The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-03-13
CONGRESS- BRIDE
QUIZ ORDERED
President Directs Immediate Ac-
ton Against Men Accused in
House and Others.
GRIM BUSY ON CASE
Federal Prosecutor Says Weeks May
EIapse Before He Bares Names OF
Two suspects-Democratic Lead
err introduces Resolution.

Washington. President Coolidge
directed that the evidence of corrup-
ton involving two unnamed members
of the House of Representatives and
possibly other persons in Washington
be laid at once before grand jury
especially empowered TO handle the
case and bring indictments.
The evidence was developed in con-
nection with the investigation f
Chicago grand jury which indicted
Charles r. Forbes. former director of
the United States Veterans Bureau.
and John w. Thompson, contractor.
The grand jury did not have 1uris-
diction in the case Of House mem
bers. Action against them must be
brought in the District OF Columbia.
C. Bascom Slemp. secretary to the.
President, issued this statement at
the White House:
1t was learned that the President
Immediately on noting the newspaper
reports that evidence before the
grand jury in Chicago implicated two
members of Congress gave instruc-
lions to Mr.. Seymour. Acting Attor-
ney-General, and reiterated his In
structions to Mr.. Seymour that prompt
and immediate steps be taken to place
the evidence before grand jury and
proceed with every diligence In the
prosecution of the case.
rs..t.- 49,
Acknowledgement, who Is in charge OF
the investigation under special In
structions OF the President, issued the
following statement:
"As the situation develops will re-
port from time to time to my superb
ors. / have not reported to them;
will not report to them unless they
send for me, until / have exhausted
the entire situation. do not propose
at this time to make public what
have done and | do not propose to
prophesy as to what | will do" The
grand jury insits report to the court
said:
Incidental to the investigation of
matters of which this grand jury had
j
directly pertaining to- the Veterans
Bureau were developeu by counsel for.
the Government which we regard OF
great Importance. There Is no juris-
diction of them in the Northern Dis
trict OF Illinois, but VIC are assured by
Mr.. Grim that he will lay them before
the Attorney-General and the Presi-
dent for consideration.
We do not feel that It would sub
serve the best interests of the Gov
eminent for this jury to make public
at this time the details of these trans
actions. This jury feels it will suf-
flee to report to your honor that they
involve "a speculation by one or
more officials of the Government
wherein it has been asserted that Of
fetal information was used for pur-
pose of speculation; (2) that certain
sums of money weys paid to two
members of Congress; 49, that pos
session of a file of one of the depart
ments for about month was had by
persons having no official connection
with such department; "a that money
was accepted by certain individuals
(not attorneys) for the purpose of
obtaining clemency for prisoners
through their intimacy with officials:
(5) that money was collected by GER
tain individuals mot attorneys) for
obtaining through such intimacy per-
mits for intoxicating liquors.
Mr.. Grim was at the White House
and talked with Secretary Slemp He
did not see the President. He con-
ferred with Senator Reed (Pa). in
charge of the Veterans bureau inves-
legation, and with representative
Smell IN. ". chairman of the House
Committee on Rules, which has under
consideration resolution for spe-
cial inquiry by the House.
Mr. Grim said he would give the
names to the President at any time
they were requested, as he had right
and as it was his duty to do.