Evening star., 1926-02-18
COMMITTEE URGES
ALUMINIUM PROBE;
CUMM|NS D|SSENTS
Later Says Proposed Action
Opens Way to Changed
Form of Government.
WALSH VOICES STAND
OF MAJORITY MEMBERS
Holds Justice Department Derelict
in Failing to Press
Prosecution.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN

Ht -lulllnuin 20. or Amellc.,.
largely owned by Secretary Mellon o.
the Treasury Department, and the Dc
partment of Justice, came under liz.
on the floor of the Senate TO-DAY
Senator Walsh of Montana, spea K
ing for a majority Of the judiciaI>
rommittee urged that the department
had been derelict in its duty; that =
had not prosecuted with due diligencs
its inquiry to ascertain whether the
aluminium Co. had violated d decree
of the court enjoining the company
from acts in viola ton of the anti-trusl
laws
Senator Walsh urged further that in
conformity with the majority report
OF the judiciary committee the Senate
authorize that committee TO inVesti-
gate the company. Asserting that the
Department of Justice had reached
the conclusion that contempt proceed
inCS cannot by any possibility be main
tanned successfully against the Alumi-
mum co. of America, Senator Cum
Minis of Iowa, chairman of the judici.
ary committee. submitted minority
report in which he sharply attacked
the proposal that the Senate. through
its committee, should undertake to in
Nestigate the Aluminium Co.
There is no constitutional authority
for the resolution of investigation rec
commended in the ma jority report. Sen
ator Cummins said He said that il
the course indicated in the proposed
resolution becomes the general prac-
tice of the Senate the overthrow of
our form of government is the certain
-eSult.'
Will Change Government.
The struggle which must ensue
will end either in the complete subordi-
nation of the executive or judicial
branches of the Government to the
legislative branch, or in subiecting the
legislative power 10 the executive
power" said Senator Cummins
The case of the Aluminium Co. Of
America came up for consideration in
the Senate today under unanimous
consent agreement for the considera
ton of the majority report submitted
by Senator Walsh for the judiciary
committee. The question before the
Senate was the adoption of this report .
which in effect asserted that the evj
dence indicated the Aluminium Co had
acted in violation of the court decree
and that the Department of Justice
had not prosecuted its inquiry as dill
gently as ii should.
Senator Walsh announced that if
the report were adopted he would offer
resolution directing senatorial in
vestisation of the Aluminium compan,
is Important Issue.
The report which the Senate i
asked 10 adopt" said Senator Walsh
carries an implication of dereliction
of duty on the part of the Depart
ment Of Justice regarding its INQUIRY
into the acts of the Aluminium Com
pany of America. 1t Is not a trivia !
matter. but one of the highest impor-
lance, judged by the dignity of the
parties involved and the interests at
issue"
Senator Walsh told the Senate tha,
the Aluminium Co. of America en-
ioyed a monopoly Of the production Of
crude aluminium in America, and that
ii controlled the supply of bauxite
from which it is manufactured and
the industry in general. The decree
OF the court in Pennsylvania, he said
rendered in 1912. had enjoined the
company from acts which would con
stitute a monopoly. in the meaning of
the antitrust laws. He said that the
company had controlled both the out
put and the prices Of aluminium.
Shuts Out Others.
When the Senator from Nontana
says that the Aluminium Company of
America has a monopoly. does he
mean that it so controls that others
cannot enter upon this business"
asked Senator Reed of Pennsylvania.
Senator Walsh replied that the com
pany owned and controlled absolutely
the production of bauxite and that be
cause of the high tariff on crude alum
inum II was Impossible for others To
import ii.
Doesn't the Senator know that
there is no tariff on the importation Of
bauxite?" interrupted Senator Reed.
Doesn't the Senator know that the
Aluminium Company imports bauNite
from abroad
Senator Walsh replied that it did
not matter that the Aluminium com
pany was the sole source of supply in
America.
much aluminium is imported from
Germany and France and urged upon
| the market here?" continued Senator
| Reed
Yes replied Senator Walsh, land
! it comes from concerns abroad, in
, which the Aluminium Co. has a con.
trolling interest. There is an agree
ment on prices"
Senator Reed asked Senator Walsh
| to name company abroad so con
| trolled by the Aluminium Co. Of
| America, and Senator Walsh promised
! to do so.
Cannot Maintain Suit.
The Department of Justice has
reached the conclusion that contempt
proceedings cannot be maintained sue
cessfully against the Aluminium Co OF
America, after 'exhauSting every
available source of information" Sen
ato- Cummins, chairman of the judi
ciary committee. informed the Senate
in a minority report filed by him to-
day.
Its decision upon this matter, and
the conclusions upon which that de
cision is based. are now available,
continued Senator Cunnins.
THE majority report filled by Sen
ator Walsh Of Montana several days
axo) in effect demands that the Sen
ate shall disregard this decision and
shall substitute the opinion of the ma
jority Of the committee for the de
liberate judgment Of the executive
officials, who are fully acquainted with
the facts and who are alone charged
with the responsibility Of enforcins
the law"
These facts, Senator Cummins de
Il