The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-02
Former Cabinet Member
Challenges Authority of
Investigating Body,
FACES C0NTEMPT> CHARGE
Ex-0fficiaI, Shrunken and
Nervous, Refuses to Ans
Wer Any Questions,
BY PAUL r. MALLON
United Press Correspondent


WASHINGTON, Feb. al
bert B. Fall, former Secretary of
the Interior, today declined to
answer any questions put to him
by the Senate Public Lands Com
mittee- regarding the naval oil
reserves scandal or Falls bor-
rowing of money from E. l..
Doheny, Harry Sinclair, or
others.
Shrunken and nervous. Fall tottered
into the crowded committee chamber.
leaning heavily on a cane.
He sat paving with his hand at the
arm OF the witness chair and stared
with deep sunken eyes at his former
Senate colleagues.
FAN was sworn.
Senator Walsh asked him II he
wished TO make any further statement.
II decline to answer any questions. p"
Fall answered I'm a steady voice.
Challenges Authority
Fall then challenged authority of
the committee to auizz him.
He said the resolution passed by
the Senate providing for the present
investigation was not in force now,
since other resolutions Of condemna-
ton Of oil leases had since been
passed,
II also decline to answer on the
ground it may incriminate me-" Fall
said
Chairman Lenroot. Of the committee
ordered the chamber elearned.
Could Be Sent to Jail
la executive session, the committee
discussed holding Fall In contempt.
The Senate could try him. on recon.
tnendation Of the committee in con
tempt proceedings and Fall would. be
sent 10 jail IL found guilty and If he
still declines to answer.
Fall appeared on the verge OF
collapse at first. but after reading
his statementS he walked firmly
without use Of his cane-into an ante
chamber to await action of the com.
mittee.
The committee finally decided TO
seek further authority to compel Fall
to answer questions.
McAdoo win BE Called
William G. McAoo will be invited
to tell the investigating. committee
exactly what services he rendered E.
L. Doheny, California oil magnate, for
which Doheny paid him S250,0O0.
He ia understood to desire the op-
portunity to explain publicly that his
services to Doheny as q lawyer had
nothing to do with the naval reserve
oil leases, which Doheny got from
former Secretary of the Interior Fall.
When McAdoo tells his story he
will be subjected to severe cross exam.
ination intended to disclose whether
he knew anything OF Doheny's deal
ings with Fall regarding the naval
leases.
Doheny's story of wholesale hiring
of prominent men, including McAdno.
Thomas w. Gregory, formerly United
States attorney general; Lindley Nj.
Garrison, former secretary of War,
and the late Franklin K. Lane, former
secretary of the interior. has rocked
Congress and official Washington to
its heels
Political BOmbsheII ExpIodes
1t was a political bombshell, ex-
ploding with tremendous force In the
camp Of McAdoo's supporters for the
Democratic nomination for President;
upsetting President Cooddge's selec-
ton of Gregory as one of the special
counsel to prosecute the leasing cases
and opening a new and startling chap
ter in the amazing story of how men
high in the Government were involved
with Doheny, lessee of naval oil re-
serves and generous lender OF money
to Fall and other friends.
President Coolidge continued today
conferences with Senators on selection
of counsel to replace Gregory whom
he discarded yesterday after Doheny
revealed that he had hired Gregory in
oil matters.
The resolution directing the Presi.
dent to take court action for can
collation. of the naval reserve leases
was due to be sent to the White
House today, having passed both
s5ay1ofo anH TYo1roa