A Delicate Matter

A grand jury in Chicago indicted several men, among them Charles R. Forbes, in connection with supposed fraud in the Veterans' Bureau (TIME, March 10). The matter will be threshed out in court. But an aside made by the grand jury touched a spring which turned loose a flow of eloquence on Capitol

In addition to the indictments, the grand jury declared that there were several other matters in which legal action should be taken, and mentioned that two members of Congress were accused of taking various sums of money, presumably as bribes for their influence. The House of Representatives (became agitated. A resolution was proposed directing the Attorney General to furnish the House with the names of the two Congressmen involved and the charges against them. Representative Longworth, Republican Floor Leader, exclaimed: "The discussion of this subject revolts me. ... In either case, by passing this resolution we will have done the one thing that men of honor ought to do when the membership and the honor of their body is assailed." Representative F. J. Garrett, Democratic Floor Leader, exclaimed: "It is a very peculiar situation. I know of no precedent. ... It seems to me not only proper but extremely necessary that there should be a resolution presented and investigation had as to any allegations that might involve Members of the House of Representatives. It is an extremely delicate matter with which we are dealing." Accordingly, a resolution was passed asking the Attorney General for the names and charges. Attorney General Daugherty refused to comply. He gave two reasons--that he was unwilling to make public the names of the men involved until he had reasonable grounds for believing in their guilt, and that it would defeat the ends of justice to make known their names. He offered, however, to turn the entire evidence over to a Committee of the House, if that body stood on its Constitutional right to punish its members for disorderly behavior or to expel such members. The Judiciary Committee of the House decided to await the regular course of justice. Meanwhile, the two members involved came forward and identified themselves. John Wesley Langley, Republican of Kentucky, rose on a question of personal privilege and declared: "A reputable morning newspaper contains my name, and in substance the statement that I was. one of those who would be accused. My fellow-members, I am acting against the advice of some of my best friends in speaking in advance of such report, but I cannot longer remain silent under these statements. [Applause.] "I have served this Government in an official capacity for more than 30 years, nearly 18 of which have been as a member of this great body. My life has been an open book. This is the first time that any aspersions have been cast upon my personal or official integrity. It is natural that I should feel shocked at accusations that by innuendo have been made against me."

Representative Frederick N. Zihlman, Republican of Maryland, rose and declared: "You can well understand the humiliation that I have felt at the insinuations which have been made against my name and character. Those of you who have served here with me know that I am no master of eloquence and it would be absolutely impossible for me to move you by any eloquent appeal.

"I want and ask the fullest investigation of every charge made, and I have every confidence that I can demonstrate to this House and to the country that I have been guilty of no wrongdoing."