Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-06
MELLON BELIEVED
GUARDEDBY VOTES
Opposition Not Strong Enough
to Endanger Position,
Writer Holds.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

The opposition to Mr. Mellon remain
ing in the Treasury is not enough to en-
danger him. If there should be a roll
call. the number of votes against con-
firming Mr.. Mellon readily might be as
little as 10 out of the SO Senators.
The disposition not to interfere with
Mr.. Mellon is increased by the common
understanding that his remaining is i'll
the nature of an honor for compare
lively short time. The leading Repub-
lican newspapers in Mr.. Melons State,
the Philadelphia Ledger, has stated that
Tho will retire within year." The
newspaper illusions say Mr.. Melons
motive is one of understandable pride,
that he wishes to complete his career
by serving under three Presidents.
In that case, as the Ledger puts 1t, he
will have "equaled the length Of serv-
ice of another Pennsylvania Albert
Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury UNI
der Presidents Jefferson and Madison"
A natural reason for anticipation that
MIR. Melons tenure will be compare
lively brief. is his age, which will be rs
on March "a Hardly any man Of that
age has ever been appointed initially
to any cabinet post, especially to so ar
duous a one as the Treasury has be-
come.
Vote Shows Trend of Feeling.
The disposition not to interfere with
MIR. Melons continuing is overwhelm-
ing. In the Senate last week, two OF
the principal criticisms of MIR. Melons
administration were brought up by the
two leading senatorial critics OF him.
Mcclellan of Tennessee and Couzens of
Michigan, In the end there was vote
which stated very roughly, was on the
question of requiring change in Treas
ury methods, which change is opposed
by Mr.. Mellon. The vote was only 16
Senators in favor of the change and Sc
against it. 3.
The net of the judgment Of the i'm
partial is that, taken as a whole, Mr..
Melons administration of the Treasury
deserves high approval. This view is
taken by many who admit some OF the
criticisms.
The criticisms of Mr. Melons
,nethod that were aired in the Senate
last week began with the allegation by
Senator Mcclellan that $500, 000. 900 Of
tax refunds have been made chiefly in
large sums and to large corporations
without adequate review or adequate
publicity. Mcclellan argued that there
should be open hearings, where the
claimants may come with their coun-
sci and v where the Government
may pass upon the claims III the light
of day." Senator Couzens charged that
Mr.. Mellon has practiced long and
persistent opposition to any reform"
Couzens Wakes Vehement.
Senator Ccuzens, largely because Of
the detailed thoroughness of his pres
entation, has in large part a con-
vincing effect At times he is perhaps
overviolent, using the word ''malad-
ministration" and even st onge err
phrases. From all quarters there has
come into the criticisms OF Mr.. Mellon
the fact that he is a stakeholder in, as
Senator Mcclellan put 1t, "e2 great cor
porations." Some of these corporations
are very large, and in some MIR. Mellon
is the most important stockholder. On
this point, Senator Reed OF PennSyi-
vania has said, in MIR. Melons defense.
that the latter is mot a director ana
not an officer of any corporation. Inc
old charge that Mr.. Mellon had for
many years an interest In dlstlilery
WAS UIOugI1b uQ hEdu1 40Se WCSht ~"
gether with an explanation Of the cir
cumstances by Senator Reed of Penn
sylvania.
A further criticism sometimes made
of MIR. Mellon is that about two years
ago. due to lack of sufficient vigilance
by the Treasury, according to the critics,
seriously improper conditions arose IN
several Joint stock land banks in the
West resulting in several receiverships
and the loss of large sums.
A final criticism. looking rather more
to the future than to the past, has to
do with the present state of credit.
AS it is put, 1.-THE United States has
more money than any other country, but
has almost the highest interest rates of
any country. How Gomez" The in
nuendo meant to be implied is that this
condition should not exist If the admin
istration of the country's finances In the
past has been as wise as Mr.. Melons
friends devotedly insist it has been.
Probably the direct subject of this
criticism is the Federal Reserve Board.
The question is raised what is and what
ought to be Mr.. Melons relation to
the Federal Reserve Board? In any
event. the price of credit and the distri-
button of credit is certain to be a large
nlIestion in the near future