Evening star., 1924-02-02

swer under pain of contempt pr
squarely raised.
The former Secretary read a care
fully prepared statement in an even
and firm voice. He appeared to be
suffering from little nervous strain,
although he had been confined to his
he reached Washington from New
Orleans more than week ago.
Crowds Block Path.
1t was with some difficulty that a
way was cleared through the crowd
for Mr.. Fall to reach the witness
chair. His counsel. Levi Cooke, In a
preliminary statement told the COM
mittee that the former Secretary was
present in response to a subpoena is
sued yesterday, but that he still was
under the care of physicians and re-
fact in mind.
Chairman Lenroot then administer
ed the oath, Mr. Fall standing with
right hand upraised. Resuming his
seat across the big mahogany table
from the senatorial inauisitors. the
Mr.. Fall was called before the
committee to explain loans made to
him by Doheny and Sinclair. Just
one question was put.
DO you care to make any further
statement about the matters under
consideration by this committed"
asked Senator Walsh. democrat. Mon
tana. who has had the lead in press
ing the investigation.
Committee Room Cleared.
He then read his statement refus-
ing to answer any questions.
Clearing the hearing room Of the
crowd which jammed every available
space, the committee went into ex-
ecutive session to determine its
course in the light Of the attitude of
the former cabinet officer and SEN
ator.
After the committee had gone into ex-
ecutive session. Mr.. Fail was brought
out OF the ante-room where he had been
awaiting the decision. He was resting
heavily upon the arms OF two men
who virtually carried him down the
kins of West Virginia. where a
lounge was found for him. He SEEM
ed dazed and very weak.
VIII Remove Doubt. g..
Its authority to continue the in
by Mr.. Fall the committee decided
to ask the Senate on Monday to re-
move all doubt by readopting the
original resolution authorizing the
inquiry. The committee then ad-
again will demand Falls appearance.
Text Of Statement.
Mr.. Fall read this prepared state
ment:
II decline to answer the questions
for the following reasons and on the
following grounds:
THE committee Is conducting an in
vestgation under Senate resolution 282.
agreed to April q. 1922. in the 9th
agreed to May Is, 1922, in the same
Congress and further by virtue Of Sem
ate resolution 434, agreed to by the
Senate on February 5, 1929. during the
same Congress, and do not consider
that. acting under those resolutions or
under the aforementioned resolution,
which authorizes the committee to sit
after the expiration OF the 67th Con-
gress, until the assembling Of the 68th
Congress and until otherwise ordered by
the Senate this committee has any
authority to conduct the investigation
now attempted to be conducted by he
addressing of this question to me-"
L decline to answer on the further
ground that on January z. 1924, Sena-
tor Caraway introduced in the SEN
ate of the United States. in this Con-
gress, Senate joint resolution 81. at
tempting to deal with the leases Of
the Mammoth Oil Company; that that
resolution was referred to this COM
mittee, and In due course the Senate
discharged this committee as of Janu-
ary "a, 1924. and the Senate there
after, on January 81, 1924, agreed to
that resolution and completed its con-
sideration thereof, the resolution be-
ing SO amended as to deal in the Sem
ate. in q plenary way, with the leases
upon naval oil reserves which were
before this committee under Senate
resolution 2s2 and Senate resolution
further authority to deal with Senate
joint resolution 81, since 1t has been
discharged by the Senate and the
Senate itself has finally acted upon
the resolution.
Reviews Teapot Lease.
"I decline to answer on the further
ground that Senate joint resolution
"a as passed unanimously by the
Senate recites that 1t appears from
evidence taken by this committee
that certain lease of naval reserve
No. 3 in tho state of Wyoming. bear
ing date April z. 1922, made in form
by the government OF the United
States through myself. Albert b
Edwin DENLY. Secretary of the Navy.
as lessor. and certain lease OF naval
reserve No. / in the state Of Cali
fornia, bearing date December IL.
1922, made In form by the govern
nient OF the United States through
myself, Albert B. Fail. Secretary Of
the 1ntsrtors and Edwin Denbys