Evening star., 1923-01-22
SINCLAIR INQUIRY
LACKS SF|REWORKS
Expected Clash at Senate
Committee Hearing Fails
to Develop.
TELLS OF OIL STOCK SALE
Head of Sinclair Company Declines,
However, to Delve Too Deeply
Into Hyva Corp. Affairs.
TELLS OF OIL STOCK SALE

Examination Of Harry F. Sinclair
by the Senate oil investigation COM
mittee under the subpoena issued last
week proceeded smoothly to-day and
it appeared that the expected clash
between the witness and the commit
tee would be averted.
Chairman La Toilette, who cIashed
with tho witness last week. took
| little part in tho questioning Of the
oil man, leaving the examination to
Gilbert L. Roe, the committee at
torney.
This examination had to do almost
entirely with disposition through the
Hyva corporation, Sinclair Hne'i
investment company. Of stock OF tn"
Mammoth Oil Company, the concern
operating the lease to tho Icapp'
Dome naval oil reserve obtained from
the government by Mr.. Sinclair.
Company Records Involved.
The questions were readily answered
by Mr. Sinclair from his records, as
they related almost entirely to matters
about which he had said he willingly
would testify. The issue presents the
possibility of a sensational fight. II
involves the question of whether the
committee could and would demand rec
ords of the Hyva Corporation, relating
TO matters other than the direct sub
tect of inquiry set forth in the reso-
This resolution, which was offered by
Senator La Toilette last May Is and
adopted by the Senate last June 5. di
rected an inquiry into the stocks and
prices of crude oil. gasoline and other
petroleum products in 1920, 1927 and
1922, and the causes of price changes
during those years.
The pursuing Of this inquiry led
Chairman La Toilette and members
of the committee to the questioning
of Mr.. Sinclair last week as to the
disposition through the Hyva Corpora
tion of stock of the Mammoth Oil
Company. concern organized by Mr.
Sinclair to operate the lease he OBJ
tanned from Secretary Falf of the
Interior Department TO the Teapot
Dome naval oil reserve in Wyoming.
Mr.. Sinclair expressed Willingness
to answer all questions relating to
the Hyva Corporations connection
with oil or oil stocks. but when the
committee attorney, Gilbert L. Roe.
asked for the complete records Of the
corporation he challenged the CON-
mittee's powers. and refusing u
produce the records in their entirety,
was served with the subpoena.
willing to Give Data
The subpoena directed Mr.. Sinclair
to appear at 1880 o'clock today with
copies Of the articles of incorporation.
the bylaws, the records of the board
of directors meeting and the stock
transaction book of the Hyva Cor
poration and any information show
ing in detail the exchange of $4,000
shares Of stock of the Hyva Corpora
tion for 001 800 shares of stock of
the Mammoth Oil Company. Mr. Sin
clair in statement issued when the
subpoena was served upon him said
he would willingly furnish the ar
ticles of Incorporation. the bylaws
and stock record books of the Hyva
Corporation and tell of the disposi-
tion of the Mammoth Oil Company
stock. but would not produce records
not pertaining to the subject under
inquiry.
The slight difference between what
the committee wants and what Mr.
Sinclair is willing TO produce ap-
peared when the committee met as q
point possible Of producing a fur
ther clash between the oil man and
the committee.