Evening star., 1924-04-16
Majority Leader Answers
Critics of President-Raps
Heney Employment.
DECLARES PROBE WENT
BEYOND LEGAL LIMIT
Says Inquiry Designed to InjuTe
Mellon as Tax Measure
Author.

against the trend of Senate investi-
cations, Senator Lodge of Massachu-
setts, the Republican floor leader, de-
clared today in the Senate that the
Chief Executive had acted within his
rights in communicating his views 10
that body.
This message" said Senator Lodge,
relates directly to the conduct o.
public business, with which the Presi-
dent is charged as Chief Executive"
Senator Lodge said he regretted to
take up the time Of the Senate be
cause of the important legislation
pending. but could not allow to pass
without reply an address of such i'm
portance" as that delivered yeSthr-
day by Senator Glass, Democrat, Vir-
ginia-
Sees No Complaint Justified.
II do not think there is any ground
for finding fault with the President
on communicating his views on mat
ters like this he continued. His
tory shows that the Presidents never
have hesitated to communicate with
Congress to give thsir views on
ing the administration of the gov
ernment.
The Presidents have exercised
wide discretion in the subjects upon
which they have communicated with
the Senate. President Wilson sd-
dressed the Senate on constitutions
amendments with the enactment of
which under the Constitution he had
no part. l do not find fault with that /.
he had a perfect right to do So.
Calls Attention to Law.
the message stating that the internal
revenue bureau investigating com
mittee was seeking Information
which could not be helpful in fran
ing legislation. Senator Lodge pointed
out that there we're laws making in
vidual tax returns, including those
of Secretary Mellon, inviolate.
There can be no question in any
body's mind the majority Leader
otherwise than to seek something ir
relation to the character of the See
retary of the Treasury himself
Adverting TO the internal revenue
bureau investigating committee. Sen
ator Lodge declared that committee
clearly went beyond its authority
in approving the employment of coun-
sci to be paid by a member. 1T
certainly has not been the practice
since / have been here" he said
Il cannot believe il was or is in the
interest of the Senate to authorize
such a procedure.
to Objectionable "intrusions," the SEN
ator said. he had reference to the
apparent employment of an out
slider to dig into official files. The
line by line. giving his Interpretation
as he proceeded.
The language is strong" he
agreed, but it was necessary. The
Senate has extended its functions
and in newspaper parlance, had
created a new Office in the person Of
committee prosecutor"
The internal revenue bureau in
quiry really was intended to break
down" Secretary Mellon Senator
"There is much more in this than
the Secretary of the Treasury because
he Is the author of a great Dill n
Hits Heney Employment.
It was against the unlawful employ
ment of special counsel by an indiv-
idual senator for these purposes, the
senator said, that the President had
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader, remarked ina
Senator Watson. Republican. Indiana.
upon the belief that IAN Investigation
was intended of prohibition enforce
ment."
Senator Lodge. -,
Senator Lodge would approve the
adoption of the resolution authorizing
the committee itself to employ counsel
Adequately restricted" was the
reply
by making appointment of coun-
sci subject to Senate approval" Sen
ator Lodge replied.
The senator knows" persisted
Senator Robinson, that the counsel
men toned was suggested by Gov.
Pinchot. a prominent republican"
II don't see where that makes any
difference" said Senator Lodge.
Then the objection is to that in
dividuai?" (Francis J. Heney).
Yes. and perhaps to other posi-
BILE selections"
Praises Mellon Record.
Declaring that the administration
OF secretary MSIIOH " do
wise and successful" Senator Lodge
said that If the Senate unclaimed q
criminal lawyer in that department
we can well understand why the
Ga, 900 employees could not do their
work so well, knowing a spy was at
their shoulder continuously.
II am glad Secretary Mellon has
made this protest. It involves future
tax bills and sound policy"
"The Secretary of the Treasury
knew" Senator Lodge said in reply
ing to an inquiry by Senator Nc
Kellar, Democrat, Tennessee, that
this whole investigation was aimed at
him. He has been treated, In my
Judgment. in way which if applied
to my friend, the junior senator from
Virginia, who was an admirable Sec
retary of the Treasury-his integ-
rity never was questionable he had
been subjected to this L think he
would have resented it in language
that would long have been remem-
bered."
Immediately after Senator Lodge
concluded his address of more than
an hour Senator Robinson of Ar
kansas. the Democratic leader, sought
unanimous consent for a vote next
Friday to discharge the audit and
control committee from consideration
of the resolution giving the investi-
eating committe authority to employ
counsel but Senator Bruce Demp-