Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-31

Cooke, counsel for Albert b. Fall,
that the former secretary of the in
terror, under whose jurisdiction the
leases We're negotiated be examined
at the home here Of j. w. Zevely,
where he is confined by illness.
Fall is on the verge of d nervous
breakdown, the committee was told
by Cooke
Senator Fall has been under a
great strain for the past few weeks"
said Mr.. Cooke. He travelled eX-
tensiveIy and has been put to great
physical strain"
Urging that the committee as a
whole or a subcommittee examine
Mr.. Fail in his sick room at the
home OF j. w. Zevely, Mr.. Cooke
said it was the opinion of the at
tending physicians that a delay in
his examination tended only to a g
graVate his condition. He added that
the doctors felt that any prolonged
strain upon him at this time might
nave a most detrimental effect, and
read statement prepared last night
by DR.. John Wharton and three con-
sulting physicians to that effect.
The recommendation was made
that the committee visit the Zevely
home and take Mr.. Falls statement
without any undue delay.
Senator Walsh, Democrat, Mon
tana, who has had the predominant
role in the whole oil lease investi-
cation, said he dislil<ed to intrude
himself into Mr.. Falls sick room,
and that he would prefer first to
hear from the physicians as to when
Mr.. FAN would be likely to be able
to come before the committee.
AZ suggest" he said, that the
physicians appear and tell us under
oath when he will be able to appear"
Chairman Lenroot suggested that
the doctors come before the commit
tee tomorrow, but Mr.. Cooke urged
that they be heard some time during
today.
After further discussion, the com
mittee decided to hear the doctors
time it also will examine Director
Balm, Of the bureau of mines, with
respect to the disposal Of storage oil
from naval reserve No. l, in Cali
fornia, and of royalty oil in the Salt
Creek field.
Thomas Johnson. foreman Of Falls
New Mexico ranch, was present to-
day, but Chairman LenrOOt informed
him that his examination would be
deferred for time. Meantime he is
to remain in Washington at the call
of the committee.
Senators Include DOheny
The Walsh resolution up for vote
today was substitute for the one
he introduced yesterday to replace
the cancellation measure originally
introduced by Senator Caraway,
A,,I-r L.. o1-I, C
first substitute referred only to the
Teapot Dome lease held by the Har-
~ +. Sinclair interests, but was
broadened at the suggestion Of
Lenroot, of the investigss ing COM
mittee; Senator Norris, nepublcian,
Nebraska, and others, to include the
Sinclair storage tank contract and
the e. /. DohenX lease on the Cali
respecting the Pearl Harbor reser-
vor. The Doheny contracts were
objected to on the ground that his
offer to "agree to a settlement" in
connection with his proposal to re-
iinquish them was regarded as max
ing it too indefinite.
Delay on the part of the president
in the selection of the special coun-
sci was attributed last night in part
of his inability to get in touch with
some of the lawyers he was consider
ing for the work Mr.. Coolidge con-
ferred twice yesterday with Secre-
tary Hughes, who undertook SINH
lar mission during the Wilson adj
ministration in connection with the
aircraft investigation, and last night
conferred with Senator Lenroot,
fhlit In1A Of tn yrl
committee; Senators Lodge, of Mas
sachusetts, and Curtis, of Kansas,
the Republican floor leaders, and
Senator Pepper, of Pennsylvania.
The senate discussion yesterday
lasted seven hours, with politics
bulking large in the debate, and
wound up for the day with an agree
ment to vote on the Walsh resOlu
ton before adjournment tonight.
Opening discussion on his resolu.
ton Monday Senator Walsh traced
the history of the naval oil reserves
from the time President Taft with.
drew them from entry in 1909. The
withdrawal was made, he said, be
cause it was realized that the time
was fast approaching when oil would
be the future fuel of the navy. The
right of President Taft to act was a
subject of spirited debate, he con-
tinued, but was upheld by the SUI
preme court after congress had en-
acted law specifically comforting
upon him the right he had exercised.
The Montana senator called atten-
ton to the repeated efforts by pri-
Yate claimants to set up claims,
mostly paper claims, ITO land within
the naval reserves.
He then traced the efforts and re-
viewed the acts of congress designed
to protect the reserves from eXplOita-
ton.
Blames Administration
Particular emphasis was laid by
Senator Walsh to an act of congress
reposing in the secretary of the navy
alone the control of the reserves.
The present administration had
hardly got warm in its seat" he
said, before the president issued an
executive order transferring the en-
tire reserves 10 the seer tary of the
interior.
He added that the executive order
was 'indefensible" and contrary to
law" and said he did not apprehend
that any one would arise to defend
it.
The original draft Of this executive
order, asserted the senator, was made
by Secretary Fall, and was not trust |
ed to the agencies usually employed.
Fall even drafted the letter of
transmittal which accompanied it
from the navy department to the
White House." he continued.
Admiral Griffin and other navy Of
ficers, he went on, made Intellectual
attempts to block the order, and then
to modify it.
These protests were never trans
mitted to the White House." he con-