The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-01-28
COOLIDGE ACTS
TO PROSECUTE
CASES FOR j. S.
President to Select Democrat
and Republican Lawyers
To Take Charge
S EN- TE IN DEBAT T E
Consideration of Resolutions
on Cancellation To Be
Discussed

DlSCUSSCU
Washington, Jan. 2S.-It was
indicated to-day that former In
terror Secretary Fall probably
will not be able to testify tOmor-
row before the senate oil COM
mittee. Although it was said
there had been no definite
change in his conditions the ply
sicians regularly attending him
called in several others and plans
were made for issuance of
statement later regarding his
Illness.
Washington, Jan. %. (By the A.
P.)-Both the executive and legisla-
tive branches of the government NOV
ed today toward the common end of
seeking annulment Of the naval oil
reserve leases.
While President Coolidge was en-
deavoring to select two nationally
known lawyers to take charge Of the
prosecution of suits, civil and crimi-
nal, the whole subject came up for
discussion on the floor Of the sem
ate.
Before the President announced at
midnight Saturday the administra-
tion's determination to act at once,
Senator Walsh, Democrat, Montana,
who has been foremost in pressing
the. senate oil inquiry had prepared
and the investigating committee has
endorsed in principle a resolution au-
thorizing the executive to act and di-
recting him to employ special coun-
sci to take charge of,-the investiga-
tion.
This resolution is similar to one
introduced Saturday by Rep. Gar
rett, Democratic leader in the house,
which will be called upon to act on
the Walsh resolution if it is adopted
by the senate. Mr.. Garrett and 9TH
er leaders anticipated little or no
opposition to the resolution.
The investigating committee sus-
pended it's inquiry for the day be-
cause of the senate discussion.
Fall Said Ill
Albert B. Fall, who as Secretary
of the Interior, signed tho leases to
Harry +. Sinclair and f. L. Dohney
interests and Thomas Johnson, fcre-
man of his ranch at Three Rivers,
New Mexico, meanwhile here are
here for examination by the senate
committee with reference to various
financial transactions mentioned in
the testimony last week of Dohley,
Archie Roosevelt, D. G. Wahlberg,
Slnclair's former secretary, and J.
w. Zevely, his personal counsel. Some
doubt was felt whether Fall would
be able to appear tomorrow as plan
ned. since his physicians said it,
would be practically impossible for
him to go before the committee today.
He has been confined to the home Of
Zevely here since his arrival from
New Orleans last week.
The Walsh substitute for the Car
raway resolution which was made !
public last night charges that the
Sinclair Teapot Dome lease was exc
cuted without authority "under cir
cumstances indicating fraud and cor
ruption." Senate action would be !
confined to the Teapot Dome trans
action at this time, it was explain
ed, because of the conditional offer
by Dohney through his counsel to
reconvey to the government the lease
awarded to his company on the Cali
fornia reserve.
president's Statemanf
When it was announced SATURDAY.
night that President Coolidge would
seek counsel frbm both the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties for
possible criminal prosecutions, the
White House made the following
formal announcements:
ut is not for the president to de-
termine criminal guilt or render
Judgment in several causes. That is
the function of the courts. 1t is not
Tor him to PREJUDICE. shall do nei-
ther But when facts are revealed
TO me that require action for the
purpose of insuring the. enforcement
OF either civil or criminal liability,
such action will be taken. That is
the province of the executive.
Acting under my direction, the de-
partment of justice mas been obser-
wing the. course of the evidence
which has been revealed at the hear
lngs conducted by the senatorial
committee investigating certainI oil
leases made on na3al reserves, which
believe warrants action for the
purpose of enforcing the law and
protecting the rights of the public.
This is confirmed by reports made
to me from the committee. l.
Will Prosecute
"If there has been any crime it
must be, prosecuted. If there has
been any property Of the United
States illegally transferred or leased
it must be recovered.
II feel the public is entitled to
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