Evening star., 1924-03-12
HOUSE TO LAUNCH
ADMINISTRATION
| OF BR|BE CHARGES
Adopts Garrett Resolution to
Probe Evidence by Viva
vOce Vote.
LONGWORTH OPPOSES
SUCH ACTION IN VAIN
Speaker Ordered to Appoint Com
mittee of Five to Pro.
ceed at Once.
Congres ssional


Congressional investigation OF
criminal charges said to have beer
developed before a Chicago grand
jury against two representatives was
ordered today by the House.
BY viva voce vote, a resolution
offered by Representative Garrett
the democratic leader, to create a
special House committee to conduct
an inquiry was adopted.
By this action the House reversed
it's decision of yesterday to leave in
vestigation of the charges to the De-
partment of Justice and to make nc
further effort to have the names Of
the accused disclosed
Longworth Move Lost.
In an effort to head off vote on
the resolution, Representative Long
worth, the republican leader, pro-
posed that it be referred to the rules
committee, but his motion was lost
on a record vote, 1877 to 15S.
Organization republicans supported
the Longworth motion for the most
part. Democrats and republican in
Surgents opposed 1t.
The Garrett resolution, after de-
claring that the Chicago grand jury
had reported that certain evidence
has been submitted to them involving
bers OF Congress-" said that "the
honor and dignity of the Congress
requires that the facts be Immediate
ly aScertained to the end that such
action as is essential for the Con-
gress itself to take may be promptly
taken"
The resolution instructs the COM
mittee, which will be composed OF
five representatives appointed by
Speaker Gillett, to proceed immedi-
ately with it's inquiry.
During a brief debate Mr. Garrett
said the House investigation would not
interfere with Department of Justice
plans to lay the charges before a
representatives., Langley of Ken
lucky and zihiman of Maryland, both
republicans, had declared they had
been informed they were
involved and had asked for investi-
cation. s,..-..-.. .
Pleading for the House to keep It's
hands off. Mr.. Longworth said that il
the department failed within two
weeks to do something definite. he
would favor action. An investigation
now would be productive of no good
he said, and might embaFrass the
grand jury proceedings.
Refused to Give Names.
In the communication sent Satur-
day to Speaker Gillett the Attorney
General offered to submit evidence
in possession of the department to
the House, but served notice that II
the House undertook an inquiry into
the charges said to, involve two OF
Its members the departments investi-
cation would be Suspended.
Frequent references were made
during the debate to Representative
Zihlman, Maryland, and Representa-.
tive Langley. Kentucky. who had
stated on the House floor that they
understand they are the representa-
tives referred to in the Chicago
grand jury's report. Speakers who
referred to them, without exception
declared they had faith in their in.
tegrity and were satisfied they could
establish their innocence If charges
were brought against them.
The original committee resolution
was broadened to include instruction.
to the Department of Justice te
speed up its investigation by a vote
of 17S to 162 in the face of almost
solid democratic opposition.