The Washington times., 1924-01-30
DEALS
ST:|RHOT
DEBATE
AGAIN
Senators Hold Up 500, 900
Fund Until They Pass on
Counsel.
By KENNETH CLARK,
international Nows Service.

Within an hour after 1t met
today, the Senate was again
plunged into a turmoil Of bitter
debate over the oil leasing scan
dals-started when Senator Nor
ris (Rep.) Of Nebraska, charged
that the leasing of Teapot Dome
and Elk Hills reserves to the Sim
clair and Doheny interests were
''made in utter disregard for
law"
''The executive order ISSUED
by President Harding) transfer
ring the reserves from the Navy
to the Interior Department, was
absolutely and completely with
out authority and in open defiance
Of the law" declared Norris,
while a packed chamber and
thronged galleries hung on every
word.
Fund Is Held Up.
While Norris held the floor with
a vitriolic attack on the legality Of
the acts Of the Harding Administra-
ton, other developments came thick
and fast in the sensational proceed
ings.
Chief among these was the action
Of the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee, composed Of nine Republi-
cans and six Democrats, in voting
to withhold from President Cool.
idge the $780, 900 he asked to pay
Silas H. Strawn and Thomas w.
Gregory as special counsel to In.
vestigate and prosecute the Teapot
Dome case, unless he sent the APP
pointment to be Onfirmed by the
Senate.
The Committees action reflected
q general feeling Of "pique" among
members Of the Senate against the
President for having made his ap-
pointments while the Senate was
still debating the resolutions grant,
ing him the authority.
Fan Has Exhaustion"
Ex-Secretary Of the Interior Fall
is suffering from nervous exhaus-
ton" and is in q precarious condi-
ton, his four physicians testified
today before a secret hearing &C.
corded them by the Senate Public
Lands Committee.
II the committee wants to ex.
anime Fall, they said, It had better
go to his bedside, as there is no
immediate prospect Of Fall being
able to go to the Capitol.
After hearing Falls physicians,
the committee apparently was still
uncertain that he is as sick as his
physicians made out, and decided
to send three other doctors to Falls
bedside to examine him and report
to the committee. Senators Walsh
and Smoot were appointed a com.
mittee to select the trio.
The decision to appoint three dis
interested physicians to examine
Fall came. after Levi Cook, Falls
personal counsel urged that the
committee itself 60 to the former
>Secretary's bedside to take his testi-
mony.
This suggestion the committee
turned down, pending the report of
the physicians expected to be made
at the next meeting on Friday. The
committees physicians probably
will examine FAN tomorrow.
DOheny Again Appears.
Edward L. Doheny, millionaire oil
operator, who leased Elk Hills re-
serve from Fall few months after
he had loaned him 100000, put in
an unexpected appearance in the
committee room this morning. He
was accompanied by his attorney,
Gavin McNab, and said he desired
to be heard.
The committee was in executive
session at the time hearing Falls
physicians. and Doheny waited in an
anteroom.
When the committee finished
hearing Falls doctors it was nearly
noon and Doheny was unable to
testify because of the necessity for
the Senators to hurry to the Sem
ate chamber for resumption of
m, debate on the various resolu.
tions. An adjournment was taken
until Friday morning, and Doheny
was instructed to appear at that
time.
Doheny and McNab declined TO
say whether the note which Fail
gave IN return for the 500, 900 lean
Or the check WHICH Doheny cashs4