New Britain herald., 1924-03-24

can national campaign, ;" he added, and was excused. Conn. Man Called
 The committee then called ". W. Tarbeil of Bethel, Conn.,, who said he was born in the oil business"
 'I mean my father was in it." he said, and I've followed it ever since ] was IS years old"
 He had drilled wells. he said, in most Of the oil states and was associ- ated with the Pure Oil company un- til 1912.
 Tarbeil Tesfiies
 Tarbell was questioned by Senator Walsh about an article he wrote about Teapot Dome, saying the lease to Sim clair was not in the public interest" The article pointed out that no cash bonus was given in the lease, and said that the terms 'astonish the oil ex- pert" by the apparent great size of the royalty provided. This, it was ar gued restricted production.
 Sinciair's pipe line contract, sup piementary to the Teapot Dome lease itself. Tarbell said, had lot of sure money in it." regardless Of what came out of the dome. ,-
 They could put pipe line to the Gulf of Mexico out Of this" he said. after reading the terms of the lease, "and still make good thing out Of it."
 He declared that supposedly inno- cent clauses" gave Sinclair "a per TetuaI contract 10 carry all of the government royalty o.l from Wyom- ing
 There va. "a good deal of soreness among representatives of oil eompan- ies." the witness said, over the lease of Teapot Dome. He declared dog en oil companies would have bid on the Wyoming reserve and the govern ment would have gotten large sum right at the start" for the lease If there had been open competition.
 Protection Explained
 Senator Kendrick, democrat, Wyoming. asked about the Sd per cent royalty provisions in the Teapot Dome contract.
 "The Mammoth company has it. self protected" Tarbell replied. The 80 per cent is for 1000 barrel well. Those fellows will never produce that unless they shoot the sands, and you can't make them do 1t under the con- tract. The government will never get but a one-siXth contract"
 Questioned by Senator Spencer, re. publican, Missouri. TarbelI said he never had any personal knowledge Of the Teapot Dome oil structure.
 "I studied the lease and contracts voluntarily" he said, "after my st- tention was called to 1t two years ago, but without any idea of coming before the committee"
 The witness gave it as his opinion that there would have been no sub stantial drainage from the Teapot dome if the oil had been left in the ground.
 Turned Down By A. P.
 Tarbell said that after getting in- terested in the Teapot lease he took an interview to the Associated Press in New York. but they turned 1t down and he took it to the New York Times. Senator Kendrick asked why the Associated Press did not use his interview.
 "They said they had too many friends on both sides" Tarbcli assert Ted. That was the general manager in the New York office. l just went over there 10 get that told him 1t might be on record some time"
 Declines To Answer
 Clarence c. Chase, collector Of cus- toms at Fl Psso and son-in-law of ex-secretary Fall was called. "I decline respectfully 10 answer any questions on the ground that my testimony might incriminate me-" Chase cut in to Senator Walsh's first question.
 "De you intend to make that an. swsr to any question:"
 "T do."
 You are excused"
 Chairman Ladd read into the record a telegram from E. l.. Doheny de- ciaring 'as utterly devoid of truth the testimony Of Henry woodhouse of New York, that Doheny's companies had entered into negotiations with British companies for the delivery of oil from the California naval oil re- serve.
 After approving the recommends ton that Harry F. Sinclair be cited for contempt, the committee adjourn cd until tomorrow.