The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1924-02-08
Monday. Januray %


Senate-Met at noon; adjourned at
P. M.
Senator Walsh, Montana, ranking
minority member of the Teapot Dome
naval oil reserve investigating COM
mittee, called up his resolution di-
recting the President to begin pro-
ceedings to cancel the lease, put in
virtually the entire day outlining the
evidence developed by the committee
and criticising the Republican admin
istration.
Chairman Lenroot of the commit
tee read into the Congressional Rec
ord the statement issued by President
Coolidge Saturday night previous
outlining the administrations deter
mination to proceed with court action
to annul the oil leases. Senator
Lenroot denied. any advance informa-
ton of the committees action had
been given to the President and told
the Senate he saw the Presidents
statement early Saturday evening be-
fore the committees executive ses-
sion was held. Senator Pepper,
Pennsylvania, corroborated this, and
said he saw the Presidents state
ment Saturday afternoon.
A letter signed by E. L. Doheny
offering to return the California lease
if the government will reimburse his
company for funds spent in develop
ing the government oil reservoir at
Pearl Harbor, was laid before the
Senate.
Chairman Lenroot declared the
matter before the Senate was too
serious for senators "on the other
side" to attempt to make political
capital out of it and added that the
tone of the speeches that had been
made indicated political gain was
what is being sought.
Senator Robinson replied that the
statement of the President issued
Saturday midnight on it's face "was
designed for political purposes"
Senator Helm, Alabama, intro
duced a resolution charging R. E.
Creager, Republican national COM
mitteeman for Texas, and others had
exercised political influence with
Postmaster General Will Hays and
Attorney General Daugherty to stifie
an inquiry into alleged land frauds,
and demanded an investigation. The
matter was referred to the Public
Lands committee.
Action on the nomination of George
B. Christian, Jr., to be member Of
the Federal Trade Commission, was
postponed for two weeks on the pro-
test of Senator La Toilette, who has
it in for the former secretary of the
late President Harding.
House-Met at noon; adjourned at
4:35 P. M. 49,.
Passed and sent to the Senate a
resolution appropriating 100000 for
employment by the President of spe-
cial counsel to conduct prosecutions
in connection with the leasing Of
naval oil reserves. Majority Leader
Longworth introduced the resolution
and it was favorably reported from
the appropriations committee after
less than ten minutes consideration.
Minority Leader Garrett endeav-
ored unsuccessfully to have his reso-
luton designed to bring about can
collation. of the Teapot Dome con-
tract considered but Chairman Sin
mott of the Public Lands committee,
to which it had been referred, blocked
this effort.
Democrats and Republicans Joined
in adopting the resolution authoriz-
ing the special appropriation, but an
attempt of Mr.. Garrett to have it
stated in the resolution that Presi-
dent Coolidge had expressed his in
tention Of turning the whole question
over to special counsel rather than
have the Department Of Justice han
die the case. was rejected by a vote
of 136 to 125.
Many bitter speeches were made,
the Democrats attacking the admin
istration and the Republicans defend
ing the President against the ch"rges
made by the Democrats.
Mr.. Garrett called on the President
to name single Democrat, in office
or out, who is suspected Of any IL
legal act connected with the naval
oil reserve.
"Pll name one," replied Republi-
can Leader Longworth." Ellis name
is Edward L. Doheny, who has been
an angel for the Democratic party
for years." Over in the Senate, Sem,
ator Brookhart Of Iowa, declared that
Doheny had contributed $4,000 to
the Democratic campaign fund. W
Ways and Means committee agreed
upon a reduction of rs per cent in
taxes on earned incomes up to $4,000
and all incomes under $4,000 were
classified as earned, for the purposes
of this reduction. Also rejected a
proposal which would prohibit hus-
bands and wives from dividing their
incomes for purposes of taxation, as
allowed in eight states.
Tuesday, January 20 -.
Senate-Met at II A. M; recessed,
at, 5 P. M. =