Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-03-02
Investigation of Attorney
Generals Official Record
Begins TomorroW-EIkins
Only Dissenting Vote.
ACCUSED'S COUNSEL SEND
PLEA FOR TRIAL RIGHTS
Moses and Jones Other G. O. P.
Members of Body-Wheeler and
Ashurst for Democrats-Virtual-
ly Unlimited Inquiry Into JUS
tice Department Is Ordered.

Headed by a republican insurgent
OF the La Toilette group, Senator
Bronkhart of Iowa.. a special Senate
committee will begin an investiga.
ton tomorrow Of Attorney Genera
Daugherty and his administration Of
the Department OF Justice
The inquiry, expected to rival the
oil investigation i'll its ramihcatioils
was ordered late yesterday by the
Senate in adopting the resolution OF
Senator Wheeler, democrat, Mon.
tana. The vote was 90 to l. Senator
Elkins, republican, West Virginia
standing alone in opposition.
Ends Bitter Controversy.
The choice of Senator Brookhart
for chairman came in spectacular
climax to two days of bitter debate
He was nominated by Senator La
Toilette of Wisconsin. leader of the
republican insurgents, after having
been selected originally by Senator
Wheeler. The regular republican or
ganization abandoned its effort to
retain control Of the committee and
contented itself with nominating Sen
ator Moses, New Hampshire, and
Jones, Washington, while Senator
Robinson of Arkansas, the demo-
cratic leader. nominated Senators
Wheeler and Ashurst, Arizona, as
committeeman.
No other nominations were forth
coming after long and dramatic
pause and the slate, as agreed upon
by Senator Wheeler after confer
ences with Senator La Toilette and
Robinson, went through without a
roll call. Privately, republican lead
ers said that they regarded 1t as USE
less to oppose the insurgent-demo-
cratic coalition.
Requests From Lawyers.
After adoption of the Wheeler res
olution, attorneys for the Attorney
General, Paul Rowland Of Cleveland,
and former Senator George E. Cham
berlain of Oregon, sent formal let
, terS to each member of the special
y committee requesting the privilege
of being present at all hearings, of
examining all witnesses, Of present
ing Independent evidence, of having
processes issued for witnesses, and
of presenting oral and written argu-
ments. They gave assurances Of the
assistance Of every agency and ia
cility of the Department Of Justice.
Chairman Brookhart said last
night that the committee would meet
tomorrow to draw up a plan of pro-
cedure and would proceed "as speed
= Ay as possible" in it's long task,
which is expected to take weeks if
not months.
There are masses of papers to be
gone over in preliminary way"
said Senator Brookhart last night.
ut is hoped to begin the hearings in
very few days. probably some time
next week"
No Formal Complaint.
While definite procedure is yet to
be determined, members indicated
there would be no formal complaint
with detailed specifications, drafted
and filed. as in the House impeach-
ment proceedings a year ago against
Mr.. Daugherty, but that various
charges and complaints would be
taken up as they developed with COM
mittee members and in the hearings.
The first field of inquiry is expected
, to be the Department Of Justice bu-
reau Of investigation, headed by Will
liam j. Burns, in connection with the
activities of its agents in several
parts Of the country.
Virtually unlimited jurisdiction to
investigate affairs relating to Mr.
Daugkerty and the Department of
resolution, which as finally adopted
provides:
Text OF Resolution.
Resolved, That a committee of five
senators, consisting of three of the
majority and two of the minority, be
authorized and directed to investi-
gate circumstances and facts, and re-
port, the same to the Senate concern
ing the alleged failure of Harry NJ
Oaugherty, Attorney General of the
United States, to prosecute properly
violators of the Sherman Antitrust act
and the Clayton act against monop-
ulies and unlawful restraint Of trade
the alleged neglect and failure of the
said Harry NJ. Daugherty, Attorney
General of the United States, to ar
rest and prosecute Albert B. Fall
Harry F. Sinclair, E. L. Doheny. c. r.
Forbes and their co-conspirators, in
defrauding- the government, as well
as the alleged neglect and failure of
the said Attorney General to arrest
and prosecute many others for viola
tions of federal statutes, and his al
legged failure to prosecute properly,
efficiently and promptly, and defend
all manner OF civil and criminal &C
lions wherein the government of the
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