Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-04-17
COOLIDGE NOTE
STARTS BATTLE
Reed Declares Message of
President Insult to
Senators

Washington-W rangling and bitter
debate broke loose in the senate as the
result of President Coolidge's message
to the senate in which the president
called for return to law and order
in conducting national affairs
Senator Watson, Republican, IN
diana, was the administration war
horse in the senate fight. AS chair
man of the committee in charge OF
investigating conduct of internal rev.
enue department affairs, he took up a
valiant defense of Secretary Melons
conduct of his department. He charged
that the plan of Senator Couzens, Res
publican. Michigan, to employ Attor-
ney Francis j. Heney as an investiga-
tor, with Mr.. Couzens paying the bills.
was purely undertaking enterprise.
He declared that government would
fall if such methods were permitted
to continue.
Democratic senator's, who regard
President Coolidge's message as slap
at the Daugherty and Teapot Dome
Investigations, as well as the Mellon
quiz, eagerly accepted the opportunity
to engage in conflict with the Repub-
licans on the issue, and charges flew
thick and fast on both sides.
Spirit Violated, Charge
While Watson said the senate was
within its rights to inquire into the
administration of government depart
ments, he declared that it should be
done "in legitimate way and upheld
the presidents contention that the
employment of Heney violated the
spirit" of the law.
Watson charged that Gov. Pinchot
of Pennsylvania recommended apS
pointment of Heney, with the idea of
having the federal prohibition enforce
ment bureau investigated.
81 have indisputable evidence that
Gov. Pinchot injected. himself into the
investigation. Watson said.
eff Pinchot inspired the selection
Of Heney and his recommendations
were agreed to by Couzens and the
two Democratic committee members,
we know that the prohibition bureau
will be Investigated and books and
papers and witnesses would be called
from all over the country. If whole
sale investigation of the prohibition
bureau is started, there will be no end
to it. Pinchot and Heney would drag
it out until election day. There would
have been saturnalia of vituperation
and aspersion when the dragnet Of
gossip was thrown out
80 far as / am concerned, there
will be no such investigation. Nobody
ever believed that prohibition would
be enforced up to the present hour"
Reed Opens Attack
s"This whole thing is an assault on
the president" Watson continued.
"The breath of scandal has never
touched his garments. No investiga-
tion-no matter how troublesome it
may be-will ever lead the people to
misjudge our chief executive"
Senator Reed, Democrat, Missouri.
opened an attack on Watson's posi-
ton.
why shouldn't we investigate the
prohibition bureau?" he asked. "Is it
because it is true as has been charged
that Mellon is head of distillery?A If
the prohibition bureau is being proper
ly conducted there should be no fear
of an investigation
A movement to expunge from the
record President Coolidqe's message
was started by Senator Reed He
characterized the message as an "in-
suit" to the senate, and other Demo
Gratis supported his stand