Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-19
SENATE CONF |R|NS
/. POMERE|VE;; ACTION
ON AIDE DEFERRED
Coolidge's Choice Wins Place
as Oil Probe Counsel After
i1eated Debate Led by
Walsh

WASHINGTON, Feb II. - over
me vigorous opposition of Senator
Walsh, Democrat, Montana, the sem
ate confirmed last night nomina-
ton of Atlee Pomerene. a former sem
Il ator of Ohio, to be a special govern
ment counsel N the oil lease cases.
The vote was 50 to 10.
Consideration of the nomination of
Owen j. Roberts, of Philadelphia, to
be Mr.. Pomerene's associate, was de-
ferred until Monday, but confirma-
ton was forecast.
Approval of the nomination of Mr..
Pomerene came after more than six
hours of debate. For. nearly two
hours the senate Fought over the
question of whether the nominations
should be considered in executive
session as is the usual custom, then
it voted, 50 to 2, to discuss them in
the open.
Senators Tess. of Ohio, and Nor
beck, South Dakota, Republicans.
voted in the negative.
The Roll Call
The roll call on Mr.. Pomerene's
appointment follows:
Yeas, Republicans: Borah, Bran
degee. Bursum, Cameron, Capper,
Couzens, Curtis, Dale, Edge, Ernst,
Tess, Gooding, Hale, Harreld, Howell,
Jones of Washington; Keyes, Len
root, Lodge. Mckinley, McNary,
Moses, Norbeck, Pepper, Phipps,
Reed, of Pennsylvania; Smoot, Spen-
Ger, Wadsworth. Warren, Watson,
Weller and WiIlis-34.
Democrats: Bayard Broussard,
Bruee Caraway, Dial, Fletcher,
George, Glass, Harrison, Helm,
Jones, of New Mexico Hendricks,
King, Mcclellan, Mayfield, Overman,
Pittman, Ransdell. Reed Of Missouri;
Robinson, Shields, Stephens, Swan
son, Trammell and Walsh, of Massa-
chusetts-25. Total. SO.
Nays, Republicans Brookhart,
Frazer, Lafoliette and Norris.
Democrats: Adams, Ashurst, Dill,
Sheppard Stanley, Walsh, of Mon
tana, and Wheeler.
Farmer-Labor: Johnson and Ship
stead Total, 10.
Walsh Motion Passes
Before the senate met, the house
without discussion or q record vote,
adopted the Walsh resolution direct;
ing the proceedings be instituted for
the recovery of sections 16 and sc
within the confines of naval reserve
No. l in California, now operated by
- the Standard Oil company under
grant from the state.
These were the only concrete de-
= velopments today in the oil matter.
The oil committee is in recess until
February %, and Chairman Lenroot
said no Subpoenas for additional wit
nesses would be issued in the mean
. time. Government auditors will con-
tinue their work however, on the
books of stock brokerage firms in
an effort to determine whether gov
eminent officials traded in oil stocks
about the time of or subsequent to
4 the Fall oil leases.
There was a sharp controversy in
the senate both in oRen and eXecu-
tive session over the proposition as
to whether the nominations of spe-
/ cial counsel should be considered in
open executive session, but once that
issue had been settled, the debate pro-
ceeded with little Of the fervor that
usually characteriZeS senate discus
sion.
President Coolidge was assaileG
from both the Republican and Demo-
cratic sides of the chamber for his
failure to consult beforehand with
Senator Walsh regarding the counsel
he selected, and there were sugges-
lions that he also should have con-
ferred with Senators Lafollette, of
Wisconsin, leader of the Republican
Insurgents, and Kendrick, Democrat.
Wyoming, pioneers in the oil inveS-
ti2ation.
Lack of Ability Charged
In the course of this discussion in
u tilAate details of the manner of the
selection of both Mr.. Pomerene and
MIR. Roberts were given to the SEN
ate by Senators Walsh, Pepper. Re-
publican, Pennsylvania, who pro.
posed Mr. Roberts, and Curtis, of
Kansas, the assistant Republican
leader.
Practically the only objection
raised to Mr. Pomereue was that he
lacked experience and ability 10
handle the cases at issue. All sen.
ators attested to his honesty and
integrity, his courage and fidelity,
while a number of senators. Re.
publicans as well as Democrats, con.
tended that he had ample ability and
the necessary experience to handle
the cases.
Senator Walsh, who was praised
on all sides as the one man who had
made possible the disclosures in the
oil inquiry, told the senate there
were two qualifications necessary in
special counsel-honesty and capa
bility.
Senator Pomerene answers the
first" he declared NO one ques
tons his honesty. No one dares tc
question ii.
y 81 am opposed to Senator Pome
rene because | don't think he has
had the experience or training as q
lawyer to fit him for this tremend
y 4 of 7 -
say that not one OF the sc senators
In this chamber, if this property
worth millions. had been taken awaN
from him. would select Senator
Pomerene to represent him. 1 an
certain the president of the United
States would not"
Practice Not Familiar
Senator Walsh said Mr.. Pomerent
had praCtced only in his home
town of Canton aud adioinins
erW,tles ana had never tried a case
civil or criminal in a federal court
re added chat at least one Of gov
era...eht counsel should he thorough
" experienced in public lang laws
hat that both of counsel had told
them. the oilcommittee. that the leca
phases of the public land question
were "a sealed book TO them"
IF 1t were not for tbs politica
considerations involved, Senator
Walsh declared. Il cannot see how
the president of the United State.
could have appointed Senator Pom
creme"
Noicing his opposition to Mr. Rob
erts, Senator Walsh declared tina
what was needed was a lawyer o
outstanding reputation and that We
not q single member OF the oil con,
mittee ever had heard OF Mr.. Rob
erts until his appointment was made
Chairman Lcuroct. VI the oil com