Evening star., 1924-04-24
TELLS OF WHEELER
LAND CASE INQUIRY
Commissioner Spry Says Senator
Did Not Appear to Act
as Attorney.
SOUGHT ONLY SQUARE DEAL
Such Action Common for Senators.
Committee Told.

Further direct testimony bearing on
the activities here OF Senator Wheeler
cases was heard today by the special
Senate committee investigating the
senator's indictment on a charge of
receiving moeny for appearing before
the Interior Department in such
cases.
Commissioner Spry of the depart
ments general land Office testified
that Mr.. Wheeler came to his office
on one occa sion, but told him he only
was interested in seeing that Gordon
Campbell his client in litigation in
the Montana courts, got square
deal from the federal government in
regard to his land interests.
Action Not Unusual.
The Commissioner added that the
senator had talked to him only as any
other member of the Senate or House
might have done for a constituent.
Asked directly whether Mr.. Wheeler
had interested himself in any con-
troversy before the department, he re-
piled that he did not recall any con-
been interested in"
The only other witness at today's
committee session, William G.. Feely,
a Washington lawyer, testified that
he had handled CampbelIs land mat
ters before the Interior Department
and that Senator Wheeler had "abso-
lutely nothing" 10 do with them.
No date for the next meeting was
fixed but Chairman Borah expects
n ri n n s0rN
bers of the grand jury which returned
the indictment against Senator
Wheeler at Great Falls, Mont.
Campbell Lawyer Called.
William &. Feely, Washington at
torney for Gordon Campbell, the Mon
tana oil operator for whom Wheeler
is accused of acting in federal land
matters. was called s the first wit
ness. He testified that under a verbal
contract made with Campbell in March,
1928, he represented Campbell in land
but said he had never had any con-
sultation with Senator Wheeler or his
firm on these matters.
Senator Wheeler had absolutely
nothing to do with it," the witness
said
Feely said he formerly was in the
Interior Department and met Camp
bell through Edwin S. Booth, at that
time the department solicitor. Camp
belrs business with the department
was in connection with oil lands pros
pecting permits, he said, and our
firm handled all those matters.
Acquainted With Wheeler.
Are you acquainted with Senator
Wheeler" asked Chairman Borah.
Yes. sir. / met him in the summer
of 1929" the witness replied; after
we had practically closed up the mat
ters with the Interior Department"
$50 far as you know, Mr. Wheeler
had nothing to do with the Hlatlel
asked Senator Caraway, Democrat,
Arkansas.
Absolutely nothing"
Feely said the government had no
financial interest in the Campbell per-
mits. but merely passed on contro-
verSies between claimants.
Senator Sterling, Republican,, South
Dakota, asked the witness who in
troduced him to Senator Wheeler.
FeeIy said it was Booth
where was this?"
"I think it was in the Department
of Justice. l did not meet him in the
Interior Department"
you said you never wrote Mr..
Wheeler. Did he ever write to you?"
He did not"
Question of Validity.
Feely said no question was raised
as to the acreage in the assignments
or permits that he handled for Camp
bell, but that the question of their
validity was raised in the matter of
the Phillip MCGOWAN permit"
Commissioner Spry of the general
land office testified that Senator
Wheeler called at his office in the
spring of 1923, with Solicitor Booth,
who said Wheeler was interested"
in the Campbell matter. The COM
missioner said that the senator him.
self had declared he was only inter-
ested to see that Campbell should
"get a square deal"
Senator Wheeler never talked to
him on any matter except in the way
all members of Congress were inter
ested in affairs of their constituents,
Commissioner Spry said.
Asked to describe his talk with
Wheeler, Commissioner Spry said:
II think it was in the spring of
1923. He and Mr.. Booth came to my
Continued on Page 4, Column A.