'VE have congressional investiga-
tions. disingenuous in nature and
paralyzing in effect.
1T has been my experience in
Washington" he continued, that
there is a sense OF service and a pride
in position which has brought to the
government better, a more honest
and a more honorable class of servant
than private industry can command
upon anything like the same terms
The value of this asset is incalcula-
BILE, but it is rapidly being destroyed
PUBIC service is now target for
public abuse not an honor.
However, hope and believe that
1t is a passing pndSe WHICH may soon
disappear to be succeeded by a re-
turn to orderly procedure"
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler. presi
dent of Columbia University, also
was a speaker. Neither house Of
Congress has any authority under the
Constitution to investigate the pri-
vate affairs of any one, DR.. Butler
said. He defined the inveSti eating
authority of either house as limited
to anything with direct reference to
some legislative policy which is with
in the competence of Congress-. and
declared 1.-The moment either house
oversteps that constitutional imita-
tion it gives one more Illustration OF
goyernment-made lawlessness,"
THE House of Represen tatRes,
he continued, may properly investi-
gate any public officer who Is liable
10 impeachment with view to as
c!ertaining whether or not he should
he impeached. The Senate, however,
which If Impeachment follows, must
ct as a court, is without any such
authority and the present forctble
manifestation of this authority is
Iawlessness unpersonified."
DR.. Murray paid tribute to Mr.. Mel
lon, as 1.-THE most distinguished pub
lie officer of this generation" While
others seek personal and party ad-
vantage, he said, Secretary Mellon
oversees the nations vast fiscal sys-
tenn with an eye single to the public
interest"