The Washington times., 1924-03-07
IN
CONGRESS
DENIED
Leak" in Justice Department
Is Blamed in Naming Of
ZihIman and Langley.

BY international News Service.
The CAPITALS newest scandal, in
which q Chicago grand jury
charged two members of Congress
with accepting brides, today await
ed action by the Department of
Justice on a House resolution de-
manding publication of the names
Of the accused Congressman.
I Gossip in Capitol cloakrooms
linked the names of Congressman
John w. Langley (Rep.) Of Ken
tucky and Congressman Frederick
N. Zihlman (Rep0 of Maryland
with the case so insistently that
both members issued public state
ments denying all wrongdoing.
Leak" In Justice Department.
The situation was unique in
Congressional history. Neither men,
Der stood charged with any crime,
but confidential reports, attributed
to leak" in the Department of
Justice, gave their names such re-
peated circulation that. acting indie
pendently. the two Congressman II.
nally moved to end the gossip.
Until know what accusations
have been made against me-" said
Zihlman, II do not desire to at.
tempt to answer them. Meanwhile
no one ought to pass judgment on
me. I do not know Of having com
mitted any wrong. and 1 am ready
for any kind Of an inquiry"
Langley said he had received In
formation that his name was .beinE
mentioned by colleagues in connec.
ton with the grand jury's report.
II know Of no reason for the
circulation Of this report" Langley
added. II am guilty of no wrongful
acts. When specific charges are
made, II any should be, will make
a full reply to them. Until then ]
can merely await developments"
Charge Made by Criminal.
While neither Zihlman nor Lang.
ley was mentioned, one high Gov
eminent official told International
| News Service that the scandal was
based upon charges laid before the
Department of Justice by a con.
| fessed criminal
This informer, who admitted his
guilt in another crime against the
| Government, was said to have dc.
clared member of Congress- was
instrumental in obtaining the return
OF quantity of seized liquors
He claimed to have acted as "go.
between" in the transaction and
stated he had received $1,000 from
the owner Of the seized liouors
for his services and that he sub.
| sequently shared this money with
the Congressman and others
Both Langley and Zihlman are
experienced legislators. Langley
ranked twenty-third on the Houses
seniority. list, having served nine
consecutive terms from the tenth
Kentucky district. He rose to chair.
manship OF the House Committee
on Public Grounds and Buildings
He is a lawyer.
Former Labor, Leader.
Zihlman, serving his fourth term
from the Sixth Maryland district.
was former president of the Mary.
land State Federation Of Labor. He
holds the craftsmanship Of the
House Committee on labor.
Friends of both members rallied
to their defense today, threatening
TO institute an investigation of tho
source which inspired the Use ~
their names in connection with the
case. T. I'd
Much indignation also was ex.
pressed by House Republican lead.
erS toward the Department ~
Justice IN having permitted the
section Of the grand jury's report.
touching on the bribery scandal, to
become public.
1t was held the department should
have suppressed that part of the
report until indictments were 10.
AzNo0s -.