New Britain herald., 1924-02-25

[ did not know Sinclair or Doheny. Replying to another question he de- clared that in testifying 'I have sought no advice from any member of the cabinet or administration Chairman Lenroot asked a ques- i tion as to the presidents statement on oil prosecutions.
 Is Confidential
 I've got to preserve every trans action between the president and his secretary as confidential" Mir. Slemp said. 'I'll vary the custom so far as to say that was on Saturday night, and the president was down the river on his boat-about 9 ?. m.
 "On Saturday evening. before the president went down the river" Sem ator Walsh intervened, wasn't there a statement given out that the presi- dent had ordered an investigation by MT. Holland and Mir. Seymour"
 Not to my knowledge" Mir. Slemp said.
 The witness then continued that the presidents famous midnight state ment on the oil case was prepared during the evening trip down the Po- tomac on the Mayflower.
 Would Give Facts
 Senator Dill took the examination back to a dinner at Mir McLean's cot tage in Palm Beach. On that occa- sion, the witness said. Fall declared hc was going to straighten out the whole matter and give the facts"
 And Mir. Mclean before that told you he was going to tell all" Senator Din pursued. Didn't that arouse your curiosity?"
 "I said hoped he would" Mir. Slemp responded. Tt was all sur prise to me. as much as to you"
 w. A. Glasgow, a Philadelphia at- torney, was at Mir, Slemp's hotel, but Slemp said he had understood that Mir. Glasgow refused to become coun- sel for Secretary Fall.
 "Mr. Glasgow played golf as badly as l." Mr. Slemp said, "and was glad to see me-"
 Stopping the questioning momen- tarily, the witness then said:
 "f want 10 put in the record the fact that didn't know Mr. Fall was at Palm Beach when l went there, and hadn't made any arrangements to meet him. He said he had felt the was in worthy hands and was trying to keep out.
 'I have just one job to serve the president, and what said about teii- ing the truth to anybody was just matter of public duty Of any citizen. l left Palm Beach as curious about these things as anybody else. I've not even talked to any member of this committee"
 You must have regarded this situ- ation as remarkable" said Senator Walsh. "Didn't you think the presi- dent had something to do in such a 
 ''l don't want 10 make any comment on that question" was the reply. T didn't think there was anything for me to do about it."
 Banker Takes stand
 Mir. slomp was excused and Milton F. Ailes president Of the Riggs Ma tional bank. took the stand. He sub- | mittod accounts between Mir Mclean and that bank.
 One Of the accounts Of Mr. Mclean 1 was marked Special" Mir. Allies said. i land the other is joint account of 1 Edward and Evelyn Mclean"
 Senator Walsh took the special ac- l count" record. IL had one item enter i ed on April 2s, for s1.o05. and was dead balanco." Mir. Allies said. The | joint account was likewise closed. | with a single deposit and check. MT. ! Allies was excused.
 wanteI Legal Ruling
 II. Foster Baine. director Of the | bureau Of mines, testified that repre- | sentatiyes or several oil companies ] had urged that the interior depart 1 ment get the opinion of Attorney Gen | tral Daugherty as to the legality Of 1 The Pearl Harbor CHawaiiD oil tank l age project before a contract was awarded to the Doheny interests.
 Senator Walsh called attention to | the letter written by Bain on May 12, l l922. 10 Fall. referring to the unwili- l ngness Of the Standard Oil company Jf California 10 bid on naval reserve Dii and saying that none Of US want | sIr. DOheny 10 get inte trouble" The ,tter also suggested That Attorney ienerai Daugherty be asked to give written opinion on the legality of the easing policy. but said there might Je objections to such a step.
 ''Oii company attorneys suggested ho attorney general be asked 10 give 2 in opinion" Mir. aIsin said. My un- it itrstanding vas that tho department ,f tha interior considered tfe leasing s gal and that this vas the opinion Jf The navy departments solicitor. the rdge advocate geueral."
 What were the objections to ask nr the attorney general for an opin- On 2" Senator Walsh asked
 MouIdnt Question Legality
 ''The secretary of inc interior had .xecuted q contract" Mr. aBin said. To ask the attorney general for an ,pinion then would throw doUbts on he validity Of the contract.
 Then there was second objection. 3efore the contract was made. Secre- ary Fall took the position that the oiicitor of the department had called he transaction legal and that t was ,ot mandatory to seek the attorney -ensra1 for further opinion. wed made a good bargain. and l as one f the officials administering a con- raet. didn't want to see # declared nvaiiB. We believed it legal and idnf want 10 cast any doubt on its eality even by merely asking an piniOn
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