New Britain herald., 1924-02-14
FALL AUTHORIZED
 DENIAL OF LEASE Assistant .q,., aaeo D That
 Sinclair n.. 's 'aa,,,a5 ast a,pit SECRETARY HANDLED DtAr
Fmney Asserts That Former Secretary Left At Once For His New Mexico Ranch As Soon As Teapot Dome Lease Was Signed.

Washington, Feb. 14.--E. C. Finney assistant secretary of the interior. tes. tified before the oil committee today that his recollection was that Secre- tary Fall told him a short time be. tore the Teapot Dome lease was an. nounced that arrangements had been made with Harry Sinclair to give some land in the reserve to John c. Shaffer. the publisher.
 Finney said he disagreed with Oscar Sutro, counsel of the Standard Oil company, of California, previous witness, who held there was no legal authority for the Fall leases.
 The witness could not recall all the circumstances but said he would not deny NIT. Sutro's testimony as to their talk about the reasons for not ask ing Attorney General Daugherty for an opinion.
 My superior having decided upon a policy" Finney said, it wasn't up to me-"
 "So-CaIle,i Bids"
 Finney said there had been "so- called bids' for the offset wells in the iScflN' dllu tue Pearl Harbor tankage project. The bidders included the Standard Oil Co. of California, the Associated Oil Co. and the Doheny Co.
 Asked directly why Attorney Gen. Daugherty was not asked for an opin- ion Finney said the secretary did not regard it as necessary.
 Kinney said the Teapot Dome con tract was handled "very largely" by Secretary Fall.
 The real reason why the Teapot lease announcement was held mp, Fin ney said. was because Fall didn't want it made public until the Doheny lease to the California reserve had been signed.
 Authorized Denial
 Finney testified that Fall instruct ed him to issue a statement denying that leases had been entered into a week after Teapot actually had been leased to Sinclair.
 Explaining how he came to sign the Doheny Pearl Harbor contract, Fin wired him to sign after the secretary had studied the summary Of the bids sent to him at his home.
 He said the lease negotiations were conducted in the manner of private and added:
 "I would not have handled them that way. It impressed me as wrong way"
 Left For His Ranch
 Fall left Washington for his New Mexico ranch immediately after sign Ing the Teapot Dome lease, Finney ( stuffed. He could not say where it was signed. Finney disclosed that the question l IS 10 the legality of the leasing pro- i gram never was referred to Interior | department solicitors. He said he was 1 icry certain the program was legal. i Before leaving he said. Fall locked | he lease up in his desk and it re- ! nained there until he returned.
 Hopes FaIl Is Honest Asked if he was "suspicious." Fin iey said: "I thought then and hope ,ow. Fall was an absolutely honest nan"
 Tn dismissing the proceedings to re- over sections 36 and is in California rom the Standard oil Co. Of Califor- ia. F1nney said Fall had asked de- ,artment officials only if there was dispute as to the facts.
 There was no dispute as 10 the facts 'inney said. but there was one of aw. Fall did not ask as to that. he estified adding that he then and now elieved Falls action was wrong. 4