Evening star., 1924-03-23

serge ant AT arms Imprisonment
until he was ready to answer the
questions.
Should the latter course be fol-
lowed. Senator Walsh said, Sinclair
probably could obtain liberty on a
writ of error and then the case would
have to be fought out in the courts.
The crowd which packed the big
marble hearing room into which the
oil committee has moved came expect
ing thrills and was not disappointed.
Aside from the dramatic refusal of
Sinclair to answer questions. and the
testimony of Hays, there We're ire
uuenI wrangleS among the members
of the committee and sharp pas
sage between Senator Walsh and
.*~f;..: w. Little II of counsel for
Sinclair, at the conclusion of which
Chairman Ladd Informed Littleton
that it was his opinion that counsel
went beyond his rights. both yester-
day and today. in his statements"
Reads Prepared Statement.
Having lost determined fight to
keep of tne witness stand, Sinclair
tuitIee without being sworn, as the
oath had been administered before.
He produced a written statement and
proceeded to read it. He then leaned
back in his chair to await the pleas
Dire Of the committee.
Senator Walsh Immediately began
the questioning, asking about the
contract which Sinclair entered into
with J. L . Stack, Denver oil opera
tor. and Frederick q. Bonfils. pub
Usher OF the Denver Post relating
to the purchase of claims" in Teapot
Dome.
The New York oil magnate con-
farred hastily. with Mr.. Littieton. who
sat besid him, and then said:
i decline TO answer on advice OF
counsel and on the same grounds"
In their order Senator Walsh pro-
bounded questions on the following
subjects and received the same an
$wer
The contract between the Nam
and Belgo oil Companies by which
the first named bought out the
claims of the last named in Teapot
Dome.
Asked About Bond Loan.
G. D. Wahlberg's testimony that
Sinclair had loaned some bonds. to
John c Shaffer,st Testimony. that
there had been an agreement betw cen
Sinclair and Albert. 3: Fall by whi2h
Shaffer was to receive certain por-
tior of Teapot Dome.
Where Sinclair first met Fall.
The transfer of 100000 from Sim
clairs account in Il New York bank
to a Washington bank and its re-
transfer to another New York bank.
\ story that Sinclair had contrib
uted $1,000 shares OF stock to wipe
out the deficit OF the republican na-
tional committee.
Senator Walsh then asked Sinclair
# he was ready TO deliver TO the conf
mittee the books of the Hyva Cor
porations, his personal corporation,
and he announced that he declined to
do so ION advice of counsel and on
the same grounds.
Sen"tor Dill. democrat, Washington,
asked about the services of Archie
Roosevelt to the Sine air companies,
and Senator Adams. democrat, Colo
rado. asked as to the correctness OF
the oil magnates previous testimony
that neither he nor any of his COM
panies had given or loaned anything
to Fall but Sinclair declined to an
swer and was excused.
Hays Called TO Stand.
There was a general stir in the
crowd and a craning Of necks as VIII
H Hays was called. Ee moved from
out of the crowd at one side of the
room. stood while the oath was ad-
ministered. and then identified him
self as an attorney at law and one
time chairman of the republican ma
tional committee.
Through his examination the for
mer Postmaster General was cool and
collected and frequently emphasized
the table in front Of him With the
torefinger of his right hand.
Asked to tell the committee about
u statement before another Senate
committee LtlsiA ldAH pOLhN WI 'h%
Sinclair Consolidated Oil Company
had been delivered to him to wipe out
the republican committee deficit. Hays
said:
cause it is not. true. That story is
as false in content as ii is libelous
in purpose Really. it isn't true.
Weli-that is the fact about it"
What, were you going to say"
asked Senator Walsh.
Il think that is all. | cannot tell
about that. because it is not So"
Asked About Article.
Senator Walsh then turned to a
statement published Friday in the
New York Times which said it was
understood that Hays would tell the
committee the stock figured in meet
ing the deficit, and Hays said he did
not know the source Of that story.
Asked if he would be surprised If
lhe information came from his of.
flee, Hays said he would and that it
could not have been obtained from
anybody who pretended to know the
facts because it is not true" ts-
After Hays had identified Joseph
O'Neill of his New York office staff,
Senator Walsh asked if he would be
surprised to know O'Neill had told
the story to the Times.
We'll, he could not have told it
with any knowledge of the facts"
Hays said, because there aren't any
such facts"
Senator Wash then asked Hays to
tell what Sinclair did have to do with
making up the deficit of the repub-
lican committee. The former Post
master General said he assumed the
committee would consider a general
discussion of campaign contributions
TO be irrelevant as he would and he
then started long discussion on the
subject.
Senator Stanfield, Oregon, interpos-
ed an objection to the original QueS-
tion as irrelevant, but his motion to-
exclude it was voted down, to 4.
Does Not Have Records.
The former national committee
chairman reminded the committee
that he had been disassociated lIom
did not have. the records. Senator
Wash pressed the question.
MY information u.s." Hays said,
that the total amount in 1918, 1919
and 1920 campaigns. including the
deficit that could possibly have been
given by Mr.. Sinclair. was not over
$4,000.
How much was given to make up
the deficit?" asked Senator Walsh.
II do not know" Hays responded.
Il just do not know. 1 do not
know"
Senator Walsh was persistent, and
Hays explained that the members of
The national committee were carry
ing a heavy burden in the deficit, and
that. although he was out of the COM
mittee, he had assisted in trying to
make it up.
Il asked Mr.. Sinclair and others to
contribute" he said, after repeated
questioning. "AS / recollect the Sin
clair matter. he told me he would be
= responsible for a maximum of $4,000,
and 1 provided $4,000. which he fur
nished. Now. I think that $4,000
went as part payment. on a note at
the Empire Trust Company. I think