Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-22
SENATORS PAY TRIBUTE
TO SECRETARY LANE
Praise His Course in Oil Lands Con.
trovevsy and as Capable
Official.
THOMAS DIscLAIMs ATTACK
Says Reference in Recent Speech to
Failure OF Secretary of Interior to
Resent Criticism From Another
Department Not Personal.
IBv Associated prc.sI

,"ASHlNGFON, September 2I.--Ac-
ZION OF Secretary Lane in the Cali
fornia oil land controversy. criticized
recently by Senator Thomas. OF Colo
zoo was given warm approval in the
while Mr. Thomas disclaimcd intending
20 attack" the secretary and joined
~. IN praise OF his personal integrity.
In replying to Senator Thomas's adj
Myers, Of Montana. Democrat. chairman
OF the Senate Public Lands Committee.
ana Senator Ashurst. Of Arizona, Demo-
graf. warmly commended Secretary
lanes course In the oil! dispute. They
LOOK sharp issue with Senator Thomas
IN crlticlzing Mr. Lane for not respond
,nS 70 statements made by Francis ].
kearfui, assistant encouragement in
charge OF the oil land litigation. against
Denying intent Ito attack" Secrc-
tary Lane. Senator Thomas declared his
ess,tictsm lay principally in charging
croachinent upon his official preroga
tive In the oil dispute and had failed
70 resent or notice the attack OF MIR.
Kearful.
APPARENTLY DEADLOCKED
In to-day's discussion. various ica-
lures OF the oil controversy were dis
sussed. Including tho pending il-land
ueVeiopnlent legislation. The latter il
apparently deadlockcd in conference
Senator Myers declared. because Of the
dispute between Secretary Lane and
Secretary Daniels and Attorney Cen
erai Gregory regarding the policy 10
oe followed regarding claimants and
operators in the California naval re-
Lane has recommended patents. which
the Department of Justice, following
ssseretary Daniels plans for conserv-
suspended by litigation.
An attack in the Senate recently
upon Secretary. Lane by Senator
with the California oil-lands contro-
Versy. was denounced unjust and
unwarranted to-day by Senator Myers
81 Montana, chairman OF the Public
Lands Committee Senator Thomas
protesting against delay in final action
on the oil Land leasing bin, criticized
Daniels and Attorney -Gencra! Gregory,
\ and asserted tina, trouble would have
been avoided II MIR. Lane actually ran
tho interior department.
Senator Myers declared that Score
tary Lane not only had acted properly
IN the oil lands master. but had con-
quoted his department generally with
the utmost fidelity and efficiency In the
public interest. He said tho secretary
had no power 10 prevent suits brought
by the Department OF Justice to hold
up patents nc had proposed To issue to
operators on the California nava! re-
serve.
Criticism of Secretary Lane before
the House Public Lands Committee by
y. y
General. Senator Myers said. was out
rageous and scurrilous,'' and should
not have been dignited with notice by
Senator Thomas.
7THoHAS DECLARES HIS
ATTACK NOT PERSONAL
Senator Thomas. conccding that he
said Mr. Lane was secretary In name
only. reAilirmcd his high regard for
the secretary and declared he had not
intended the statement ~ personal
attack. He referred TO the testimony
Of Mr.. Kearful as an unprecedented
attack" made By one department Of
the government on the head of another
and declared that IL must be assumed
that IN making those statements, ME-
keArful vas speaking for the Attor-
ney-General
Il know a number outside the Sen
stc have construed my remarks as an
attack on the secretary Of tue inte-
rior." he concluded.
capable official in the government to-
day than Franklin Is. Lane. and did
:, not charge him cannot charge him
with abandoning the duties OF ms OF
fee. He has not done so, VIVA. sa.a
was that other heads OF departments
have invaded some OF his prerosati'es
and he had not protested.
senator Ashurst, OF Arizona, Demo
Graf, ended the debate with nigh praise
] az Secretary Lane. whom he cominehu-
cd for not answering the "haZy, uhsup-
norted and slandcrouS statements ol
NY kearful. ,
Secretary Lane needs no defense,
said Mr.. Ashurs, He has the CON
ddence OF all ht-thinkins people not
aniv because of his stalwart integrity,
hut because Of his remaIkaoiy WIZ
conception OF problems confronting our
country wneTH pf0 wilson who has
ereater conception of the obligations
and duties OF public men.