The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-23
H00VER'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
UNDER FIRE; ASK CONGRESS PROBE
Delay in Prosecution of
Banker Hartman Brings
Demand for Action.
EXPECT OPEN HEARINGS
Suspension of Case Against
FinanCier on Orders of
'HigherupS' ASSaiIed.
Copyright. 1888. by Scripps- Howard News
paper AllIancel

WASHINGTON, March %.
Congressional investigation
of the department of justice
in the Hoover administration
was demanded today by lead
ing members of congress.
The demands followed a state
ment by United States Attorney
George z. Medalie in New York
that he delayed for three months
prosecution of Joseph w. Hartman,
former president of the closed Har-
riman National Bank and Trust
Company, on orders of the Justice
department.
This action, Medalie said, urgently
was requested last December by the
United States comptroller of the
currency and the New York clear
ing house, to allow time to reorgan-
ize the bank.
The bank was not reorganized
and Hartman has been charged
with falsifying accounts.
Checkup to Be Made
Investigation Of the Hartman
bank collapse probably will be made
by the senate banking and currency
committee as a result Of Federal
Attorney Medalies statement" said
Chairman Duncan u. Fletcher of
the committee. 1T is an extraordi-
nary situation"
Fletcher revealed that he has for
warded material on the Hartman
bank to Ferdinand Pecora, special
counsel for the committees stock
market and banking investigation.
now IN New York, for a checkup.
He indicated it was likely that this
situation would bring the Hartman
situation into the inquiry. open
hearings on which are expected to
resume soon.
No White House Comment
Senators E. P. Costigan, dem.
Colo0 who also is a member of the
banking committee; George w. Nor
rls (Rep, Neb); C. c. Hill Dem.
Wash); B. K. Wheeler Dem.
Mont), who directed the senate in
Vestigation of Harry Daughertys
administration of the same depart
ment; H. T. Bone Dem. Wash }.
and Sam G. Bratton Dem. N M
and Representatives West. Sweeney
ana Lamneck of Ohio, all expressed
a desire for further light on the
Hartman disclosures.
Acting Comptroller of Currency F.
q. Await, who has been head of the
ONCE since the retirement of
Comptroller Pole last September
refused to comment on the Medalie
statement or anything concerned
with the Hartman bank.
White House and justice DEPART
ment officials likewise declined tn
comment.
William D. Mitchell, attorney
general until March 4, could not be
located today.
Astounding Revelation
senator Costigan, whose resolu-
ton continued the senate banking
inquiry into the new congress. said:
Reports that the department of
justice under President Hoover
suspended the Hartman prosecu-
ton is one of the latest of Wash
lngtons astounding revelations for
Wnlch, apparently, the country must
thank the Roosevelt administration
The situation should not be
passed without further and full in
curry. The judiciary committee.
the banking committee, or a select
committee of the senate, should be
directed to call on the department
OF justice for a disclosure of the
underlying facts, so far as known or
discoverable, from official files.
THE country also should be ad-
vlsed whether other grave cases of
law breaking similarly have enjoyed
the special privilege of temporary
or permanent immunity"
Norris ASsaiIs Tactics
Senator Norris, former chairman
Of the judiciary committee, said
"On the face of it, as reported
to me, it seems an indefensible
thing. can see where there might
be some dissent, but it ought to be
looked into"
Senator Bratton said: ct is in
conceivable to me that the depart
ment of justice, which is charged
with enforcing justice, could have
lent itself to such thing. I hardly
can believe it,"
Senator Wheeler said that not
only should responsibility for the
delay be established, but that vigor-
Gus investigation should be made
into report Of any irregularities of
bankers under suspicion.