Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-30
Names Big Counsel
: Continued from PAGE Ons)

>e~~>s~--
tack was launched against Attorney
General Daugherty.
During the day Senator Walsh.
Democrat, Montana, enlarged the
area of oil fields to be recovered by
to sections Of naval OH lands in Cali
fornia now In possession OF the STAN
dard Oil Company.
Taking note Of the attacks on him.
Secretary DENLY, after attending "a
two hour session of resident Cool
idge's cabinet, said he believed he had
acted for the best in the oil transac-
tons; that he would do the same
thing again; and that he would not
resign even If the Robinson resolu-
ton demanding that he do SO were
adopted.
On the floor of the senate Chair
man Lenroot of the oil committee,
revealed that Mr.. Coolidge had been
informed in advance of the senator
ial testimony given a week ago by
Archie Roosevelt relating to charges
of $4,000 payment to the foreman
OF former Secretary Falls ranch.
Senator Willis, Republican. Ohio,
then announced that in the same
day Mr.. Fall and his foreman,
Thomas Johnson, had been placed
under surveillance by agents of the
department of justice, who were in
structed to prevent their departure
from the country.
Advised that Mr.. Fall was unable
to appear before it today because Of
a threatened nervous collapse, the oil
committee decided to examine his
physicians tomorrow before decid-
~ xxyha fn In a
question him in his sick room.
The senate's debate on political
features of the oil disclosures, after
centering most of the day about Mr..
Coolidge and members of his cabinet,
| finally brought into the discussion
the name of President Harding. De-
; Tending Mr.. Harding for transferring
control of the reserves to the interior
department Senator Willis declared
the dead president would not
knowingly have violated any law, and
the statement was accepted on the
Democratic side.
, Partisan charges and counter
charges also figured in a brief house
debate centering around a request
by Secretary Daniels during the Will
son administration for congressional
approval of the drilling of offset wells
in the naval reserves.
AS the senate proceeds with its
| debate tomorrow in the hope of
reaching a vote before adjournment
the house naval committee will eX-
anime Secretary DENLY and other
naval officials and interior depart
ment officers with view to deter
| mining whether the Sinclair and
Doheny leases are in the best inter-
ests of the government.
resolution similar tO that offered
by Senator Caraway, Democrat.
Arkansas and proposing cancellation
of the leases without going into the
| courts, was introduced by Represen-
tative Fairchild, Republican, New
York. The resolution declares the
| leases to be fraudulent and against
| the public interest"
| In all of this whirlpool of develop
| ment. the one element most fire.
quently on the surface was the eff
fort of the Democrats to drive from
the cabinet Secretary DENLY. the one
remaining officer whose signature is
attached to the oil leases. In an
nouncing he would not retire, Mr..
! DENLY said he wanted q record vote
| on the Robinson resolution and the
Democratic leader told the senate he
would make every effort to obtain
| one a soCn as possible.
Mr.. Robinson also read into the
record the navy secretary's state
ment that he would pursue the same
course again in similar circumstances
and demanded to know of Chairman
Lenroot, of the Oil committee,
whether he approved Mr.. Denbys
action in consenting to the leases.
| Senator Lenroot replied he did not,
| because he believed them illegal.
| In later statement Secretary
| DENLY declared he was profoundly
convinced" of the legality of the act
| ion and also profoundly convinced
that 1t was for the best interests of
| the United States" He contended
| also that he was carrying out the
exact intent of congress in conserv-
ing the oil, which he said otherwise
would have been completely or to q
very great extent drained. Mr.. Len
root and other senators took an OPP
! posite view in the debate today, con-
tending that the lease of the reserve
| was question of policy which con-
| gresS alone had the power to de-
| eide.
Because Of the turn of events
| which had brought him under con-
| gressional fire, Mr.. DENLY has aban-
doned his projected trip to Panama
| to witness the conclusion of the win
! ter maneuvers of the United States
fleet. He said tonight he would stay
In Washington, available for any call
| that might come to him from any
! congressional committee.
Aside from the political features
OF the situation, the senate's debate
| today, which continued for six hours.
| touched many times upon the legal
aspects of the leasing of the reserves.
Chairman Lenroot, in a careful argu-
| ment that was listened to attentive
ly on both sides of the chamber for
more than three hours, contended
that while the policy pursued was in
violatlon OF law. congress should
| hesitate in making fiat declarations
or such an assertion in any resolution
/ adopted because that was a question
/ which would have to be decided bv
the courts in the contemplated pro-
| ceedings.
Supporting the action of President
Coolidge with respect to the initiation
OF annulment proceedings. Senator Len
root declared that when it came to the
rectHylng of any wrong politics should
stop. For that reason. he said. he re-
| sentcd criticism of the president for
| doing the very thing that Democratic
senators. through the Walsh resolution,
/ were seeking to compel him to do.
Calling attention that the president
had consulted only with Republican
senators. Senator Walsh replied that
he assumed from this that the presi-
dent regarded this as political man.
ter"
AS the days debate was concluding.
Senator Walsh introduced the new res
olution which would direct the secre-
tary of the interior to institute imme-
date suits to assert title to sections
l6 and SO in naval reserve number one.
1 l,.nNI L..