Evening star., 1924-01-29

kxNAO 1NOOOl III
to the President to institute action
In the courts for the purpose of de-
and Of the legality Of leases. The
committee had never taken any ac-
ton, he said, in placing itself on
record in the matter Of fraud or of
the legality of the leases
Lenroot Defends Navy,
Calling attention that the 1920 act,
which was cited by Admiral Robin
son. was to enable the Secretary. OF
the Navy to have offset wells drilled
to protect the reserves. Senator Lem
root declared he did not believe it
time that there would be wholesale
leasing" of the reserves.
Such leasing, he added, was a mat
ter for Congress and not the Navy
Department to determine.
Even granting them good faith in
the matter" Senator Lenroot said,
they had no right to act without
authorization from Congress-"
He continued that from a national
defense standpoint the Navy had lost
nothing, so far as reserve No. In
california was concerned. He point
barrels of oil in storage at Pearl
Harbor, and that this reservoir was
built out of oil from the offset wells
Originated With Robson.
While Secretary Fall had assumed
responsibility for the contracts pro-
Viding for exchange of royalty crude
OIL FOR fuel oil in storage, Senator
Lenroot said the committe was unani-
nous in it's belief that the idea
originated with Rear Admiral J. X.
Robson, chief of the bureau of
engineering.
Admiral Robson is strong.
forceful. aggressive type of officer"
he said, and every member of the
committee. I think, was Convinced Of
his sincerity and good faith in this
connection. regardless of the merits
of his proposition"
Senator Walsh interposed with
request that he be excluded from
among those holding such an opinion.
The committee chairman read at great
length from Admiral Robisons tes-
timony, including a statement by the
officer that Secretary Fall was very
surprised" when approached with the
idea of oil exchange.
Does Not Approve Reason.
Senator Robinson asked Chairman
Lenroot of the oil committee whether
he had approved the action taken by
Mr.. DENLY in making the leases and
Mr.. Lenroot said he had not, because
Il believe them Illegal"
This did not satisfy the Arkansas
senator. who urged Senator Lenroot
not to remain silent as to whether
he approved or disapproved the state
ment made by Secretary DENLY after
cabinet meeting, particularly his dec
Iaration that If he had the oppor-
tunity to do so he would make the
same lease again.
Il am not the judge OF the conduct
of any one" Senator Lenroot de
clared. I'm so far as the official act
OF any official OF the government is
concerned, II is my duty as a senator
to express my opinion with regard
to the legal effect OF any such action,
With regard to any conduct. criminal
or otherwise, concerning any Official
of the government, | will express my
opinion when the matter is before the
Senate"
Authority Was Divided.
The reason given the committee for
issuance of the famous executive or
der transferring the reserves to the
Interior Department. Senator Lenroot
said, was that authority over Oil
lands was divided under the Execu-
tive. the Navy and the Interior De
partment, and it was thought prefer
able TO bring them all under one head.
poes g. the hsase senss spProSe Of that
Il do not
Senator Lenroot said it seemed
clear to him that Congress had ex-
pltcitly set forth the powers each
branch should hold
II insist" he continued. the execu-
tive order was beyond the power of
the President to make"
Senator Robinson persisted and
Senator Lenroot repeated his answer.
Not the judge.
I'm not the Judge of the acts of
any man" he said az may have been
mistaken in believing the senators de
sired to have d fair discussion of this
case. I'm afraid some senators are
more interested in injecting issues
which have no materiality in any con-
sideration Of the resolution before us. 4"
Senator Lenroot said that action of
Congress in making an appropria-
tion OF 100000 for the storage Of the
reserve oils had demonstrated that
no further storage should be provided
until Congress authorized it.
Senator Swanson insisted there had
been fraud" committed. and that
there must have been conspiracy,
and he insisted that the Senate be
informed upon whose suggestion the
transfer of the reserves from the
Navy to the Interior Department had
been made.
Senator Lenroot answered that the
ommendation of Secretary DENLY.
"If DENLY thought he could not ad
minister these reserves, efficiently"
Senator Swanson exclaimed, he
and permitted somebody else to be
appointed as Secretary of the Navy
who would do So"
Demands Daugherty Quit.
A resolution expressing the sense
of the Senate that the President re-
quest the immediate resignation of
Attorney General Daugherty was pre-
pared today by Senator Wheeler.
democrat. Montana. who said he
would Introduce it at the first op-
portunity.
The resolution declares the Presi-
dent has lost confidence in Mr.. Daugh-
erty. as exempiified by employment
oil annulment suit. 1t also asserts
that Mr.. Daugherty has lost the con-
fidence of Congress and of the Amer
lean people and that the Department.
Of Justice has fallen into disrepute.
The resolution follows:
Whereas, the evidence presented
several months ago before the special
committee of the Senate investigation
OF the United States Veterans Bureau
disclosed acts, Of negligence and corrup-
tion on the part of officials of the
United States Veterans Bureau and
others, and no action has been taken
by the Department of Justice to pros
ecute the officials and persons alleged
to have acted illegally and cerrupty,
and,
Whereas several weeks have trans
pired since the evidence was pre-
sented and disclosures were made be-
fore the public lands committee of
the Senate charging past and present
public officials of the government and
others with violations of law and
corrupt practices, and no prosecutions
have been taken; and
Whereas no action has been taken
by the Department of Justice in pros
ecuting to a conclusion the so-called
war fraud cases; and
whereas IL appears that said
Harry NJ. Daugherty has lost the