The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-05
SEEK EVIDENCE
 OF TRADING BY
 U. s. OFFICIALS
Oil Probers Search Books Of Brokers For Deals
 In Sinclair Holdings
FALL NOT TO BE QUIZZED
 AGAIN UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY
Special Counsel Starts Work As Atlee P0merene Accepts
 Appointment

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.--(By the Associated Press. .)-Albert B. Fall, cen. tral figure in the naval oil lease inves- tigation, was notified today that his re- appearance before the Senate investi- gating committee would be deferred un- til next Friday because of the adjourn ment of the Senate until Thursday out of' respect to the memory of former President Wilson. The one time Secretary of the Inte- rior, who has challenged the authority of the committee to proceed with its inquiry, had been summoned for to- morrow, but further efforts to examine him will be postponed until the. Senate has given the committee an additional grant of authority. This will be asked for Thursday, with the expectation of prompt and favorable action.
 The committee will meet tomorrow and adjourn until Thursday, when Carl F. Biggerman, assistant cashier of the Chase National bank of New York, is to be called. Mir. Biggerman has been directed to briEg to Washington the records of the Chase National bank re- lating to any remittances of funds by that bank to any bank in Washington payable to the order of Harry F. Sin clair or his personal counsel, J. w. Zevely, between September l, 1921, and June l, 1925. Mir. Sinclair obtained the lease to the Teapot Dome reserve on April z, 1922.
 Examine Brokers Books
 Samuel ErZberger and officials of oth- CT brokerage firms have been summoned for tomorrow, but whether they will be called at that time was undetermined tonight. The committee will seek from them permission to have accountants examine their books in an effort to de- termine whether there was dealing by any government officials in the stock of the Mammoth Oil company, organ ized by the Sinclair interests, to take over the Teapot Dome lease. : i Such an examination is now being
 made of the books of W. B. Higgs and Company, q Washington banking ane tRfokerage firm, ep the basis of the lis Tor names in possession of the commit ltee. The accountants will probably bt fable to report at the end of this week or early next week.
 Meanwhile, the special counsel ap- pointed by President Coolidge to mi tiate court proceeds in the oil cases under the authorization of Congress on the Walsh annulment resolution, is pressing it's work forward. Former Senator Pomerene of Ohio, who accept ed appointment last Saturday in place of former Attorney General Gregory, conferred today with members of the Senate committee. Probably the first step to be taken by Mir. Pomerene and ms republican assistant, Silas H. Strawn, will be the filing of injunction suits> >to prohibit the further extraction of oil from California Reserve No. 1 and the Teapot Dome field. The filing of such suits is directed in the Walsh resolution, but they probably will not be brought until afder President Cool idge has signed the resolution, which still awaits the signature of President Cummins of the Senate.
 Fall to Remain at Zeyely Home Until he is recalled on Friday. for mer Secretary Fall plans to remain at the home of his friend, MT. Zevely. Ar engagements to have him spend some aays Tn seclusion at a nearby suburb nave been abandoned. His counsel, Lew Cooke, conferred with several sem ators today regarding his constitutional rights in connection with his refusal to testify before the committee on the ground his answers might tend to in- crlminate him in, any future court pro- ceedings.
 Mir. Cooke is understood to have re- ceiyed little encouragement in the po- sition taken by by Mir. Fall. Senators said that in their view the statute which provides that testimony given before a Senate investigating committee cannot be used before a criminal court proceeding, was a bar to this objection raised by Mr., Fall.