Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-22
SENATORS PAY TRIBUTE
TO SECRETARY LANE
Praise His Course In Oil Lands Con.
trovcrsy and as Capable
Official.
THOMAS DIsCLAlMs "ArTACx"
Says Reference in Recent Speech to
Failure OF Secretary OF Interior to
Resent Criticism From Another
Department Not Personal.
fBy Ass,ci.,.ipressl

WASHINGTON. Septefnber ol--Ac-
ZION OF Secretary Lane In the Cali
tornla oil land controversy. criticized
recently by Senator Thomas. OF Colo
rado' was Z wen warm approval In the
senate to-day by several senator's,
while Mr. Thomas disclaimcd intending
70 attack the secretary and Joined
IN praise OF his personal integrity,
ABILITY and official career,
IN replying TO Senator Thomas's ad-
dress of a few days ago. Senator
Myers. Of Montana. Democrat chairman
OF me senate Public Lands Committee,
ana ann Senator Ashurst. of Arizona. Demo-
GIat, warmly commended Secretary
Lane course in the oil dispute. They
LOOK sharp issue with Senator Thomas
IN critic'zing Mr.. Lane for not respond
,ns 10 statementa made by Francis j.
hcartui, assistant encouragement in
charge OF the oil land litigation. against
DENYING intcn, ito attack" Score
tary Lane. Senator TfGmal declared his
criticisn lay principally In charging
croacnment upon his official preroga-
tive In the oil dispute and had failed
70 resent or notice the attack of Mr..
Rcarful.
OIL-LASD LEGISLATION
APPARENTLY DEADLOCKED
{ In to-day's discussion various fea-
lures OF the OIL controversy were dis
Geyslo,, including The bending ol-lanh
apparently deadlocked in conference.
senator Myers declared. because OF tn.
dispute between Secretary Lane and
secretary Daniels and Attorney-Gen-
eral Gregory regarding The policy to
be followed regarding claimants and
operators in the California naval re-
Lane has recommended patents. which
the Department OF Justice. following
E; ns ,bs y, Daniels plans for eonserv-
suspended b. litigation.
An attack in the senate recently
upon Secretary Lane by senator
F,f '1lx IL.
with the California o!llands contro-
NersH. was denounced as unjust and
unwarranted to-day by Senator Myers.
Of Montana. chairman Of the Public
Lands Committee. Senator Thomas.
protesting against delay in final action
on the oil Land leasing bill. criticized
Daniels and Attorncy-General Gregory.
ana asserted that trouble would Lave
oeen avoided II MIR. Lane actually ran
the Interior department
Senator Myers declared that Score.
tary Lane not only had acted properly
In the oil lands matter, but had con-
Quoted his department generally with
inc utmost hde!ity and efficiency in the
publc interest. lie said the secretary
mad no power to prevent suits brought
by the Department Of Justice To hold
up patents he had proposed TO issue to
operators on the California naval re-
ecrvc.
Criticism of Secretary Lane before
tho House Public Lands Committee by
Francis j. kcarfui, Assistant Attorney
General. Senator Myers said. was out
rageous and scurrilous." and should
not have been dignitcd with notice by
Senator Thomas.
THOMAS DECLARES HIS
ATTACK NOT Personal
Senator Thomas. conceding that he
said Mir. Lane was secretary III name
only, rcai!rined hts high regard ior
the secretary and declared he had not
intended the statement AS Il personal
attack. He referred TO the testimony
Of Mr. kearful as an unprecedented
the government on the head Of another.
and declared that it must be assumed
that IN making those statements. Mr..
kearful was speaking for the Attor-
ney-Generai.
= know number outside the SEN
ate have construed my remarks as an
attack on the secretary OF the Inte-
rior." he concluded.
There Is no more upright. honest.
capable official in the government to-
day than Franklin h. Lane. and did
not charge him cannot charge him
with abandoning the duties OK ms OF.
fee lie has not done so. what L SAID
was that other heads Of departments
have invaded some o; his preroSat!HeS
and he had not protested.
Senator Ashurst, OF Arizona, Demo
crat. ended the debate with high praise
of Secretary Lane, whom ne commend
cd for not answering me nag, unS
ported and slanderuus statements oi
:secre,ary Lane needs no defense.
said Mr. .,shurst. NE has the con-
fidence OF ali right-thinking people. nor
Cnly because OF his stalwart integrity,
hut because of his remarkably wide
conception Of problems confronting our
eomntry There probably Is one man.
and only Woodrow Wilson, who has a
greater conception OF the opliGaliohs
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