The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-07
REPORT ON OIL INQUIRY

The report of the senate committee investigating the oil Ieases is marked by moderation and absence of partisan animus that comments it highly to the American public. It has been repeat edly charged by Republican politicians that the Democratic prosecutors on the committee have bsen inspired by de- sire to capitalize Republican misdeeds to the party advantage, and have been using their authority to discredit the ad ministration. The report itself Is suf- ficient refutation of that charge. It senatorial inquiries hold the stage for a brief period and then fizzle out without being heard of again. The report of the committee on naval oil leases is a con- else, temperate, illuminating and poised document It gives the senate the in- formation essential to remedial legisla- tion as soon as the court decision as to the validity of the leases is made of record.
 Proof of the absence of any attempt to subordinate the public purpose of the inquiry to partisan political advantage is found in the frank statement that there is no evidence to show that the leasing plan was cooked up at the Re- publican convention or was purposed by the Republican organization. Sec retaries Denby and Roosevelt are also explicitly exonerated from any guilty connection with the transactions. The simple fact is stated that President Harding's approval of the lease was il- legal, but there is no hint that the pres ident knew it was illegal. There is, however, the strong intimation that the acts of Secretary Fall in this connec- tion were part of a conspiracy to de- fraud the government of this valuable property. But there is found no evil dence to support the theory that any gov ernment officials profited by speculative ventures based on tips extended as in- direct remuneration for official com plaisance with the oil lease transfers. That there was guilt in connection with the leasing itself appears to be the con- clusion of the inquiry. With Secretary Fall removed from the official scene, further action in that direction is a matter for the courts and the depart ment of justice.
 This simple, impartial and strong doc ument is the more remarkable in that it is the work of the Democratic members who have been unjustly accused of par tisanship in the inquiry. It is predicted that the four organization Republicans will dissent from the report, but the three progressives easily compose the vote in favor of the findings. The only section of the report defeated by majority vote was Senator Walsh's clause suggesting remedial legislation. It was the conclu- sion that such recommendation would better await the court decision.
 In all this inquiry, with it's revelation of official irregularity and the improper transfer of the naval oil reserves, Sem ator Thomas J. Walsh, Democrat of Mon- tana, has played the leading role, and at one time in the inquiry almost the sol itary role. He it was who finally brought out testimony showing Mir. Falls ques- tionable transactions and official con- cern in behalf of the transfer. When everybody else was ready to give up the inquiry as frnitless, Senator Walsh hung on with grim tenacity, running down this clue and that until he found the leads that brought him to the evidence he was convinced existed. It is no doubt due to his single efforts that the nation owes the probable restoration of the reserves and the detection of official acts that led to a purging of the cabinet. It is likewise due to his success that the other committees of inquiry were inspired to delve deeply and successfully into their respective departments.
 There now remain two tasks to make this long and patient research of per manent value and example. The first task is to enact legislation properly pro- tective of public reserves. The other is to punish any who have been guilty of criminal connection with these irregular transactions.