MR MELLON IMPEACHED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21544, 16 January 1932, Page 11

MR MELLON IMPEACHED

ALLEGED MISDEMEANOURS ENGAGING IN COMMERCE. WASHINGTON, January 14. The Secretary of the Treasury (Mr A. W. Mellon) was charged to-day by Representative Patman with taking part in the credit extension to Colombia arranged by New York bankers at about the time a large oil concession was granted Mr Mellon, who owned the Gulf Oil Company. A previous message stated:—A resolution seeking the impeachment of the Secretary of the Treasury (Mr A. W. Mellon) was introduced in the House by Mr Patman (Democrat, Texas). “On my own responsibility,” he said, “ I impeach Mr Andrew Mellon of high crimes and misdemeanours.” The House sat tense and still as Mr Patman spoke, facing the Chamber, which was crowded with representatives who had just answered a roll call. Mr Patman based his charges on the Statute of 1789 forbidding the Treasury head from engaging in commerce. He said: “Mr Mellon owns voting stock in 300 corporations with combined assets of 3,000,000,000 dollars.” He criticised the granting of tax refunds to concerns in which Mr Mellon owns shares. , He said that Mr Mellon had received profits from the __ sale of distilled whisky, and stated that Mr Mellon was the principal owner of the Aluminium Company of America. He declared that more aluminium was now used in the construction of public,:-buildings than ever before. The resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee by a viva voce vote, the House adjourning immediately afterwards without anyone answering Mr Patman’s accusations.