Evening star., 1924-05-14
SENATE OIL PROBE
HEARINGS CLOSED
Recess Taken Subject to Calf of
Chair-Last Session Marked
by Verbal Tilt.
WALSH AND SPENCER CLASH
Unanimous Agreement to Commit
tee Report Doubted

The Senate oil committee today
tentatively closed its hearings on the
naval oil leases, which have contrib
lean legislative history since they be-
gan last October.
Adjournment was taken subject to
call of the chair. Senator Walsh of
Montana, the committee prosecutor.
said he had no more witnesses to
call, and would not ask for another
hearing unless the courts should COM
pei Harry F. Sinclair to return and
answer the questions to which he has
heretofore refused to reply.
Senator Spencer, Republican, Mis-
ouri, indicated there was a possibility
he might ask later that one of two
pieces of additional testimony be
added to the record.
To stand In Recess.
Until there is a decision in the
Sinclair contempt case, pending in the
District of Columbia courts, the com
mittee probably will stand in in
definite recess. Most of the informa-
ton it has gathered already has been
turned over to the law officers of the
government, and the committeeman
see no occasion to hasten a report
to the Senate.
At the very end of the long train
of hearings there was another of the
heated exchanges among committee
members which have become more
and more frequent under the increas-
ing strain Of the inquiry.
When the last witness had been
excused, Senator Walsh reminded
Senator Spencer that the latter had
"promised" to furnish testimony in
substantiation of his statement in
New York, in which Senator Spencer
was quoted as saying that the things
done under the Harding administra-
tion with regard to the naval re-
serves had also been done under the
previous administration.
Il did not make such a statement,
retorted Senator Spencer All in
tended to say was substantially that
things in regard to leases generally
done under the administration of Sec
retary Fall had been done under
previous administrations.
walsh to Prepare Report.
Senator Walsh told the committee
II was his purpose to begin at once
the preparation of a report which
he would ask the committee to adopt.
He then said he wanted to direct SEN
ator Spencer's attention to the fact
that his brother, John Walsh, who
was hailed before the committee re-
Gently by the Missouri senator had
not fed the country, and was avail
able should Senator Spencer decide
to continue the investigation of him
which he began several weeks ago.
Senator Spencer replied that this
witness was one of several he had in
mind, but that he had not decided
whether he would want to furthe I
examine him.
Serving notice that he would ask
for a copy of the report prepared by
Senator Walsh as soon as it was
available, Senator Spencer announced
that he also was working on synop-
osis of a report. He added, however,
that he hoped the committee could
agree unanimously in the end.
Doubt Unanimous Report.
After the meeting had been ad-
iourned. other members of the COM
mittee expressed the opinion that a
unanimous report would not be pos
sible. Democratic members said
unanimity of action was out Of ques-
tion unless Senator Spencer and one
or two other Republicans, who sup
norted him, were willing to abandon
their position and join the majority.
Drainage of oil fields by wells upon
.dioinine property was discussed be-
fore the committee today by Fred
erick B. Tough, chief petroleum en-
eineer of the bureau of mines. The
Witness said that in his judgment
drainage of Teapot Dome by wells
,,rnn the. Salt Creek field would not
have been prevented, as some wit
nesses testified, had the wells on that
field been located 500 feet or more
from the boundary of the reserve.
According to estimates made by the
bureau of mines, 100000 barrels OF
oil was recoverable from the total oil
contents upon Teapot Dome.
Asks Source OF. Questions.
Senator Walsh pointed out after the
witness had concluded his testimony
that he had read his answers from A
typewriter memorandum, and asked
him whether the questions pro-
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