Evening star., 1923-12-27

tCOntlnOeu from FlTSI fdSt-D
by the committee had been given by
the witness previously. and his re-
fusal to answer was confined to ques-
tions relating to activities or his as
sociateS.
These are private transactions OF
private citizens, and are not pertinent
In this inquiry" said Mr.. Sinclair.
Among the large investors in the
Mammoth Syndicate was II. p. Whit :
ney, who was listed as holding 10000
shares. When the witness refused TO
saw what had been paid for this block.
or what disposition had been made
of the proceeds, Senator Walsh an
nounced he would ask for a subpoena
for MIR. Whitney.
Offers stock Transfer Data.
Mr.. Sinclair offered to supply prac-
tically all data required by the com
mittee bearing upon the complicated
procedure by which the Mammoth Oil
Company stock, issued to him in the
first instance, was transferred to the
Hyva Corporation and then. In large
part, was turned over to the syndl-
cate for use in making a market, only
to be repurchased by the witness
later.
II am obliged by a sense of obliga-
ton to those who are associated
with me and whom l represent. and
by a genuine conviction as to the
right of business privacy to make an
earnest protest." Mr.. Sinclair said in
a statement filed with the committee.
THE Mammoth Oil Company is the
company created to carry out the OBJ
legations of the lease. Transactions
which may have taken place in the
stock of that company did not and
cannot bear the remoteSt relation to
the procurement Of the lease. Not
one share of the stock of that COM
pany or the proceeds thereof ever
individual who represented the gov
ernment Moreover, not share or
the proceeds of share of any other
company which may have become a
Company reached nor was it intended
to reach any individual who repre-
sented the government.
Books and Papers Demanded.
Notwithstanding this. / am COM
manded to produce books, records and
papers revealing the organiza ton, fl
nancing and administration of any
such company. These are not my per-
sonal affairs alone but are the con-
Germ and vital interest of many
others. They are essentially private
in their character, and lie at the very
base of the stability of these COM
panies.
. "I am not the least unwilling to
produce these except unwillingneSs
which arises from my desire not to
disclose the legitimate private affairs
of myself and those l represent. l
cannot conceive that you will require
me to produce in a public inquiry the
evidence of those business relation
ships; those vital affairs of business !;
and in general all of those internal,
delicate and complicated operations
which constitute so large part of
any business"
Dimcalties OF Enterprises.
IT am engaged in the management
OF independent oil enterprises whose
difficulties are obvious enough with
out having those difficulties increased
by q general plowing through the pri-
vate affairs of such enterprises in a
public inquiry"
The source of the funds with which
former Secretary Fall enlarged his
New Mexico establishment had been
sought by the committee as a result
Of testimony given by previous wit
nesses in the Senate inquiry into the
leasing of the Teapot Dome oil re-
serve to Harry F. Sinclair while Mr..
Fall was at the head of the Interior
Department
Other Subjects Covered.
The statement filed by the former
secretary, who was prevented by ILL
ness from responding in person to the
committees invitation, dealt also with
various other subjects which have
been touched upon during the hear
ings.
The 100000 advanced by Mr.. Nc
Lean, the statement said, was secur-
ed by Mr. Falls personal note and
was loaned for purchase Of the Har-
ris ranch. adjoining that of the Sec
retary. The loan was for three years
at the end Of which time the publisher
was to have the right either to call the
loan or to enter into a co-partnership
with Mr.. Fall, in which the latter was
to put lands of other assets to an
equal value. The statement placed
the present pool value of the Fall
property in New Mexico at 100000.
Cash Dead Expected
Explaining references of earlier
witnesses to large sums of cash pre-
sented in payment for the Harris
IL to be a 'cash DEAL" and therefore
took the entire sum when he met the
owners to consummate the purchase.
Mr.. Fall said he never had ap-
preached Mr.. Sinclair or Edward L
Doheny for a. loan, advance or otner
assistance.
Referring to a shipment of blooded
cattle to his place by Mr.. Sinclair.
Mr.. Fall said he had insisted that the
live stock be paid for at its full
market value. Mr.. Sinelairs visist
leasing of the Wyoming reserve was
a. pure coincidence, the former sec
retary declared. Z,
The Three Rivers Cattle Company,
in which he owns 80 per cent and his
scrfbed by Mr. Fall as "holding a line
of credit Of 100000 from the Thatch-
er estate of Pueblo, Col. From the
same estate. he said, he had bor-
rowed a like sum to finance improve
ments on his home ranch, which still
Practically all his holdings irl New