The Washington times., 1929-04-27
MINORIT !
CENSlJRE
Led BY
WALSH

The legality of the services
of Andrew w. Mellon as Sec
retary of the Treasury, while
owning fortune in corpora
ton securities was debated for
three hours today by the
Senate Judiciary Committee
without reaching a decision.
President Hoover's action in re-
tanning Mellon in his Cabinet with
out a reappointment, however, was
formally approved by the commit
tee.
1t, likewise, decided that Melons
ownership of stock in the Overholt
Distillery did not constitute a viola
ton of internal revenue laws. as it
was found the distillery has not en-
gagged in the manufacture OF whisky
since the Secretary entered the
Cabinet.
The committees decision in these
two points was unanimously in Mel
Ions favor.
Debate Vigorous
A minority of the committee
meanwhile contended that Mellon
is holding office illegally under a
statue forbidding the Secretary OF
the Treasury from being concerned
or interested in business. Led by
Senators Norris CR) of Nebraska
chairman, and Thomas J. Walsh
Cd of Montana, the minority
argued that Melons ownership of
millions of dollars of stock in vari-
Gus corporations made him ineligible
for the Cabinet post, since it forced
him to be concerned" and Inter
ested" in business.
The debate behind locked doors on
this r int was vigorous. 1t lasted
three hours in fact, long past the
Senator'S usual luncheon hour. An
adjournment finally was taken un-
til Monday when the debate will
be resumed and the committee will
attempt to reach a vote on the
issue.
VIII File Report
Regardless Of the majority's de-
cision the minority will file a re-
port with the Senate declaring Mel
| lon ineligible This will force q
vote in the Senate on the question
of Mellon continuing in office.
Senator Norris had the minority
report ready when the COMMITTEES
met and Immediately submitted it.
The report praised President
Hoover's recent plea for law en-
forcement as beautiful senti-
ment," but added:
I'VE must practice what we
preach"
IF corruption in official life had
not been SO universal during the
last few years." Norris added, ''or
if such crimes when exposed had
been publicly denounced by high
officials in our Government. this
disrespect for law charged by the
President to be almost universal
would have been much lessened II
not entirely eliminated"
Norris demanded that President
Hoover enforce the law against
Mellon. saying if the law was not
to be enforced it should be repealed.
Seems Absurd
After pointing out that Mellon
admitted ownership of stock in GER
tain corporations, Norris added:
ITO deny that the owner of stock
| in a corporation is interested in the
business of such corporation is
violation of all logic and reason and
to assert that the owner of such
stock is not even indirectly con
cerned or interested in the business
of the corporation must impress the
minds of honest people as being
ridiculous"
Norris also called attention to the
fact that Melons relatives own
stock in the same corporation. The
family group, he added, actually
control several corporations by their
stock holdings.
by no legal or judicial legerde-
main or method of reasoning can
any conclusion be reached in such
case except that the owner Of
such stock must. be and necessarily
is interested in the business Of the
| corporation.
There is positively no way for
such a person to avoid such interest
or to disassociate his interest from
such corporation except in good
faith to dispose of his stock therein -