The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-29
SENATOR'S CLASH OVER CALLING OF JOHN WALSH Oil Prosecutor Charges Effort Made To Dis
 credit Him DENIES INTEREST
 IN WESTERN OIL Relevancy Of Al Jennings Testimony Is Discussed
 By Committee

WASHINGTON, March 2S.-Pre- sentation of the Senate's contempt charge against Harry F. Sinclair to the District of Columbia grand jury and another spirited row between Sen ator Walsh, the oil committe prosecutor, and Senator Spencer, republican, Mis- souri, were the major happenings today in the oil matter.
 Another development was the testi- mony of F. W. Sardeson, a geologist of Minneapolis, that on the face of the reports of the oil committees experts the oil supply in Teapot Dome would exceed 1OO,OOO,OOO barrels as against the 26,000,0O0 barrels those experts had estimated.
 Half a dozen witnesses were called by for the grand jury in the Sinclair case, but the jury adjourned until Mon | day without making a report. An ex- animation is expected before the present session expires Monday.
 Atlee Pomerene and Owen J. Rob- erts, special government counsel in the oil cases, were sworn in as assistant | federal district attorneys to help pre- sent the case.
 Walsh And Spencer Clash 1 The new controversy between Sen ators Walsh and Spencer today grew out of the summoning of John Walsh, brother of the prosecutor, by Senator Spencer. Senator Walsh charged that the purpose was to ''cast some sus- picion on me-" and he reiterated his declaration when Senator Spencer en- tered a disclaimer.
 John Walsh had been subpoenaed to appear next Thursday, but was present today and asked to be heard since he had to make business trip that would consume three weeks. Senator Spencer declared he was not ready to proceed, but both Senator Walsh and his brother insisted and Walsh was placed on the stand.
 Senator Spencer put only a few Ques- | tions to develop the business connec- tions of Walsh, who asserted he was not connected directly with any oil company, but was a director and gen eral counsel for a holding company having subsidiaries operating in the oil fields of Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.
 Western Interest Denied
 When Senator Spencer asked whether his company had any interest in -Wyom- ing or in California, which have any connection with the naval leases, Walsh said he was glad that question had been put as the republican national commit tee was making an investigation of that" He then replied that his com pany had no interest at all in Wyoming or anywhere else in the northwest.
 The committee discussed lengthily the relevancy of certain testimony, par ticularly that given yesterday by Al Jennings.
 Assuming sole responsibility for call ing Jennings, Senator Walsh told Sen ator Stanfield, republican, Oregon, that he considered the testimony relevant and expected to call three or four more witnesses who would tell substantially the same stories.
 With the Senate still withholding action on the nomination of Samuel Knight of San Francisco, to be special counsel in the suits for the recovery of oil lands in the Elk Hills district of California, it was made known that the President does not intend to with draw the nomination.