Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-19
COOLIDGE s LETTER
DEFENDED WARMLY
BY SENATOR LODGE
Floor Leader Points Action
of Other Presidents in
Making Known Views
Sees Slap at Mellon

WASHINGTON, April 16.-Reply-
ing to critics of President. Coolidge
for his letter of protest against the
trend of senate Investigations, Sena-
to rLodge, of Massachusetts,, the Re
publican floor leader, declared today
in the senate that the chief execu-
tive had acted entirely within his
rights.
This MESA ge," said Senator
Lodge, related directly to the con-
duct of public business. with which
the president is charged as chief ex-
ecutive."
Calling attention to that section
of the message stating that the in
ternal revenue bureau Investigating
committee was seeking information
which would not be helpful IN franz
ing legislation, Senator Lodge point
ed out that there were laws making
Individual tax returns, including
those of Secretary Mellon inviolate.
There can be no question in any
body's mind" the majority leader
said, that the purpose could not be
otherwise than to seek something
in relation to the character of the
secretary of the treasury himself
Answers Senator Glass
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
importance as that delivered yester'
day by Senator Glass, Democrat,
Virginia.
''I do not think there is any
ground for finding fault with the
president on communicating his
views on matters like this" he con-
tinued. History shows that the
presidents never have hesitated to
communicate with congress to give
their views on many questions, espe>
cially those affecting the admlnlstra'
ton of the government.
The presidents have exercised
wide discretion in the subjects puon
wide discretion i'll the subjects upon
the senate. President Wilson ad-
dressed the senate on constitutional
amendments with the enactment OF
which, under the constitution, ne
had no part. [ do not find fault
with that; he had a perfect right
to do So"
Advertising to the revenue bureau
investigating committee, Senator
Lodge declared that committee
clearly went beyond its authority
in approving the employment OF
counsel to be paid by a member"
ut certainly has not been the
practice since 1 have been here" he
said Il cannot believe it was. or
Is in the interest of the senate to
authorize such a procedure"
Defends Strong Language
When President Coolidge referred
to objectional "intrusions" the SEN
ator said, he had reference to the
apparent employment Of an out
slider" to dig into official files. The
Republican leader read the message
line by line giving his interpreter
tation as heVproceeded.
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 inquiry
really was intended to "break down"
Secretary Mellon. Senator Lodge
said.
There is much more in this than
politics." he declared. 1T is aimed
at the secretary of the treasury be-
cause he is the author Of a great
bill in which the whole country is
interested"
1t was against the unlawful en-
ployment of special counsel by an
individual senator for these pur-
poses, the senator said, that the
president had protested.
Senator Robinson, OF Arkansas,
the Democratic leader, remarked
that Senator Watson, Republican, In
diana, had declared the protest was
based upon the belief that IAN in
vestigation was intended of prohibit
ton enforcement"
II know nothing of that" replied
Senator Lodge.