The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-27
Orders Special Counsel To Prosecute In Tea Dome's Sem
 SatiOn
FERRETING OUT OF
 GUILTY HIS DESIRE
Asks Searchlight Be Turned On Any Act Of Fraud, If Any,
 And Annulment Of Lease
TO CHOOSE ATTORNEYS M
 FROM TWO BIG PARTIES
Every Law Will Be Enforced And Every Right Of The Peo-
 pie To Be Protected He Says

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-Pres- ident Coolidge has decided to em- ploy special counsel drawn from both the republican and democratic parties to proceed with court action as a result of evidence adduced at the Senate committee hearings on the leasing of naval oil leases.
 In a statement issued at mid night, the President declared that '-counsel will be instructed to prose- cute these cases in the courts so that if there Is any guilt it will ba punisheds if there IS any civil liability 1t will be enforced; if there Is any fraud it will, be re- vealed, and if there are any con- tracts which are illegal they will be cancelled"
 The President determined upon this course after being advised by the de pSrtment of justice that it was an ac- cOrdanee with precedents. Explaining that the justice department had been observing the evidence unfolded in the Senate committee. the executive in his statement asserted that every law will Ae enforced and every right of the peo- pie and the government will be pre- teeted-
 Early Selection
 White House officials in making pub lie the statement said that the special counsel would be appointed just as soon as selection could be made. The for- maf announcement follows
 Statement by President Coolidge:
 1t Is not for the President to de- termine criminal guilt or render judg- ment in several causes. That is the function of the courts. It Is not for him to prAjudge. I shall do neither But when facts are revealed to me that re- QUire action for the purpose of insur- ing the enforcement of either civil Sr criminal liability such action will be taken- That is the province of the ex- \ ecutive.
 Observing Developments
 Acting under my direction, the de- partment of justice has been observing the course of the evidence which has been revealed Ut the hearings conducted by tine senatorial committee investigat- ing certain oil leases made on naval reserVeS which I believe warrants ac- tiOn for the purpose of enforcing the law and protecting the rights of the public This is confirmed by reports made to me from the committee. If there has been any crime it must be prosecuted. If there has been any prop erty of the United States illegally transferred or leased, it must be recoy- cred
 Il feel the public is entitled to know that in theteonduet of such actions no one lS shielded for any party, political or other reasons. As I understand men av1 hoI. ical parties and. having been advised by the department of justice that is ln accord with former precedents,. I propose to employ special counsel of high rank drawn from both political parties to bring such actions for the enforcement of the laG
 Protection Of Rights
 Counsel will be instructed to prose cute those cases in the courts so that if theFe is any guilt it will be punished. If there Is any civil liability it will be enforced If there Is any fraud it will he revealed; and if there are any con tracts whieh are illegal they will be eancelled. Every law will be enforced, and every right of the people and the government will be protected
 Au offer t0 have reconveyed to the government the rich naval oil reserve lh N1tIpFnta ana other oil contracts entered into by the Pan-Ameriean Pe- trOleUm and Transport company after E. L. Ddheny had loaned Albert E. Fall. then Secretary of the Interior, Sl00.W0 on his personal note, was sub mitted to-day to the Senate oil com nlittee by Gavin McNab, counsel for Mir DOheny
 The offer carries single stipulation that the company be reimbursed for expenditures made in the Pearl harsor government oil reservoir development and willingness Is expressed that pay nseRt be made in oil from offset wells sunk m the California reserve at tie request of the government to prevent drainage of that field. These wells then wcud be surrendered.
 Goes To Senate
 Although this offer is modification of the original proposal for fecunvey- snce should a board of experts deter mine that the contracts were not wise. advantageous and the best that the government could have made. the com mlstee decided to transmit it to the Senate Menelay without recommends tlOn- In the committee discussion ob- 1ectlOn was raised that the offer had
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