Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-03-13

s having said at the meeting:
oned out. You let him have his
will work out all right"
? In answer t. question by Attorney
General W. D. Rankin: Ibid un-
derstand you to say you gained the
impression that administration forces
would use the oil legislation to force
through the tax commission at the
special session." Mr.. Covert replied:
That was my impression"
c. m. Bair on Stand.
Besides Mr.. Covert, who was the
principal witness at the Saturday hear
ing. c. NJ. Bair, banker and sheepman
OF Billings was examined, but he threw
no light upon the matter as he said he
had arrived at the meeting just q
Thomas Arthur, who is charged with
making the statement regarding the
trading OF votes, was leaving the room.
Mr. Covert, after relating the inci-
dents of the call for the meeting and
of it's organization, said that Mr. Ar
thur took the floor for the purpose Of
explaining the grievances Of the oil in
terests in connection with the stand the
people of Billings and the Yellowstone
county delegation had taken on the oil
tax measure
"Did you hear him say: I'm tell you
how we did it, asked the attorney
general, who then quoted the remainder
OF the remark regarding the delivery
of five votes which 4 previous witness
had accredited to Arthur.
Well, generally speaking. that re-
mark. directly or indirectly, came
much later replied Covert
FEELING Between rhem.
''You consider the Montana Devsl-
opment association views contrary to
the views of the oil men!" was the
next query from the attorney general
Il did not know the exact status but
as there was feeling between them I
thought 1t best to clear up that feel
ing" was the reply.
On one side was the Montana De-
velopment association saying they had
done nothing to influence oil legislation
and on the other hand the others in
timated they had done something along
that line.
''selvidge made the statement that
4 the oil interests had kept their fin
gers out of the pie SO far as the tax
was concerned they would
have had no trouble; that they got the
egislation through that they wanted
" keeping out. Arthur and Collins
.ontended the league had not kept Que
Il the pie.
I'm the discussion Arthur began to
make some boasting remarks abous
that he could do in the senate in refer
nee to votes and about some senator
n reference to some townships that
we're traded back and forth"
Cannot Recall Name.
do you remember the name Of
his senator?" the attorney general
sked and Covert replied that he did
ot remember the name but thought
be county was Golden Valley.
AS near as you recall what did
.rthur say in reference to the delivery
votes?" was the next question.
Il could not repeat the conversa-
on" the witness replied. "a man
ould have to be q human dictagraph
, do that as most Of the time there
ould be two or three talking / tried
, keep them orderly and had some
ling more to do than keep track Of
Give the statement as best you can.
ith reference to votes in the senate"
r. Rankin directed.
There was something said about
We votes in tho senate and nine votes
SuC houSSs VAl AOA lu0 LAG VA AA1C
,uld not say what he was going to
, with them. took 1t Tom was boast
& about what he could do and dis
lssing what could be done In tho
,ecial session"
Talking Of Future.
"Was anything said about Arthur
wing certain votes he could exchange
r other votes?"
'Tn this talk about five and nine
ties took 1t that il this matter came
, In the future he could exchange"
overt replied.
.'You did not get the impression then
referred to what had taken place
t to what might happen, asked Mr..
ankin.
THAT was my idea," was the answer,
II looked upon it as clear cut casa
boasting. Tom is fluent talker
d will talk upon any subject"
II can't make myself believe anyone
* it very seriously. In fact we had
other meeting which lasted from 4
g o'clock and the matter was rs-
red to jokingly. Someone remarked
it Tom had lost his head q little but
one took it seriously"
Senator Slattery then took mp tho
animation Of the witness, particular 4,
with referSace to the Statements
(osntinssd sa 1ags Daasssn
4 Ell