The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-02
AUTHORITY OF
<. C0MMITTEEIN
PROBE DENIED
Former Secretary of Interior
Also Says He Might In
criminate Himself
WILL BE RECALLED
!. Oil Committee Plans to Ask
Reenactment of Authority
BY The Senate


P.)-Hailed before the senate oil
committee today against the protest
of his attorneys and physicians,
former Interior Secretary Albert b.
Fall flatly refused to answer ques-
tions about the naval oil leases and
his relations with Harry F. Sinclair
and f. L. Dohney.
Mr.. Fall gave two major reasons
|, why he declined to reply. His first
was that the authority given to the
investigation committee by the last
Congress had expired and the second
that in light of the action of Con-
gress in directing institution OF
court action, civil and criminal, In
the oil lease cases any answers ne
would make might tend to incrlmin-
y ate him.
= Clearing the hearing room of the
crowd which jammed every available
space the committee went into exc
cutive session to determine its
course in the light of the attitude OF
the former cabinet officer and sena-
tor. AS the committee deliberated
Mr.. Fall waited with his lawyers and
physicians il an ante-room.
To Ask Authority
After the committee had gone into
executive session, Mr.. Fall was
4 brought out Of the ante-room where
! he had been awaiting the decision
He was resting heavily upon the
arms of two men who virtually car
ried him down the corridor to the
rooy 4of Senator Elkins of West Vir'
gin.., where lounge was found fol
him. He seemed dazed and yer!
weak.
Its authority to continue the in
vestigation having been challenged
by Mr.. Fall the committee decided tt
ask the senate Monday to remove al
doubts by readopting the origlna
resolution authorizing the inquiry
The committee then adjourned un
til next Tuesday.
( To Be Recalled
Mr.. Fall will be recalled befor
the, committee next Tuesday ant
should he then decide to answe
questions senators said the issue o
the authority of the committee t
compel an answer under pain of con
tempt, proceedings in the court
would be squarely raised.
Relies on Technicality.
Il decline to answer on the farthe
ground that on January z, 1924, Sen
ator Caraway introduced in the sen
ate of the United States in this Con
gress, senate joint resolution No.
attempting to deal with the lease
Of the Mammoth Oil Company, tina
the resolution was referred to thi
committee and in due course the sen
ate discharged this city as of Jar
uary "a, 1924, and the senate there
after on January 81, 1924, agree
to that resolution and completed il
consideration thereof, the resolutio
q being so amended as to deal in tt
senate in a plenary way with tf
leases upon Naval oil reserves whic
were before this committee und'
senate resolution 2s2 and senate re
olution 294 and that this communi'
has no further authority to deal wit
the senate joint resolution 81.
"As yet no arrangements ha'
been made by the senate commits
to hear William G. McAdoo, a cand
date for the Democratic PRESIDENT
4 nomination in relation to the test
= mony Of E. L. Doheny that after
left the cabinet the former treasu
secretary had been retailed by b
company to represent it in Mexi
matters and had received all tol
fees aggregating $25o,ooo: Mr.. M
Adoo is now enrolte to WashingtG
and me embers of the committee a
sumo he will ask for a hearing aft
he arrives here"