The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-16
OIL PR0BERS
T0QUIT PROBE
FOR TEN DAYS
Approve Counsel Selected By
President Coolidge Before
Taking Recess
RUMORS DISCREDITED
RUMORS DISCREDITED
Before Adjourning Commit
tee Hears RefutatiOn of
Marion Star RumOrs

Washington, Feb. 16.-(By the A.
P)-The senate oil committee after
developing sensations in startling
rapidity for a month past has taken
a Today recess.
Before adjourning last night it re-
ceived testimony discrediting rumors
about the sale of President Hard
ing's Marion Star which had been
given circulation by Frank A. Van
derlip.
Also it received word from Otto
Kahn and B. F. Yoakum that they
had no knowledge of any one million
oil slush fund sent to Washington
for distribution by public officials
and others.
The committee approved the NOM
ination of special government coun
sci in the oils lease cases-Atlee
Pomerene Of Canton, Ohio, and Owen
J. Roberts of Philadelphia. Mr.. Ro-
berts was appointed in place of Silas
H. Strawn of Chicago, whose nomin-
alton was withdrawn Thursday by
President Coolidge.
The nominations will be called up
soon in the senate where Senator
Dill, Democrat, Washington, will con-
tinue the fight on Mr.. Pomerene
| which he started in the committee.
Counsel Proceed
| Meanwhile the counsel will proceed
with study of the facts so as to
! speed the institution of injunction
proceedings to stop extraction of oil
! from the naval reserves-the first
steps in the contemplated litigation
| for annulment of the Fall leases.
| Announcement of the adjournment mt
came after the Legislative session
which gave a favorable vote was
given to- the special counsel and it
waststated that the recess was made
necessary among other reasons by
the enforced absence from Washing
ton of Senator Walsh, Democrat
| Montana.
| Accountants at Work
vestigators will 60 forward with their
work and the accountants Of the
| Federal Trade Commission will be
! able to conclude their examination
of the books of some of the brokers
which have been subpoenaed by the
committee with the view to deter
mining whether there were other
operations in oil stocks by public Of
ficials at or after the time the leases
were made.
Although the committee made rapid
progress this week in clearing up its
witness list many persons remain to
be heard and among them is Edward
B. Mclean, publisher of the Wash
ington Post, who has been called
from Palm Beach for question with
respect to the slush fund report and
also the checks for 100000 which
he has testified were returned to
him uncashed by. Albert B. Fall.
Harry F. Sinclair, who is now re-
turning from Europe, may be one of
the first witnesses after the recess
The committee desired to question
him particularly regarding the loan
of $4,000 which his personal attor-
ney, j. w. Zevely has testified he
made to Fall within three months
after he had retired from the cab
met.
To Ask About Visit
Moreover it desires to interrogate
him further about circumstances sur
rounding the lease of Teapot Dome
and conferences which he had with
Fall at the former secretary's New
Mexico ranch. ! Other subjects
which the committee want to take uI
with him are the conditions under
which he agreed to pay $1,00O,0O0 tc
the Pioneer and Belgo Oil Compan.
les for their claims in the Teapot
Reserve and the contract for the
payment Of another $1,O0O,OOO to j
Leo Stack, Denver oil operator
and Frederick G. Bonfils, publishe,
of the Denver Post. -
Other witnesses for whom sub
poenas have been issued include Johr
7. King, former Republican nationa
committeeman from Connecticut ane
others connected with the associat ior
for the protection of American right:
in Mexico. The committee wishe.
to examine the books of this ,organi
zation with respect, to expenditure,
which the committee has information
were madelin Washington.