Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-29
MYSTERY CHARACTERS


engrossing chapter crammed with
mystery and personal emotion was
added to the public records today
by the senate oil investigators.
The characters in the story in
Guided such mysterious personages
as "Apricots." Peaches" and The
Duck" referred to in code messages
exchanged between Edward Il. Me-
Lean. publisher of the Washington
Post. and his employees, during his
visit to Florida.
Among the more striking passages
in the chapter before 1t was COM
pleted was dramatic appearance
OF Chairman Lenroot on the senate
floor to explain and defend his COM
mittee's course and to announce
that he would be glad TO be relieved
OF the pressing duties of the chair
manship.
AS the days story was unfolded
new names were brought into the In
quiry, including those of Senators
Curtis, of Kansas, the assistant Re-
publican leader, and Underwood. OF
Alabama. a candidate for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination.
whose influence was sought in the
effort to keep Mclean off the wit
ress stand.
Additional witnesses were sum-
moned, among them A. Mitchell
Palmer. attorney general in the
Wilson administration. who acted
for q time as counsel for Mclean
in communications with the oil COM
mittee. He will be heard tomorrow.
hn rr.r-ifi NJ Mt ~
chapters was arranged for by the
investigators in their decision to
have brought before them addition
n kilograms exchanged between
Mclean and others as well as mes
sages that may have been sent to
Albert u. Fail. J. w. Zeyely. counsel
for Harry +. Sinclair. and +. J..
Doheny.
AS the Investigators pushed their
work forward. others in the senate
laid the groundwork for further ,ex-
cursions by them into the affairs
of Doheny and Sinclair, and for in
vestigation of charges that millions
of dollars of the profits of oil COM
panies have diverted from the fed
cral treasury.
Senator Mcclellan. Democrat. Ter-
nessee. introduced a resolution ask
ing President Coolidge to forward to
the oil committee the income tax
returns of Sinclair and Doheny for
examination as to possible further
payments to Fall.
Inquiry into the charge that oil
companies have escaped taxation
under the discoveries clause of the
tax law was proposed by Senator
King, Democrat. Utah. He asked
that the resolution lie over, while
%EaA .f AF.I Ill.
on objection by Senator Moses, Re-
publican. New Hampshire.
From Senator Lenroot the senate
learned that the rest of the court ac-
tons in the oil cases would be start
cd ''very,very soon," while Owen j.
Roberts. Of special government coun-
sci, stated that unless unforeseen de-
lay was encountered legal proceed
ings would be started early next
week.
Organized labor's demand for IAN
absolutely thorough investigation of
the oil scandal was voiced by Sam
uel Gompers. president of the Ameri-
can federation of labor. in a state
ment issued tonight from federation
headquarters. -
Senate discussion of the oil scan
dial was precipitated by Senator
Helm, Democrat, Alabama, who re-
ferred to published accounts OF the
visit Chairman Lenroot made to Fall
at his hotel here before the former
interior secretary sent his statement
to the committee that Mclean had
loaned him 100000.
The Alabama senator's charge that
such secret conferences" between
Republican senator's and those un-
der suspicion were impeding the oil
inquiry brought a statement from
Senator Lenroot concerning his visit
to Fall. Senator Smoot confirmed
the statement given by Senator Len
root and dramatically told the senate
ne had never done q thing in all his
life he was not perfectly willing afor
every soul to know" $50
The names Underwood" ana
Curtis" appeared in kilograms sent
to Mclean at Palm, Beach by HIS !.
employers here relating to efforts to
Keep subpoena for his appearance
from issuing. Senator Walsh, Dem
ocrat, Montana, interrupted the
reading to state that Senator I'm
derwood never endeavored to irffu-
ence my conduct In the matter in any
way"
Senator Curtis in a statement said
two OF McLean's employees asked him
to see Senator Walsh and see IL Me-
Lean could be excused from being
subpoenaed on account of Ill health.
He added that he suggested that
they take the matter up with Demo-
cratic senators and he suggested that